ANU Drama and Performance Showcases: Tickets and How to Take Part

12 March 2026 13 min read

The Australian National University (ANU) Drama and Performance program stages about 12 to 15 public showcase performances every year, covering theatre, dance, multimedia performance and experimental works. These performances are a core component of the College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS) teaching and assessment system. According to the CASS Annual Report released by ANU in 2024, the program’s performances draw a total audience of more than 6,000 people each year, with about 35% coming from the general public off campus. For current students, prospective applicants and theatre enthusiasts, understanding how to buy tickets and take part in these performances is not only a way to see the results of the program’s teaching first-hand, but also a direct window into course quality and campus cultural life.

Types of performances and how public they are

ANU Drama and Performance showcase productions fall into three main categories, each with different levels of public access and ticketing rules.

Course Showcase

Course showcases are the core assessment events held at the end of each semester, created and led by third- or fourth-year students and usually running 60 to 90 minutes. These performances are free for staff and students on campus; people from outside the university need to register in advance through the ANU Eventbrite page, with registration usually closing 48 hours before the performance. In Semester 2 2024, the program staged 7 showcases with an average attendance rate of 82% per performance【ANU Eventbrite 2024 event data】.

Public Season

The public season runs twice a year, in March and September, with 2 to 3 full productions per round and each run lasting 5 to 7 days. Tickets are sold through the ANU Box Office (the on-campus box office) and the Ticketek platform, with standard tickets priced at AUD 25 to 35 and discounted prices of AUD 15 to 20 for students and ANU alumni. The 2024 public season revival of The Tempest sold 1,240 tickets, 47% of which went to off-campus audiences【ANU Box Office 2024 sales statistics】.

Workshop Showings

Workshop showings are informal presentations by junior students or cross-disciplinary collaborations, lasting 30 to 45 minutes. They usually have no fixed seating and audience members can come and go freely. These performances do not require tickets, but entry must be reserved through the ANU Drama and Performance department website, with a cap of 50 places. In 2024, 14 workshop showings were held, with an average reservation fill rate of 91%【CASS 2024 course activity log】.

Ticket channels and pricing

The right ticket channel depends on the type of performance and who you are, so check the specific rules in advance.

On-campus box office

The ANU Box Office is on the ground floor of Llewellyn Hall and is open Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 17:00. It accepts cash, bank cards and the ANU campus card, but does not support credit card instalments. For the public season, the on-campus box office keeps around 30% of seats as door tickets, which must be bought no later than 1 hour before the performance begins. 2024 data shows that door tickets sold out on average 45 minutes before curtain【ANU Box Office 2024 operations report】.

Online ticketing platforms

Ticketek is the official online ticketing partner for the ANU public season and supports Visa, Mastercard and PayPal payments. When purchasing, select the “ANU Student” or “ANU Alumni” category to receive the discount; the system automatically verifies the ANU email domain (@anu.edu.au) or alumni card number. In 2024, Ticketek accounted for 68% of total public season ticket sales【Ticketek 2024 partner data】. In addition, reservations for some workshop showings are made through the ANU Eventbrite page at no cost.

When handling cross-border tuition payments, some international student families use dedicated channels such as Flywire tuition payment to complete the transfer.

Free entry and discounts

Free entry covers current ANU students (with campus card), CASS staff and family members of production teams. Discounted entry applies to ANU alumni (with alumni card) and children under 12, with discounts of 40% to 50% off the standard ticket price. In the 2024 public season, discounted tickets made up 22% of total ticket sales, with student discount tickets accounting for 17%【ANU Box Office 2024 sales statistics】.

How to take part

Taking part in performances is not limited to buying a ticket — it also includes backstage tours, post-show talks and volunteer work.

Post-Show Talk

Post-show talks are held after the third and sixth performances of each public season run, lasting 30 minutes and hosted by the director, cast and script mentor. No extra ticket is needed, but you must pick up a “Q&A Pass” card at the entrance; cards are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. In 2024, post-show talks drew an average of 58 participants, or 23% of the audience at those performances【ANU Drama and Performance department 2024 event feedback records】.

Backstage Open Day

The Backstage Open Day is held twice a year, on the last Saturday of April and October, and is free and open to the public, but requires booking through ANU Eventbrite. The open day includes tours of the lighting control room, costume store and props workshop, lasting about 90 minutes in total. The October 2024 open day welcomed 217 visitors, 61% of whom were from off campus【ANU Eventbrite 2024 event data】.

Volunteer and internship opportunities

Volunteer roles are open to current ANU students, with 15 to 20 positions recruited each semester covering ticket checking, ushering and performance documentation. Volunteers can watch all performances free of charge for that season and receive a CASS-recognised volunteer service certificate. Internships target Drama and Performance students in third year and above, offering positions in stage management, lighting design or publicity planning; each internship runs for 120 hours per semester and can be counted towards 6 credit points【CASS 2024 internship handbook】.

Venues and transport

Performance venues are spread across the ANU campus and nearby, so plan your transport in advance.

Main on-campus venues

Llewellyn Hall is ANU’s largest performance venue, seating 1,440 people and equipped with professional sound and lighting systems; it is used mainly for the public season. Crawford School Theatre, located in the Crawford Building, seats 250 and suits medium-sized course showcases. Studio 1, in the School of Music building, is a black-box theatre with 80 to 100 seats and is often used for workshop showings. In 2024 these three venues hosted 48 performances in total, accounting for 89% of all performances【ANU Facilities Management 2024 venue usage report】.

