One of Melbourne’s most celebrated contemporary dance companies is set to push the boundaries between performance, technology and installation art when Chunky Move premieres its latest work, Time Remaining, at Melbourne Town Hall this August.
Presented as part of the 2026 edition of Now or Never, the new production from Artistic Director Antony Hamilton transforms the historic venue into a shifting landscape of light, movement and machine-driven choreography. Running across 19 and 20 August, the work explores the growing influence of technology on everyday life, asking what happens when human agency begins to blur with automated systems.
Created in collaboration with technical designer Nick Roux and sound and video artist Nicholas Moloney, Time Remaining combines dancers, suspended objects, motorised winches and scanning laser light in a strikingly immersive environment. Rather than serving as background elements, the machines become active participants in the performance, moving in carefully orchestrated dialogue with the cast.
Performed by Madeleine Bowman, Melissa Pham, Samakshi Sidhu, Lee Serle, Jayden Wall and Jareen Wee, the work unfolds through precise movement patterns and shifting geometric formations. The result is both hypnotic and unsettling, creating a world where technology quietly exerts control while remaining almost invisible.
Costumes and materials designed by long-time collaborator Paula Levis draw inspiration from performers of earlier eras, creating a visual contrast between human artistry and the relentless march of technological progress.
Speaking about the work, Hamilton said: “I’m humbled that Chunky Move’s new work Time Remaining has been commissioned by Melbourne’s premiere festival of art, ideas, sound and technology – Now or Never. Artistic Director Elise Peyronnet has been an incredible champion of my work.”
Now or Never Artistic Director Elise Peyronnet described the production as a perfect fit for the festival’s exploration of art and technology.
“It is a privilege to support the commissioning and presentation of Time Remaining, a major new work from Chunky Move, one of Melbourne’s most celebrated and internationally recognised contemporary dance companies,” she said.
Time Remaining runs at Melbourne Town Hall from 19 to 20 August as part of Now or Never 2026. For tickets and festival information, visit https://nowornever.melbourne.vic.gov.au.
