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SparkWrite: Fast Fiction Lab | July 10 @ 4.30 pm & 7 pm

SparkWrite: Fast Fiction Lab

Facilitator: Andrew Tarry
Free Workshop – Registrations Essential
https://events.humanitix.com/sparkwrite-fast-fiction-lab

Join writer and educator Andrew Tarry for a dynamic microfiction writing workshop designed to ignite your imagination and guide you from a spark of an idea to a complete 100–300 word story — all in just two hours. Whether you’re an experienced writer or new to storytelling, this is a chance to explore short-form fiction in a relaxed and supportive environment.

Date: Thursday 10 July
Venue: The Black Box Theatre, Dubbo
Upstairs in the Community Arts Rooms (Gipps Street entrance)
Session Times:

  • High School Aged Writers: 4:30pm – 6:30pm
  • Young Adults (18–30 years): 7:00pm – 9:00pm

This free workshop is part of Studio 138’s inspire&ignite creative development program and is made possible through the support of Dubbo Regional Council’s UNBOXED Creative Sessions.

Writers who complete a story during the workshop will be invited to submit it for a digital or in-person showcase. You’ll have the option to present it yourself or have it performed by an experienced actor.

If you have any additional learning or access needs, please email create@studio138.com.au after registering so we can support you.

Please bring your preferred writing tools — laptop, tablet, or pen and paper — and get ready to write.

Free UNBOXED Film Night: Short Films from Dubbo | June 26 @ 6.30 pm

UNBOXED Film Night: Short Films from Dubbo

Join us for a special evening celebrating homegrown storytelling at UNBOXED Film Night: Short Films from Dubbo. This family-friendly screening features a vibrant mix of short films made in Dubbo from 2017 to today — spanning music videos, drama, comedy, dark fantasy and more. Several of these films have screened internationally, including in New York and Hollywood, and have picked up awards along the way.

The main feature of the evening is Nobody’s Business, a stylish gangster short set in the roaring 1920s during the era of illegal grog. Produced by Studio 138 in 2024, it features three classic jazz numbers and recently earned Best Music at the Top Indie Film Awards.

BYO cinema snacks, meet some of the cast and crew, and enjoy a night of regional film talent.

Free to attend, but registration is essential due to limited seating.

https://events.humanitix.com/unboxed-film-night-short-films-from-dubbo

UNBOXED Creative Sessions are hosted by Studio 138 and made possible through the support of Dubbo Regional Council.

Film Selection

Fell Purpose (2022)
Paranoia (2021)
Together Apart (2020)
Nothing Else Matters (2021)
Space (2017)
Zit (2017)
Connection (2018)
Seeing (2019)
Rising Sun (2020)
Nobody’s Business (2024)

Midnight Radio: Live on Stage | July 31 @ 7.30 pm

Midnight Radio: Live on Stage

Thursday 31 July2025 | 7:30 PM (Doors open 7:15 PM)

Black Box Theatre, Western Plains Cultural Centre

Tickets $15 + booking fee | Available online or at the door

https://events.humanitix.com/midnight-radio-live-on-stage

PG | Approx. 60 minutes

Step back in time and into the shadows with Midnight Radio: Live on Stage — a night of classic radio-style theatre performed live before an audience.

Featuring local performers, this special UNBOXED Creative Session brings the golden age of genre radio plays to life with gripping tales of mystery, crime, and horror. Expect dramatic voice work, eerie sound effects, live music, and the nostalgic thrill of storytelling crafted entirely for the ears and imagination.

Whether you’re a vintage audio drama fan or just up for something different and fun, Midnight Radio promises suspense, atmosphere, and a dash of theatrical flair.

Come for the chills. Stay for the thrills.

UNBOXED Creative Sessions are hosted by Studio 138 and made possible through the support of Dubbo Regional Council.

inspire&ignite: Young Talent Showcase | June 19 @ 6 pm

inspire&ignite: Young Talent Showcase

Thursday 19 June 2025 | 6:00 PM

Black Box Theatre, Community Arts Building, Western Plains Cultural Centre

Free Event | All Welcome | No Booking Required

Complimentary light refreshments available

Join us for a vibrant evening celebrating the creativity and passion of young regional talent at the inspire&ignite Young Talent Showcase, part of the UNBOXED Creative Sessions.

This special event features the debut collection from fashion designer Elsie, who will present a series of original outfits she has designed and made, modelled by Olivia. Supported by Studio 138, Elsie has worked closely with a local professional artist to refine her design drawing skills, and this event marks the first time she will present her fashion work to a live audience.

Musical entertainment will be provided by The Sim Jullivan Experience, a dynamic young jazz band that began working with Studio 138 in 2024 through the short film Nobody’s Business. Their original score for the film earned them Best Music at the Top Indie Film Awards (Spring 2025 edition), and they now return to the stage to showcase their evolving sound.

inspire&ignite is a Studio 138 creative program empowering young people in our region to develop their artistic skills, connect with industry professionals, and showcase their talents through personalised projects and community support.

Come along to support emerging creatives and enjoy an evening of fashion, music, and inspiration.

UNBOXED Creative Sessions are hosted by Studio 138 and made possible through the support of Dubbo Regional Council.

World Environment Day Get-Together | June 5 @ 5-7 pm

World Environment Day Get-Together – Dubbo

Thursday 5 June 2025 | 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Black Box Theatre, Community Arts Building

Western Plains Cultural Centre, cnr Wingewarra & Gipps Streets, Dubbo

Free | Family Friendly | Drop In Anytime

Join us for a relaxed, family-friendly gathering to mark World Environment Day, co-ordinated by Art Club Dub in collaboration with local environmental and community groups.

