The ActNow Theatre MakeSpace Fringe Residency Program is returning from the 1st February - 7th March 2027, with support from the Adelaide Fringe Fund. The residency provides one artist with time, space, and resources to develop an original work and present at least two work-in-progress showings at the 2027 Adelaide Fringe Festival. 

Meet the 2027 MakeSpace Fringe Resident

We are excited to announce that the resident of the ActNow Theatre Makespace Fringe Residency 2027 is Ellen Graham.

Ellen is an Adelaide based actor, writer, drag performer, clown and theatre maker creating original works that blend comedy, physical theatre and queer storytelling. Since graduating from Adelaide College of the Arts in 2017, They have performed throughout Australia and internationally, including the Sydney, Melbourne and Edinburgh Fringe Festivals.

As co-founder of Madness of Two, Ellen has co-created 'Dead Gorgeous: A True Crime Clown Show', the AWGIE and David Williamson Award-winning 'Claire Della and the Moon', and 'Starweaver' for State Theatre Company South Australia's Stateside program.

Alongside her company work, Ellen created the drag king F@ckboi George, whose blend of clowning, physical comedy and audience interaction has become a staple of Adelaide's drag scene. Their debut solo show, 'Be a Doll, Won't You?', won the 2023 Adelaide Festival Centre inSPACE Fringe Award, while 'F@ckboi George's Guide to Feminism' premiered at the 2025 Adelaide Fringe, establishing George as an ongoing body of work.

During their residency, Ellen will be developing 'F@ckboi George Swipes Left Into Hell': a new solo drag theatre work that follows loveable himbo F@ckboi George as he journeys through the nine layers of dating hell.

The 2027 MakeSpace Fringe Residency Artist will receive:

• $6,750 Residency fee plus superannuation

• 4-5 weeks of development time in ActNow Theatre’s MakeSpace

• venue hire for presentation of the work-in-progress showings as part of the Adelaide Fringe Honey Pot Program

• 5 days with a suitable mentor, valued at $1,500

• use of ActNow Theatre’s lighting, sound and AV equipment, valued at $1000

• $395 to cover the Adelaide Fringe event registration fee

• administration and dramaturgical support from ActNow Theatre’s Artistic Director Yasmin Gurreeboo, Associate Director Nescha Jelk and Communications and Development  Coordinator Maeve Mhairi MacGregor.

Meet The Previous Residents

The MakeSpace Residencies have been made possible with funding from the Adelaide Fringe Fund, Create SA and Creative Australia.

In 2022, ActNow Theatre established a partnership with the Adelaide Fringe to offer the inaugural Fringe MakeSpace Residency. Supported by the Adelaide Fringe Fund, this residency offers artists full creative freedom to develop a new or existing performing arts work to be be shared during the Adelaide Fringe festival.