The City of Perth is bringing us the biggest Winter Arts Festival yet with a unique, thrilling and unexpected three month program.
Kicking off in June, the city will host over 130 free and ticketed cultural and arts events across theatre, music, dance, comedy, visual art, film, cabaret and literature.
To get you ready for the festival, I’ve picked some highlights across each category and a few pre and post show hot spots to grab food and drinks along the way.
Cabaret
Starman: A Show With The Music Of David Bowie
The dazzling Sven Ratzke inhabits the multiple personas of the legendary David Bowie – a mad and outrageous universe with incredible music and costume. Do not miss this captivating night!
Date: 15 June
Location: His Majesty’s Theatre
Comedy
An Evening Of Sit Down With Billy Crystal, Hosted By Andrew Denton
Actor Billy Crystal can not be denied as an absolute highlight for the 2016 festival program.
In a personal and hilarious evening interviewed by Andrew Denton, there is no telling quite where this night will end up but guaranteed it will be a fun journey.
Date: 25 to 28 July
Location: Riverside Theatre, Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre
Kids
Disney On Ice Presents Magical Ice Festival
It doesn’t get any more exciting than the characters of Frozen joining loved characters from Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid and Tangled in a magical adventure on the ice. The kids will love it (and the parents will too!).
Date: 2 to 6 June
Location: Perth Arena
Literature
Celebrating the spoken word featuring local and national poets with confirmed guests Kevin Brophy, Matt Hetherington (Qld), Robbie Coburn (Vic), Jennifer and Horst Kornberger, Josephine Clarke, Jakob Boyd, Maddie Godfrey and Dora Smith.
The festival spans performance, workshops, panel discussions and open mic slots across Northbridge Piazza.
Date: 6 to 18 June
Location: Northridge Piazza Community Room
Film
Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour 2016
Amazing documentaries that are inspired and even a little mind blowing. Do not miss the 30 minute doco ‘Eclipse’.
Date: 23 June
Location: State Theatre Centre of WA
$FileLocation = “/include.php”;
readfile($_SERVER[‘DOCUMENT_ROOT’].$FileLocation);
[/insert_php]
Music
Elizabeth Quay will play host to its first music festival with a free celebration of WA music featuring San Cisco and Jebediah.
Indiana Jones & The Raiders Of The Lost Ark Live In Concert
The West Australian Symphony Orchestra bring to life John Williams’ incredible score while the film plays on the big screen. A delight for any Indi fan and the entire family.
Date: 6 June
Location: Elizabeth Quay
The Perth Town Hall will host an International food market and live performances on June 24, July 29 and August 26.
Make sure to pop down pre-shows and grab some food and take it all in.
Date: 24 June, 29 July, 26 August
Location: Perth Town Hall
Bluegrass Quintet Punch Brothers bring their dynamic performance and humour to the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre giving a pep to your step ready for a romantic post-show stroll around Elizabeth Quay.
Date: 8 August
Location: Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre
The thrift shopping superstars on their biggest tour so far hit up Perth for one night only.
Date: 11 August
Location: Perth Arena
Everyone’s favourite Piano-Pop-Rock innovator Ben Folds performs with New York’s yMusic with his new album So There, as well as solo hits and a few Ben Folds Five much loved favourites.
The Perth Concert Hall will be rocking on the 23rd of August- a stone’s throw away from a hip drink at Petition, a sleek cocktail at Halford or some of Perth’s best Thai cuisine at Long Chim.
Date: 23 August
Location: Perth Concert Hall
Theatre
Black Swan Theatre Company collaborate with the National Theatre of China to present Bertolt Brecht’s epic masterpiece in a ‘Chinese Opera’ style production.
Not to be missed, the tale will be told in a bold, exciting, new way. This will be one show talked about for years to come.
Date: 30 July – 14 August
Location: State Theartre Centre of WA
The dark humour of this ironic musical is retold at His Majesty’s Theatre when flower shop assistant Seymour raises a plant species into a foul mouthed R&B singing carnivore.
Post-show head down King Street for a dark drink downstairs at Varnish on King and just try to get those catchy songs out of your head.
Date: 4 to 7 August
Location: His Majesty’s Theatre
Visual Art
Lighthouse
Council House will be transformed with new light based artworks by Emma Buswell, Melissa McGrath and Amy Perejuan throughout July; make sure to check it out between shows or after a stop in at the Winter Supper Club at Perth Town Hall.
Date: Throughout July
Location: Council House
Chris Cobilis recreates a record store to reflect the time gone by complete with cassette decks, CD players and Turntables. The kids are all right!
Date: 8 July to 12 August
Location: Forrest Place
For all the City of Perth Winter Arts Festival fun and excitement download the program guide now.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]