Drop in anytime between 5:00 and 7:00 PM to explore displays, short films, and creative responses to local environmental themes. Short films will screen on rotation in the theatre throughout the event, and local groups will be on hand with interactive displays, projects, and information.

Groups involved include:

  • Transition Dubbo – Short films & seed bank
  • Dubbo Environment Group – Indian Myna trap & project info
  • Mid Macquarie Landcare – Interactive environmental display
  • Dubbo RiverCare – Local river health initiatives
  • Dubbo Field Naturalist & Conservation Society – Native bird & plant resources
  • Healthy Rivers Dubbo – Local waterways focus
  • Art Club Dub – Macquarie River Punch performance piece inspired by Bonita Ely

Light refreshments will be available, and all are welcome to contribute a plate of snacks to share.

This event is part of the UNBOXED Creative Sessions, hosted by Studio 138 and made possible through the support of Dubbo Regional Council.

CrACN Creative Pitch | May 22 @ 7 pm

CrACN Creative Pitch – micro-funding opportunity for creatives

Free + BYO!

We’ve simplified things for CrACN’s Micro-Funding Pitch Night on Thursday 22 May — and it’s now completely free to attend!

BYO snacks or drinks and come along for a fun, casual night of creativity and community.

Five local creatives will each have 3 minutes to pitch their project — all art forms welcome. The audience (that’s you!) will vote, and the winning idea walks away with $500 to make it happen.


You don’t need to be a CrACN member to attend or vote — everyone’s welcome! Family friendly, relaxed vibe.


7PM · Thursday 22 May
Black Box Theatre, Dubbo
Free entry · BYO everything · No need to book


Still a couple of spots left to pitch! Pitchers must be 18+ and CrACN members (membership is $20 — reach out if that’s a barrier). Apply here:
https://forms.gle/WMC1iLsocdxMdejf8
Come along, bring a friend, and help support local creativity!

THE DM | Free Concert | May 29 @ 8pm

THE DM | FREE CONCERT | HARMONY IS OVERRATED

8 pm to 9 pm May 29, 2025 @ Black Box Theatre

Upstairs, Community Arts Rooms
Western Plains Cultural Centre

NO TICKET REQUIRED – come along for Dubbo’s best minimalist jazz. BYO drinks and snacks.

This performance is part of the UNBOXED: Creative Sessions and is made possible through the support of Dubbo Regional Council.

“Nobody’s Business” short film

Set in 1920s Australian underworld of sly grog and illicit narcotics, a woman must choose between love and her reputation.

Shot in Dubbo (Wiradjuri country), regional New South Wales, Australia, Nobody’s Business includes new recordings of three classic jazz tunes.

Watch the trailer:

Find out more on IMDB:

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt33477749

Watch the music video for the song “Ain’t Nobody’s Business”

The film has been submitted to a number of world wide film festivals and is expected to be available on line late 2025.

Listen to the songs

You’ll find the songs from Nobody’s Business on most music streaming platforms. Just search for Prohibition Players.

Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/4pQadm8RUBTndIImPOPAjr?si=7z-7wJRfQcikdPtFm6HL_g

YouTube Music – https://music.youtube.com/channel/UCjKG48YW9RSOxiNuJLuiaUg?si=52a039l19HVtLeYq

Official selections, nominations and awards


Spoon River: Echoes of Longing

A unique, one-off theatrical experience—rehearsed readings from Spoon River Anthology interwoven with live music. Sweetly melancholy, darkly funny, lighthearted yet mysterious, reflective yet raw.

Banned for years in Menard and Fulton counties, Spoon River Anthology was groundbreaking upon its release. Written by Edgar Lee Masters, this poetic masterpiece gives voice to those resting beneath the soil of Spoon River Cemetery—nostalgia mixed with unfiltered emotion, secrets laid bare, lives and longings revealed.

Praised by literary greats like Ezra Pound and T. S. Eliot, Spoon River Anthology remains as haunting and beautiful as ever. Now, brought to life at Dubbo’s Black Box Theatre.

Content Warning: Contains adult themes and sensitive subjects.

Part of UNBOXED – Creative Sessions, made possible with support from Dubbo Regional Council and Western Plains Cultural Centre.

From Blank Page to Black Box: Write a Play in 2 Hours

Ready. Set. WRITE! 

Get ready for a fast-paced, no-holds-barred sprint into playwriting! In just two hours, you’ll go from a blank page to a short, stage-ready script, perfect for performance in a black box theatre. No overthinking. No endless rewrites. Just pure creative energy and a story that demands to be told.

What’s the deal?

  • A high-energy workshop designed to get words on the page—FAST.
  • Learn how to generate ideas at lightning speed and craft compelling scenes.
  • Keep it lean and mean—a 1 to 2-page play with big impact.
  • No tech stress! Bring whatever you like to write or type on, but a Google account is recommended for shared resources. Tech support is NOT included—we’re here to write, not troubleshoot!

Where? Black Box Theatre, Dubbo
When? April 3, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Cost? $30 per person
Barrier to entry? If cost is stopping you from joining, reach out to Studio 138—we want everyone to share their stories!

This isn’t about perfection. It’s about getting it DONE. Are you in?

Tix: https://events.humanitix.com/from-blank-page-to-black-box-write-a-play-in-2-hours

Part of UNBOXED – Creative Sessions, made possible with support from Dubbo Regional Council and Western Plains Cultural Centre.