Showdates review
A free audience app for finding Victorian theatre shows, not managing events.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Showdates was a free iPhone app for audiences in Victoria, Australia. Developed by DreamWalk for VAPAC and Arts Victoria, it focused on helping people discover theatre shows at nearby theatres and performing arts venues. Users could browse available shows, compare alternative dates and venues, watch YouTube video clips, read show reviews, share listings through Facebook and Twitter, and proceed to the theatre box office for booking. Its audience-facing focus makes it relevant to people planning a theatre outing rather than organizers managing an event program.
The product’s pricing was straightforward: the Free app plan cost 0 as a one-time price. That plan included show discovery, theatre and venue browsing, and booking through theatre box offices. The feature set also connected with Facebook, Twitter and YouTube for sharing and media, giving listings a discovery-oriented ecosystem. The value came from combining local theatre search with practical browsing information, especially for people comparing dates or venues before booking.
Showdates is limited as event scheduling software because it does not provide organizer-side scheduling, agenda management, room management or speaker management. It was also shelved after VAPAC reported that it lacked the funding and resources to upgrade and support the app. DreamWalk’s download link now redirects to an unrelated App Store listing, which further limits its usefulness for people seeking access today. Choose Showdates for its original audience-discovery concept and Victorian theatre focus; organizers needing tools to build, coordinate or operate events should choose software designed for those workflows instead.
Showdates pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Searches nearby theatres and performing arts venues
- Shows alternative dates, venues, clips and reviews
- Links audiences to theatre box offices for booking
- Where it doesn't
- Does not provide organizer-side event scheduling
- No agenda, room or speaker-management tools
- The app was shelved and its download link redirects elsewhere
Showdates fact sheet, pricing and score →
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
Last updated · How we research and update