The Substation/​ Artist/​RAWCUS/

Rawcus is an award-winning and critically acclaimed ensemble of artists with diverse minds, bodies, and imaginations. Rawcus devises new work that expresses the imaginative world of the Ensemble. Drawing on dance, theatre and visual art disciplines, the work is crafted with a precision that supports the performers, but allows space for their inherent sense of anarchy. Rawcus’ performance aesthetic is characterised by a marriage of intense physicality, arresting visual imagery and devised text.

For 25 years, Rawcus’ work has featured as part of the Melbourne International Arts Festival, Dance Massive, Next Wave, Melbourne Fringe and others. Rawcus is known for adventurous, unexpected and highly successful collaborations. The company has collaborated with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, The Invenio Singers, Pia Johnson, and Restless Dance, just to name a few. Their most recent work Interior premiered at The Substation in 2024 to critical acclaim.

In addition to work in theatre, Rawcus’s Public Program enlivens people, places and perceptions. Rawcus has created photo exhibitions, community gatherings, short films, visual artworks, interactive public performance, and projection art. In 2024 Rawcus’ project All the Rage saw the Ensemble collaborate with the Fast Fashun collective to create high fashion looks and a guerilla photoshoot around FedSquare. Rawcus has been nominated for and won numerous awards including a 2019 Helpmann Award Nomination for Best Production for Song for a Weary Throat. Most recently the company won Outstanding Ensemble at the 2022 Green Room Awards for the work Here We Are Amongst You.