Perth Festival alias Perth International Arts Festival is an annual event that celebrates art in all forms: movie, music, theatre, circus, dance, as well as written and visual arts. 2012 is the 60th year of this festival and in the past 59 years, it has grown to become an event of international standing with a worldwide reputation for innovation, presentation of new works and quality.
Raoul -- One of the offerings in 2012 Perth Festival
The 2012 Perth Festival is going to kick-off on 10 Feb 2012 early morning (7-7.45am) with a free and spectacular opening titled
Dawn: Dusk. Staged on one of the premier Perth beaches, Cottlesloe Beach. It will involve Indigenous Elders and performers as well as hundreds of local vocalists and musicians. Too early to drive out? Don't worry, free shuttle buses will be available from 6.15-9am from Cottesloe Train Station, so you can rest your eyes while somebody else is driving you there.
Cottlesloe Beach
From there on, every single day for the next four weeks or so until early March will be choc-a-block with events.
This festival calendar allows you to see what's on each day, see further details about each event (such as country of origin, cost, location, and timing), and make an online booking if you're so inclined. If you plan to see three or more events, it's worth booking and paying for your tickets before 24 Dec 2011 as you may get up to 15% discount (depending on ticket types).
Broke and can't afford the admission price? Then the free events are your cup of tea. One free event I would not miss is
Place de Anges, an aerial circus act involving lots of feathers by Les Studios de Cirque from France. Mark your calendar, it's going to be a one time only spectacle held on St Georges Terrace between Council House and St George's Cathedral at 8-9pm on 11 Feb 2012.
Place de Anges
If you're a movie junkie, beware that the Lotterywest Film Festival, although sitting under the umbrella of 2012 Perth Festival, is actually held over a longer period starting 28 Nov 2011 and ending 15 Apr 2012. Loads of local as well as international movies would be shown in the Sommerville (University of WA, Nedlands) and Joondalup Pines (Edith Cowan University, Joondalup).
2012 Perth Festival is so extensive that just reviewing the available options have already exhausted me. However, it is impossible not to be excited at the same time. I almost can't wait for the events to start; to walk among the hundreds of people jostling in front of the Council House trying to catch some of the feathers dispersed by the circus performers; to spread a picnic and watch a movie by the lake; to catch a glimpse of the
RedBall in most unexpected places. To do all that and more. As
Jonathan Holloway (Perth Festival's Artistic Director) puts it, "
To get the most out of your Festival, jump in with both feet … book more than you really think you should, commit to more than you have time for, engage with it in the fullest possible way. The Festival this year really is what you make of it."
