HFASA Scratch Night June 2026
Friday 19 June 2026
6.30pm – 9.30pm
Howard Fine Acting Studio, Brunswick
Scratch Night is a creative challenge designed to encourage actors and artists to make new work in a supportive, low-pressure environment.
At the beginning of the evening, participants are given a shared creative prompt and 90 minutes to write and prepare an original short piece for presentation.
At 8pm, audiences are invited into the Theatre space to experience the work created that night.
There is no expectation for work to be polished or memorised. Presentations are staged “as is”, with a strict five-minute limit per piece.
Scratch Night exists to encourage creative confidence, collaboration, experimentation and the practice of making new work consistently.
Hosted by Heather Valentine.
Special industry guests Eve Morey and Clare Pickering will be present throughout the evening to offer support and feedback.
Event Schedule
6.30pm
Participants receive the creative prompt and begin writing.
7.30pm
Audience arrival.
8pm
Presentations begin.
9.30pm
Event concludes.
Participation & Audience Info
Participants
Participation fee: $25 AUD
Limited to 12 places
Bring paper and pen or laptop
Audience
Free entry
Audience welcome from 7.30pm
Bar Information
A small bar will be available throughout the evening.
Payment available via:
Cash
Bank Transfer
PayID
Participation & Audience Bookings
Date: Friday 19 June 2026
Time: Participant arrival from 6.15pm for a 6.30pm start. Event concludes approximately 9.30pm.
Location: Howard Fine Acting Studio, Level 1, 7 Cozens Street, Brunswick
Participants: Places are limited to 12 participants.
Fee: $25 AUD (Helps cover the cost of running the event)
Hosted by Heather Valentine, with special industry guests Eve Morey and Clare Pickering offering support and feedback throughout the evening.
HFASA Scratch Night is an opportunity for actors, writers and creatives to create something new in a supportive, low-pressure environment.
At 6.30pm, participants will be given a creative prompt that will serve as the common thread for the evening’s work. From there, you’ll have 90 minutes to write, collaborate, shape and prepare a short piece for presentation.
At 8pm, everyone gathers in the Theatre space to share the work created that night.
Pieces can take any form. Monologue. Scene. Spoken word. Comedy. Drama. Experimental work. Whatever voice or perspective emerges in the process.
For actors, creating your own work is an important part of developing artistic confidence and creative agency. Scratch Night exists to encourage risk-taking, collaboration and the habit of making work without waiting for perfect conditions.
What To Bring
Participants should bring:
Paper and pen, or a laptop
Any preferred performance clothing or costume pieces
USB attachments if you intend to use the studio printer
The student printer will be available throughout the evening. Printing can also be sent directly via email. All further details regarding the creative prompt and presentation format will be provided on the night.
Bar Information
A small bar will be available on the night.
Payment available via:
Cash
Bank Transfer
PayID
Date: Friday 19 June 2026
Time: Audience arrival from 7.30pm. Performances begin at 8pm. Event expected to finish at 9.30pm
Location: Howard Fine Acting Studio, Level 1, 7 Cozens Street, Brunswick
Come Watch New Work Take Shape
HFASA Scratch Night invites audiences into the creative process.
Earlier in the evening, participants will be given a shared creative prompt and just 90 minutes to create an original short work. At 8pm, the Theatre space opens and audiences are invited in to witness the results.
The work presented may be funny, raw, chaotic, moving, experimental or surprising. That’s part of the point.
Scratch Night is about creating space for actors and artists to take creative risks, generate original material, and share work before it is polished or perfected.
Whether you’re a creative yourself or simply curious to experience new live performance work, we’d love to have you in the room.
Hosted by Heather Valentine, with special industry guests Eve Morey and Clare Pickering.
Bar Information
A small bar will be available on the night.
Payment available via:
Cash
Bank Transfer
PayID