In a bold first for Tasmania’s North West, Hive has been selected as a featured venue in the 2025 Dark Mofo program — bringing one of the state’s most iconic festivals to Ulverstone for the very first time.
Hive, Central Coast’s cultural centre, has been handpicked to present a major new commission for Dark Mofo 2025: XYZZY by acclaimed artists Jess Johnson and Simon Ward. This full-dome planetarium show will screen daily at Hive’s Ulverstone Planetarium, 5-15 June, 4–7pm, in a program that promises to warp reality and ignite imaginations.
A psychedelic musical odyssey, XYZZY immerses viewers in a kaleidoscope of flesh mandalas, replicating architecture, wormlike beings and alien deities — all set to a synth-heavy soundtrack. It’s bold, brilliant and unmistakably Dark Mofo.
“XYZZY is bold, weird, and wildly immersive — everything you expect from Dark Mofo,” said Hive’s Arts and Culture Manager, Jessie Pangas. “We knew it would be popular, but even we were surprised when all 600 tickets sold out across ten sessions in under a week. The response has been incredible.”
Mayor Cheryl Fuller also welcomed the news. “It’s a huge coup for Ulverstone to be the only Dark Mofo site outside Hobart and Launceston — possibly ever — and we’re excited to welcome locals and interstate visitors alike to this special program.”
To mark the occasion, Hive and the Ulverstone Bridge will be illuminated in the festival’s signature red glow, with Dark Mofo flags lining the precinct — a visual celebration of this milestone cultural moment.
“This is a major moment, not just for Hive, but for the entire North West,” said Pangas. “It’s so exciting to see our region become part of Tasmania’s boldest arts conversation.”
While tickets have now sold out, the overwhelming response has demonstrated a clear appetite for contemporary arts experiences in the region. An encouraging sign as we explore future collaborations with programs like Dark Mofo.
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