The 2024 Sydney Fringe Festival programme is filled with more than 400 events spanning theatre, music, comedy, dance, visual art, circus, and cabaret – presented across Sydney this September.
Highlights for this year include two headline shows from Soweto Gospel Choir, an expanded takeover of The Rocks as part of Sydney Fringe Sideshow, and Fringe’s first ever Queer Hub at Qtopia Sydney.
There are four distinct precincts including the Inner West Precinct, Central Precinct, Eastern Precinct, and Greater Sydney Precinct.
“Sydney Fringe Festival is back and better than ever with an incredible program platforming authentic stories, fresh talent, uplifting entertainment and boundary-pushing events,” CEO and Festival Director Kerri Glasscock says. “We’re thrilled to be activating new parts of the city, driving connectivity and community in unusual and unused spaces, and taking advantage of Sydney’s unique live performance venues such as Machine Hall and the launch of the festival-first Queer Hub at Qtopia Sydney.”
“Joining a diverse mix of local and international acts taking over the city for the whole month of September, we are especially excited for audiences to experience the inspirational and life-affirming Soweto Gospel Choir across two headline shows.”
The Spiegeltent Festival Garden returns, featuring a dynamic line-up of live performance, music, circus, drag and more. Headlining the Sydney Spiegeltent is ‘History Of House’, a trip through the history of dance music. Soweto Gospel Choir also brings all-new concert ‘Hope’, featuring a programme of songs and anthems from the Freedom movement on Nelson Mandela’s South Africa, back to the Civil Rights movement of Martin Luther King’s 1950s America.
Darling Quarter becomes home to a newly-expanded second Festival Garden, featuring four weeks of comedy, drag and circus programming.
Activating the streets of Barangaroo in the Central Precinct are a number of collaborative events and performances, including ‘Two Strangers Walk Into A Bar…’, connecting two strangers through an audio-guided tour.
Former substation Machine Hall will host a dynamic series of events, titled A Mark Of Good Taste. Events include ‘Just Desserts’, ‘Voices From The Fringe’, and ‘Feed Your Fire’.
The dynamic Sydney Fringe Sideshow returns throughout the festival, featuring a programme of immersive and experiential shows performed in pop-up spaces throughout The Rocks.
Plus, there’ll be brand new festival hubs in 2024 – including the Queer Hub at Qtopia Sydney, which will amplify the work of LGBTQIA+ storytellers with an exciting line-up of international and local artists. Highlights include Florian Wild’s ‘MONSTER’, and a one-person musical from Laser Webber called ‘A Shark Ate My Penis: A History Of Boys Like Me’.
The new Off Broadway Hub at Turner Hall at TAFE Ultimo presents theatre, music and dance acts, including ‘Definitely Not A Hungry Game: A Parody Musical’. . . And the Cabaret Hub finds a new home at Kings Cross Hotel.
Also new in 2024 is the First Nations Hub at PACT Centre For Emerging Artists. ‘Klub Koori’ brings Aboriginal rock royalty Coloured Stone back to the stage, plus visitors can explore local First Nations artisans and makers at the Yalgali Markets.
The Touring Hub will bring smash-hit shows from the international Fringe circuit, while the Dance Hub returns to Sydney Dance Company’s Neilson Studio, featuring debut contemporary dance work ‘Love Arena’ from Sydney-based choreographers Remy Rochester and Jasmin Luna; and ‘Move FM’, from some of Sydney’s most exciting emerging artists and makers.
Locally made works get a place to shine thanks to Made In Sydney, presenting a programme from Sydney’s most exciting independent theatre-makers and artists at PACT.
Pioneering micro-festival LIMITLESS comes back too, with a dedicated hub at 107 Redfern celebrating the works of d/Deaf artists, and artists living with a disability, while offering an inclusive and accessible space for everyone. Highlights include ‘Not Dead Yet!’ by Crones In Cabaret, and ‘Crips & Creeps Comedy’.
Check out the full programme.
Sydney Fringe is on from 1-30 September.
