Access Guide
Love Machine 2025
Melbourne Fringe + Melbourne International Games Week
Overview
Love Machine is an interactive installation for 1 at Melbourne Fringe and runs from 08-12th of October at the Fringe Hub, Trades Hall, which is located at 54 Victoria St, Carlton VIC 3053.
Love Machine is a relaxed piece at no cost. Participants can come and go as they please, but typically a “loop” of the main interaction goes for around 5-10 minutes. This is an untimed piece, and no bookings are available. Walk/Wheel in only.
This guide gives specific information on what to expect.
Guide Contents
What to expect in this relaxed installation
Event details
The space
Seating
Event and content warnings
Production and access information
Location
Dates and times
Length
Age recommendation
Venue Access Information
Wheelchair access
Assistance dogs
Getting to Fringe Hub
Parking
What to expect
Event details:
The people behind Love Machine aim to provide an inclusive and welcoming environment for neurodiverse people or people with sensory and/or neurological differences.
Because of this we have implemented these elements as a part of the installation:
Low Sensory Translation of the performance lighting
The sound is at a relaxed level
Addition of the house lights at a low level
Open door policy, you are free to come and go as you require.
Walk around policy, you are welcome to get up, have a stretch and return to the task at hand.
Open phone policy
An extra chair will be available in the room for anyone who requires or would like some company.
The space:
The Temple is a medium-sized room, roughly 4metres in length and 2.5 metres in width. The walls will most likely be blacked out (curtains).
On opening the door, at the end of the room, you will see a desk with a computer, a seat in front of it, speakers, a filing cabinet and a fax machine. These elements will all be a part of the installation.
Behind the door to your left, there will be a seat and a small lighting tree. This is for ambient lighting, and a seat for anyone who would like some company.
The Experience:
The room will be darkened, but there will be enough light to move around.
On interacting with the computer, the lights and sound will dim slightly.
The computer will guide you through a series of questions and prompts.
On completion, the music will play again, and the lighting will rise slightly.
You are welcome to leave at any time, get up and move around or engage in any self-soothing practices. This is your space for the time you are in it.
Seating:
There will be a single seat at the desk; you are welcome to move this chair or seek assistance in moving this chair if you are using a wheelchair.
Event and content warnings:
Love Machine is generally a relaxed experience, although these things may be of note:
The installation is in English only
It is not suitable for those with no vision
Some fine motor movement of the hands (writing/drawing/inserting paper)
There are questions of a personal nature; if you do not feel comfortable answering them, then don’t, no one will ever know.
There are no:
jump scares
intense flashing lights
loud bursts of sound
An early version of Love Machine to give you an idea of the set up
Location:
Love Machine is located at the Melbourne Fringe Hub, Trades Hall, 54 Victoria St, Carlton VIC 3053.
It is located in The Temple, which is a room on the first floor, upstairs (wheelchair accessible via lift).
Production and access information
Dates and Times:
08-12 of October
5:30 pm until the close of the venue (around 11).
Length:
The piece is untimed, but around 10 minutes is the usual experience length, depending on your level of interaction.
Age recommendation:
Love Machine is suitable for all ages.
Venue access information
Note: Much of the information has been taken directly from the Melbourne Fringe website for this specific room.
Getting there:
Trades Hall is conveniently located in the heart of Melbourne, easily accessible by car and public transport.
There are several trams (1,3, 5, 6, 16, 64, 67, 70, 78, 109 and more) and bus stops (200 and 207 routes) nearby, two major train stations (Melbourne Central, Parliament) within walking distance and commercial parking options in the surrounding streets.
Each bus stops within a 5-minute walk from the venue. The 200 and 207 routes stop at the front of the venue.
There are drop-off and pick-up spaces via Byron St, next to the front entrance.
Venue Details:
The entrance to the venue is on Lygon St. You can head up the front stairs and through the main doors, from there head right to get to the Loading Dock. Head to the first floor and turn left. Continue down the corridor; the entrance to The Temple is on the left.
Room Details:
The Temple is a pop-up venue for intimate theatre experiences.
Room Location:
The Temple is on the first floor of the building, adjacent to Solidarity Hall.
Head up the stairs, or via the lift and ask our venue team for assistance and directions.
Wheelchair access and service animals:
The venue is wheelchair accessible and has accessible toilets available. Service animals are welcome inside the venue. There is also accessible parking located in the car park at the rear of the venue.
Access considerations:
If you need step-free access, there is a lift at the main Lygon St entrance. This can be operated by one person, or if you need assistance while the lift is unattended, please call the phone number attached to the lift, and a staff member will come to assist. You can then enter the doorway, turn right, and continue down the hallway towards the lift, which will take you up to Level 1. Continue down the corridor; the entrance to The Temple is on the left.
Volunteers will be available along the route to assist you if needed. Please don't hesitate to ask for help.
Special thanks
A special thankyou to:
Milly Cooper at Melbourne Fringe,
whose access guidance has been invaluable.
Contact Us
Who to contact:
For any queries you can email Tom Richards at thomasrichards@outlook.com.au
For any venue queries you can contact Fringe
Office: +61 (03) 9660 9600
Ticketing: +61 (03) 9660 9666
info@melbournefringe.com.au