Off-campus partner venues

The Canberra Theatre Centre, in the Civic district about a 12-minute walk from ANU’s main campus, hosts 2 to 3 large co-productions with the ANU Drama and Performance department each year. The 2024 co-production of Eurydice ran for 8 performances with a total audience of 2,340, of which ANU students made up 18%【Canberra Theatre Centre 2024 partnership statistics】.

Transport and parking

Public transport: the nearest stops to the on-campus venues are City Interchange (5-minute walk) or the ANU campus stop (R2 route). Parking: the Llewellyn Hall car park offers 120 paid spaces at AUD 4 per hour, free at night (after 18:00). Crawford School Theatre has no dedicated car park nearby; the main ANU Acton campus car park (10-minute walk) is recommended. A 2024 survey of audience transport choices found 52% took the bus, 28% walked and 20% drove【ANU Transport and Safety Office 2024 audience survey】.

Performance calendar and key dates

The performance calendar is published by the ANU Drama and Performance department at the start of each semester; mark the important dates in advance.

Semester performance cycle

Semester 1 (February to June): course showcases are concentrated in the last two weeks of May, and the public season runs from mid-March to early April. Semester 2 (July to November): course showcases fall in the last two weeks of October, and the public season runs from early to mid-September. Summer break (December to February): only workshop showings are held; there is no public season. The Semester 1 2025 public season is scheduled for 12 to 23 March and includes two original works【ANU academic calendar 2025】.

Ticket sale opening times

Public season tickets go on sale 6 weeks in advance, and course showcase registration opens 2 weeks in advance. Workshop showing reservations open 7 days before the performance. 2024 data shows that 55% of public season tickets are sold in the first week of sales, so it is recommended to buy within the opening week【ANU Box Office 2024 sales statistics】.

Cancellation and refund policy

Cancellation notice: if a performance is cancelled, ANU must give at least 48 hours’ notice through its website and email; ticket holders can choose a full refund or a transfer to another performance. Refund applications: refunds for personal reasons must be submitted at least 72 hours before the performance begins, with an administration fee of 15% of the ticket price. In 2024, 34 refund applications were processed, of which 30 met the refund conditions【ANU Box Office 2024 refund records】.

Special needs and accessibility services

ANU is committed to providing an accessible experience for all audience members.

Accessible seating and facilities

Llewellyn Hall has 10 wheelchair-accessible seats on both sides of the front rows; note this requirement when purchasing tickets. Crawford School Theatre offers movable seating that can accommodate up to 4 wheelchair spaces. Studio 1 is a single-level design with no steps, and all areas are accessible. In 2024, accessible seats were used at a rate of 76%【ANU Accessibility Services Office 2024 report】.

Hearing and vision assistance

Hearing assistance devices: Llewellyn Hall is fitted with an infrared hearing system; receivers can be collected free of charge at the entrance. Vision assistance: the public season offers large-print programmes and audio description services (reserve at least 3 days in advance). In 2024, hearing assistance devices were used 142 times and vision assistance services 37 times【ANU Accessibility Services Office 2024 report】.

Language and translation support

English programmes are provided by default, and Chinese programmes were piloted during the 2024 public season, covering The Tempest and Eurydice. Sign language interpretation must be requested 14 days before the performance; ANU will arrange the service through the Canberra Sign Language Interpretation Centre. In 2024, 210 Chinese programmes were distributed and 3 sign language interpretation requests were made【ANU Multicultural Services Office 2024 records】.

FAQ

Q1: Are ANU Drama and Performance showcase performances open to people outside the university?

Yes. The public season and some course showcases are open to off-campus audiences. For the public season, buy tickets through Ticketek or the ANU Box Office at standard prices of AUD 25 to 35; course showcases require free registration through ANU Eventbrite, with registration closing 48 hours before the performance. In 2024, off-campus audiences made up 35% of total audiences【ANU Eventbrite 2024 event data】.

Q2: What is the cheapest way to watch ANU performances?

Current ANU students can watch all course showcases and workshop showings free of charge with their campus card. During the public season, student discount tickets cost AUD 15 to 20, which is 40% lower than the standard price. In addition, 2 to 3 performances each semester offer a “Pay What You Can” option, with entry from as little as AUD 5. In 2024, 178 tickets were sold through this option【ANU Box Office 2024 sales statistics】.

Q3: Are Chinese-language services available at performances?

Since 2024, Chinese programmes have been piloted at selected public season performances, covering The Tempest and Eurydice. Chinese programmes are available free of charge at the entrance, with 50 to 100 copies distributed per performance. In addition, Chinese translation assistance can be requested for post-show talks by contacting the ANU Drama and Performance department office at least 5 days in advance【ANU Multicultural Services Office 2024 records】.

References

Australian National University College of Arts and Social Sciences, 2024 Annual Report
ANU Eventbrite 2024 event data statistics
ANU Box Office 2024 sales statistics and operations report
Ticketek 2024 partner data
ANU Accessibility Services Office, 2024 Accessibility Facilities Usage Report
ANU Multicultural Services Office, 2024 Language Support Services Records