The spotlight is shining on Melbourne this December as JMC Academy’s Acting and Music Theatre students take to the stage for their 2025 Graduate Productions. Across three major works: The Witches of Eastwick, Spring Awakening, and Mother Courage and Her Children, our emerging performers will showcase the depth, versatility and artistic courage they’ve cultivated throughout their training.

Presented in some of Melbourne’s most iconic performance spaces, this year’s productions celebrate not only the craft of acting, but the imagination, discipline and collaborative spirit that defines JMC’s creative community. Tickets are available RIGHT NOW via your student admissions team, so don’t sleep on it!

Below is your full guide to the season.

4–7 December | Chapel Off Chapel

A mysterious stranger. A small town. A spark of desire… and a whirlwind of magic.

Based on John Updike’s novel and the beloved 1987 cult film, The Witches of Eastwick brings a wickedly funny and supernatural twist to the stage.

When the enigmatic Darryl Van Horne arrives in quiet Eastwick, three women find their lives, and powers, transformed in spectacular ways. With music by Dana P. Rowe and lyrics by John Dempsey, this musical explores desire, empowerment and the unseen forces that shape us.

Across two alternating casts (Cherries and Martinis), audiences can expect spellbinding vocals, dynamic ensemble work and a healthy dose of mayhem!

11–15 December | Arts Centre Melbourne

Raw. Urgent. Unflinchingly honest.

Frank Wedekind’s Spring Awakening remains one of theatre’s most powerful examinations of adolescence, shame and desire. Set in 19th-century Germany, the story follows teenagers navigating identity and sexuality in a world ruled by silence.

Under the direction of Miranda Middleton (Bright Star, The Grinning Man), JMC Academy’s graduating actors tackle this modern classic with intensity and vulnerability. Performed by the Wattle and Waratah casts, this production promises to be as relevant today as it was over a century ago, challenging audiences to reconsider the cost of censorship and the dangers of the unknown.

17–20 December | Arts Centre Melbourne

War profits. Humanity pays.

In Bertolt Brecht’s enduring masterpiece, and adapted by David Hare, Mother Courage drags her wagon and children through the devastation of the Thirty Years’ War, selling to soldiers on both sides. But survival always comes with a price.

Directed by Mark Taylor (American Psycho, Next to Normal), this production confronts the brutal economics of conflict and the staggering human cost beneath it. JMC’s graduating cohort brings a sharp, satirical and emotionally charged performance to one of theatre’s most significant anti-war plays. 

Each year, JMC Academy’s Graduate Productions mark a pivotal milestone for our students: the transition from training into industry-ready performance. These three works demonstrate the creative scope our students have mastered, from musical theatre and satire to psychological horror and historical drama (just WOW)...

Across these productions, audiences will witness:

• Professional-level performance training realised on established Melbourne stages.

• Diverse storytelling, showcasing range, character depth and technical skill.

• Collaboration across disciplines, from direction to movement to vocal performance.

• Bold artistic risk-taking: a hallmark of JMC’s approach to performing arts education.

This season is not only a celebration of student achievement, but a preview of the next generation of Australian performers!

With three productions staged across Melbourne and limited-performance runs, now is the time to secure your seat. Bring your friends, family, your fellow creatives and your mentors to see how these shows represent years of dedication, countless hours of rehearsal, and the creativity that will shape our future performing arts landscape.