There is something counter-intuitive about a group of free spirits organising an event. But, that's what the
Sydney Fringe Festival is all about: bringing together the black sheep of the arts scene into sixteen days.
From 10 to 26 September, in Sydney's
inner west, the hipster-ati will gather to celebrate all things independent.
Catering to cultural connoisseurs from the world of music, theatre, visual arts, film, and even food, the Fringe Festival offers visitors a tour of the underground. The Fringe Festival is the product of an alliance between such cultural mainstays as
Carriageworks,
PACT Theatre, and the
Seymour Centre. To add a sense of auspiciousness to the occasion: this is the first year that Sydney has held a Fringe Festival.
With so many options, it can be difficult to decide how to approach the festivities. While there are numerous shows being produced in the entertainment block of the inner west, it is useful to approach the line-up according to your area of interest. For those interested in the art scene, there are a number of exhibitions opening on the first day of the Festival at Carriageworks.
the Awkwardness of Belonging is a group exhibition considering the status of the collective: a collective struggle to deal with environmental issues, a shared concept of beauty, and the actions of the politicised group.
For a more macabre exhibition, you might consider visiting
Vile! at the
Ultimo Project Studios. Vile! presents artist Mark Dubner's view of human relationships through charcoal drawings and latex sculptures.
If you are more captivated by people than artworks, the Seymour Centre will be hosting a production known as
A Czar is Born, a one-act musical comedy starring a publishing magnate. At the
Factory Theatre on 13 September, Helen Doig will be directing an experimental play known as
A Germ of an Idea.
Also at the Factory Theatre, on 19 September, the
Blue River Choir will perform an evening of Bosnian-Balkan music.
At the
Leichhardt Forum, from 13 September, poetry and dance will collide to produce
A Poet and a Dancer.
These are just some of the events that will be held during the festival dates. The Sydney Fringe consists of free and ticketed events. The vast majority of the shows cost between $10 to $28, and tickets can be purchased
online.
