This summer, Perth Festival is inviting guests to see art in a different light and to revel in a range of activities and experiences to suit everyone.
The festival will open its doors for over 700 artists and entertainers, descending on Perth for a magnificent multi-arts celebration.
From the free opening event to the explosive finale at Elizabeth Quay, the festival spirit will arouse the senses across 24 days and nights in summer. Living up to a reputation of diversity, Perth Festival includes nine Australian exclusives, two world premieres, five Australian season premieres, two commissions and more than 230 music, theatre, dance, literature, film and visual art events.
“For 65 years, Perth Festival has been at the heart of our city,” Artistic Director Wendy Martin says. “In this singular and remote place on the edge of Australia, we welcome the innovative and visionary artists who bring their dreams and their endless capacity to surprise, entertain and provoke us.”
Major highlights include the dazzlingly theatrical 'The Far Side Of The Moon' by Robert Lepage, epic Taiwanese drumming and martial arts spectacle 'Beyond Time', Syria's 'White Spirit', French circus from Compagnie XY at the Regal Theatre, South Korean visual artist Kimsooja and music from Dizzee Rascal, Neil and Liam Finn, Mogwai and Perfume Genius.
'White Spirit'
Siren Song will encompass Perth from the sky, as female voices serenade the city from loudspeakers atop buildings. This will bring people together at dawn and dusk for the first ten days of the festival.
Perth Festival's theatre programme includes the likes of 'The Barber Shop Chronicles' (after a sell-out season in London), Australian exclusive 'Farewell To Paper', Canadian Robert Lepage's 'The Far Side Of The Moon', unrehearsed theatre event 'Nassim' and much, much more.
Flipping things around to circus and the more physical side of theatre sees Compagnie XY present some heart-in-your-mouth acrobatics in 'Il n'est pas encore minuit (It's Not Yet Midnight)' while Papermoon Theatre and Polygot Theatre join forces for 'Cerita Anak (Child's Story)', combining puppetry, song and shadow imagery.
The dance programme of Perth Festival features (to name a few) Taiwan's U-Theatre and their show 'Beyond Time', 'Vessel' by Belgian choreographer Damien Jalet and Japanese sculptor Kohei Nawa and 'to a simple, rock'n'roll... song' by Britain's Michael Clark.
Extending in 2018 to seven full days and nights of festivities, Writers Week is a celebration of Australian storytelling, curated by William Yeoman. Words and ideas swirl around The University Club of Western Australia – the new hub for international and Australian writers, storytellers, musicians, artists, architects and theatre-makers – as well as extending out into libraries, bars and the streets of Perth.
'Faces Places'
Next year, Perth will celebrate the return of Chevron Gardens, presenting dozens of musical acts to make you move or be moved. Highlights include Dizzee Rascal, Kitty, Daisy & Lewis, Ben Folds, Electric Fields, A.B. Original, Neil and Liam Finn, Perfume Genius, Jojo Abot, Mogwai and Lee Fields. There will also be a selection of classical music with performances from Jordi Savall, Andrew Lawrence-King and France's award-winning pianist Jean Efflam-Bavouzet.
Last but not least, Visual Arts lovers can expect an evocative programme taking on the most urgent issues of our times – globalisation, migration and climate change. Immersive work by South Korean multimedia artist Kimsooja will be on display as well as Lisa Reihana, Zadok Ben-David, Christopher Charles and more.
Tickets for Perth Festival go on sale to the general public from 13 November. Click here for the full programme.
