Sydney Fringe Festival is once again celebrating the weird, wonderful, creative and kooky wares of some of the most original and resourceful artists in the country. Here's our pick of some of the must see shows headed your way.
Fringe Ignite
The fest's annual opening shindig is set to be its most ambitious to date. Curated by the incomparable vocal powerhouse Ngaiire, who will also be performing at the event, this year's Ignite will take over the Kensington St Festival Village, filling the streets with live music and performances across no less than nine stages. There will be slam poetry at The Cottage stage, circus and dance at Andiamo, and after dark, the streets will come alive with projections and light art by students at UTS. There will also be a range of tasty treats and delicious drinks to keep you fuelled-up for the fringe.
When & Where: 2 Sep from 4pm, Kensington St Festival Village
Undertaking
Take the plunge into a theatrical experience like no other. Critically acclaimed immersive production company, Mongrel Mouth, have created a brand new interactive production that invites the audience to take control. You'll be able to guide your own path and build an entirely unique narrative as you explore this multi-sensory thriller, set within multiple rooms. The team behind the show warn punters that this is a performance suitable for adults only: "It may be disorientating, may contain nudity, extreme violence, graphic imagery, low level and strobe lighting."
When & Where: 6 - 30 Sep, HPG Festival Hub, 225 Euston Road
Silent Theatre
Ever wondered what stories a hotel room could tell? Guests check into their borrowed home, a place where anything can happen behind closed doors, and what happens at the hotel, stays at the hotel. Till now. Devised by Fringe Festival Director, Kerri Glasscock, this dynamic piece of voyeuristic experimental performance invites its audience to eavesdrop on the guests of a hotel. Four scenes will play out as the audience look in from the street below, catching glimpses of the drama as it unfolds through windows, listening in via headphones. There are limited tickets to this festival highlight, so book early to avoid disappointment.
When & Where: 19 - 21 Sep, The Urban Newtown, 52 - 60 Enmore Road
Cirque Africa
This sensational circus experience brings 15 of Africa's most accomplished acrobats, jugglers, stilt dancers and clowns, to Sydney. Representing six different nations, including Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Ghana, Gambia and Zimbabwe, this dynamic, relentlessly uplifting show offers a jaw-dropping technicolor spectacle celebrating the rich cultural diversity of the African continent. Be amazed, be inspired and be wildly entertained by this hour of world-class contemporary circus.
When & Where: 9 - 30 Sep, Big Top, Sydney Park
Grumble: Love & Anger
Betty Grumble has been called many things. Surrealist showgirl. Obscene beauty queen. Sex clown. But in all honesty, this award-winning painted lady defies categorisation. With her trademark irreverence, outrageous makeup and mega-watt sass, this show is part of Grumble's ongoing "womanifesto." Described as "a call to arms, a part, a protest and a long hard kiss," Grumble will be kicking ass and taking names - you have been warned.
When & Where: 14 - 16 Sep, HPG Festival Hub, 225 Euston Road
INSA
This world-first interactive art exhibition celebrates the genre busting work of GIF-ITI artist INSA. Graffiti writer turned artist, INSA's practice has seen him trailblazing a fusion of physical and digital art, amassing him a huge online following, with his videos achieving tens of millions of views online. Through an augmented reality app, street art will come to life in main courtyard of World Square in a body of work that asks questions about the nature of art in a world where the physical and the digitally abstract are increasingly symbiotic.
When & Where: 1 - 30 Sep, World Square
Facemeat
This year’s Fringe program is taking full advantage of its new hub – a pop-up venue housed in a 7,000spm warehouse in Alexandria – which has allowed artists to more ambitious than ever before. A great example of this in action can be found in the theatrical high-jinks five-piece Facemeat are planning in their latest show, a production featuring a semi-staged spoken word tale of a maniacal tyrant falling foul of the law (and his many wives), set to some sweet tunes. It promises to be an event to suit any taste, with flavours of rock, blues, motown, afrobeat and even the odd cha-cha-cha.
When & Where: 7 & 8 Sep, HGP Festival Hub, 225 Euston Road
Angella Dravid: Down The Rabbit Hole
Whenever the Fringe Fest rolls around, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by choice. But for those willing to mine the program for hidden riches, it’s also a chance to discover some new top talent. Angella Dravid falls into this category. Winner of the Billy T Award for most outstanding emerging performer at this year’s NZ Comedy Fest, this young kiwi comic is already making waves. She may not be a familiar face to many right now, but she looks set to hit the big time in the coming years. Part of the Fringe Comedy Festival.
When & Where: 23 & 24 Sep, The Factory Theatre
For full details of the 2017 Sydney Fringe Festival, head to the website.
