The Perth International Arts Festival is now in full swing so embrace the glorious summer evening and don’t tell me that there is nothing to do in Perth! The Festival offers a plethora of experiences to enjoy day and night. Unfortunately for some of you there, are quite a few shows that have already sold out including the Kransky Sisters, Gotan Project, Home, War Requiem, Al Gore in Conversation, Book Slam and Keating!
Three Australian productions definitely worth seeking out….
Ngapartji Ngapartji Elders and young people from the remote Western desert Pitjantjatjara community will tell the story of Trevor Jamieson (Bran Nue Dae, The Rabbit-Proof Fence) and his family over five decades from the bush to various countries.
Playhouse Theatre
23 – 25 Feb & 27 Feb – 2 March @ 8.00pm – No Interval
A unique show will be Small Metal Objects from Geelong who perform with intellectually disabled and non-disabled characters in Forrest Place. Audience members wear head phones to participate in the performance which is set against the background of shoppers who no doubt will be oblivious to the personal drama being played out about them and before them. This is what contemporary Perth arts audiences crave.
Forrest Place, Perth.
10 – 23 Feb @ various times – No Interval
For only two nights the free Ngaanyatjarra Turlku Ceremonial Dance at UWA will be performed by up to 30 singer/dancers of the Traditional Custodians of the Ngaanyatjarra Lands east of the tri-state border of the NT, WA and SA.
Sunken Gardens, UWA
1 & 2 March @ 8.30pm – No Interval
Over the weekend of the 24 and 25 February is the Words and Ideas with free events at the Concert Hall covering readings from authors to lively discussions with panels on a variety of subjects from writing about to experiencing history, poetry, intriguing characters and real life stories as a reader.
Creatures of the night get down to the Verandah at least once over the Festival’s 23 evenings to play with friends and artists. I recommend The Bell Rays on Saturday 3 March – their powerhouse vocalist Lisa Kekula has worked with Basement Jaxx, winning a Grammy award no less. If you haven’t been it’s under the stars at the back of the Concert Hall overlooking the Swan River. What’s more it’s free after 10.30pm with entertainment by Perth bands and DJs delivering an assortment of sounds including hip-hop, jazz, pop, rock, reggae, blues, punk and soul. The line-up includes the likes of the Sunshine Brothers, The Bank Holidays, Schvendes, Institut Polaire and Bobby Blackbird and the Bluejays plus RTRFM DJs.
