Manifesto of Silences
Irene Holub
World Premiere
Presented by Arts House and Melbourne Fringe
Tuesday 6 – Sunday 11 October 2026
Preview: Tue, 7:30pm
Wed – Sat, 7:30pm
Sun, 5pm
75 mins, no interval
Post-show artist talk for all ticket holders
Thu 8 October (Auslan/English interpreted)
Tickets
Preview $25
Standard $40
Reduced $25
BLAKTIX $15
Companion Card Free
A small transaction fee will be charged per order.
Content Advice
Suitable for ages 16+
Trigger warning: Audism, Oralism and language deprivation.
The work contains loud music, haze, lights black out, lights change colours and intensity. abrupt lighting changes, and under seat vibration.
Manifesto of Silences is a groundbreaking project that explores innovative ways to enable opera that is deaf led and accessible to both sign language users and non-signers.
From a Deaf perspective, it’s a fine balance between accessible experiences and isolation. Sometimes, the spoken word diminishes the power of sign language. We experiment with Auslan poetry, emphasising movements and facial expressions, coupled with engaging digital design.
Visual Vernacular which is a part of Auslan language is used throughout. This is a unique experience of visual theatre, people who don’t sign can enjoy the work and connect with its themes.
An Access Guide will be available for download prior to the event.
Arts House
North Melbourne Town Hall
521 Queensberry St,
North Melbourne
Wheelchair Accessible
Quiet Space Available
Assistance Animal
Companion Card
Visual Rating 100%A bold, Deaf-led reimagining of opera that pushes beyond the limits of traditional storytelling.
If tears could sign, whose manifesto would they expose?
Manifesto of Silences blends sign language opera, movement, projection and immersive sound into a ground-breaking work that invites audiences into a shared space of community, passion and resilience.
Exploring the long shadow of history, where decisions were made upon the lives of Deaf people to suppress their identity and language, Manifesto of Silences is an experience charged by innocence, oppression, betrayal and transformation.
Rich and multilayered, Manifesto of Silences is accessible to both sign language users and non-signers – expanding the boundaries of what opera can be.
Manifesto of Silences was developed through Arts House’s Warehouse Residency and follows a sold-out development season in 2025.
About the artists
Since 2008, Irene has created a significant body of Deaf-led work, including Invisible Skin (2019–2021), Chaos (2022), Deaf Heart (2023), Blue (2024), Manifesto of Silences (2025–2026), and Places of Belonging (2022–2024). Her work has been presented nationally and internationally at venues and festivals including Melbourne Fringe, White Night, Arts House, Alter State, Counihan Gallery, ACMI, State Library Victoria, and Sign On Screen Festival.
With over 30 years of experience, Irene is a leader in Deaf arts and cultural development. She co-founded FLOW Festival, mentors and leads international arts collaborations, and pioneered Auslan art tours to increase access to visual arts for Deaf audiences.
Artist statement
Poetry, a recurring theme in my work, is woven into pieces like Lookinginout, Chaos I/II, and Heart, blending with sound, movement, and video to convey the depth of Deaf culture. With Manifesto of Silences, I seek to illuminate a crucial part of Deaf history, shedding light on how political decisions suppressed our language and culture.
Commissioned by Arts House and supported by Creative Australia and Creative Victoria, this project is an opportunity to honour Deaf resilience and build pathways for future Deaf creatives.
- Irene Holub
Artistic credits
Dramaturg: Walter Kadiki
Performers: Walter Kadiki, Luke King, Anna Seymour, Ramas McRae, Maya Sandon, Franco Spadea
Movement Director: Anna Seymour
Digital Design: Rhian Hinkley
Sound Design: Sharyn Brand
Lighting Design: Bronwyn Pringle
Costume Design: Ivy Hinkley
Executive Producer: Veronica Pardo
Producer: Dan Goronszy
Production Assistant: Maya Sandon
Stage Management: David Pidd
Av & Sound Operation: Toni Patchett
Details
World Premiere
Presented by Arts House and Melbourne Fringe
Tuesday 6 – Sunday 11 October 2026
Preview: Tue, 7:30pm
Wed – Sat, 7:30pm
Sun, 5pm
75 mins, no interval
Post-show artist talk for all ticket holders
Thu 8 October (Auslan/English interpreted)
Tickets
Preview $25
Standard $40
Reduced $25
BLAKTIX $15
Companion Card Free
A small transaction fee will be charged per order.
Content Advice
Suitable for ages 16+
Trigger warning: Audism, Oralism and language deprivation.
The work contains loud music, haze, lights black out, lights change colours and intensity. abrupt lighting changes, and under seat vibration.
Manifesto of Silences is a groundbreaking project that explores innovative ways to enable opera that is deaf led and accessible to both sign language users and non-signers.
From a Deaf perspective, it’s a fine balance between accessible experiences and isolation. Sometimes, the spoken word diminishes the power of sign language. We experiment with Auslan poetry, emphasising movements and facial expressions, coupled with engaging digital design.
Visual Vernacular which is a part of Auslan language is used throughout. This is a unique experience of visual theatre, people who don’t sign can enjoy the work and connect with its themes.
An Access Guide will be available for download prior to the event.
Arts House
North Melbourne Town Hall
521 Queensberry St,
North Melbourne
Wheelchair Accessible Quiet Space Available Assistance Animal Companion Card Visual Rating 100%Supported by –
This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body; the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria and the City of Melbourne through Arts House.
Image credit: Irene Holub
Image description: A black man with short hair, wearing a black t-shirt, covers his face with his hand in claw shape, while tilting his head back. The background is dark, lighting highlights his profile and arm.
