Here are the highlights.
Spring is coming which means Melbourne Fringe Festival is on the horizon. And, lockdown or not, they’ve got a full program waiting to be explored. It’s no secret that the arts industry was dealt a heavy blow during the pandemic. But, despite the uncertainty of lockdowns, they have a voice that simply cannot be ignored. Over 2,500 artists, actors, comedians, musicians, dancers, DJs and designers are ready to take over Melbourne. See them online, on the streets and in venues around Melbourne from September 30 to October 17.
Melbourne Fringe Festival
Fringe will run this year with a range of digital and in-person events, so they’re covered no matter what happens. There are over 470 events, making this year the biggest Fringe Festival so far.
Here is a taster of all the events available:
Groundswell – Enter an immersive soundscape and feel the earth move under your feet on Queensbridge Square. As you move, thousands of ball bearings underneath will shift, creating a visceral rush of sound and movement. This public art piece challenges you to consider your impact on the planet with every step you take.
Town Choir – Everyday experiences are broadcast loud and clear in this musical event. Three local writers create texts that are immediately sung out in four-part harmony by a massive outdoor choir.
Fringe Focus Taiwan – Iconic Melbourne cultural hub, Loop Project Space & Bar, will be transformed into an experimental virtual reality experience. In this VR Taiwanese art party, you’ll feel like you’ve travelled overseas while sipping on delicious cocktails.
Deadly Fringe – A First Nations program bursting with talent. See artists express themselves through circus performance, music, dance and theatre.
We Built This City – Enter a cardboard wonderland on Fed Square and help build a wooden city. Then, at the State Library of Victoria for one day only, there will be a cardboard tunnel pop-up event for you to explore.
Tree Confessions – Find a tree near you, sit under it, and press play to listen to the world’s first play from a tree’s point of view.
Multiply – if you missed this film at MIFF, you have a second chance to see it again at Fringe. This film captures the highlight event of Fringe 2020, when hundreds of participants performed a socially distanced dance in the middle of a pandemic.
Key info:
The Melbourne Fringe Festival will take place Thursday September 30 to Sunday October 17.
There are heaps of free events available this year. Furthermore, the artists at Fringe know that the pandemic has had an impact on lots of people’s budgets. As a result, many shows at Fringe are offering flexible pricing options, so you can pay what you can afford. Click here for more information.
Explore the full program here.