The Original Guide to What’s On in Perth & Western Australia

The boom went bust, and now Jono’s in a desert mine site’s donga, trapped in debt and a lifestyle that is slowly strangling his liyarn. Jono’s wife Mary feels stuck in the high flying life of the lonely FIFO parent and has decided they’d be better off cutting their losses and moving home to Broome, close to family and her younger sister Janey. But the old neighbourhood, and her sister, ‘ain’t what they used to be’. Janey is locked in her house, sliding into stand-up comedic delusion as she awaits her FIFO husband Brad’s return. But where is Brad? And where’s their young daughter Katie? Something’s gotta give, but what will it take to stop the slide into the deepening pit that threatens to engulf them all?

In a country abundant with natural resources, mining is a way of life. This warm, tautly written drama pulls no punches as it explores the impact of mining on two Indigenous families, developed from extensive interviews with miners from across the country and lived experience of the writer. Starting in Broome with Goolarri Media’s Indigenous Writers program, and developing with the support of Yirra Yaakin, Playwriting Australia, Ilbijerri and Moogahlin’s Yellamundie First Nations Play Festival, FIFO – Fit In or F*ck Off! brings us an exciting new voice from the Kimberley, former FIFO worker Melody Dia.

Come and celebrate with the colour, smiles and all the fun of the glorious Emerald Isle with plenty of tap Guinness and Kilkenny. Enjoy some horseplay with family and friends with traditional Irish treats, live music and a full raceday schedule.

Castaways Sculpture Awards is Rockingham’s signature arts and culture event, celebrating artistic innovation and environmental awareness. The annual nine-day outdoor exhibition showcases sculptural artworks from Western Australian artists created from recycled and repurposed materials at the newly revitalised Rockingham Foreshore and Churchill Park.

In its second year, the Maquette and Small Sculpture Exhibition will coincide with the Castaways Sculpture Awards and will be displayed at the Rockingham Arts Centre, exploring the beauty and intricacy of small scale three dimensional artworks.

For the first ever, WAAPA at Edith Cowan University is taking its popular annual Halloween concert into the heart of the city – and it’s going to be a lot of fun!

The Symphonic Wind Ensemble presents a program of epic proportions, including a world premiere by WAAPA’s own Jonathan Jie Hong Yang (of Brave the Wave fame) and the Australian premiere of Victoriano Valencia’s Three Colombian Scenes for Alto Saxophone and Band with special guest saxophonist Matt Styles.

For a touch of Halloween madness, there’s Eric Whitacre’s crowd-favourite showpiece, Godzilla Eats Las Vegas!, which invites the performers to do anything to get a laugh – including wearing hilarious costumes, acting out scenes on stage and using crazy video and lighting.

The concert culminates in Wine Dark Sea, a 2014 symphony for band by American composer John Mackey. Inspired by Homer’s epic poem, The Odyssey, this bold and compelling piece combines the full force of the Symphonic Wind Ensemble with percussion, prepared pianos and harps. 

“This is the most exciting and ambitious program that SWE has ever put together,” says WAAPA’s Head of Woodwind and Spooktacular music director, Philip Everall. “We can’t wait to get into the Perth Concert Hall – it’s going to be a hoot!”

The staff and students of WAAPA are incredibly happy, excited and privileged to be able to perform for a live audience in this fabulous and iconic venue. So grab your fancy dress costume and we’ll see you there!

Please be advised this event is being sold with socially distanced seating configurations in accordance with current Government restrictions. Should government restrictions change, further seats will be released for sale.
 

The WA Beer & Beef Festival returns to Perth for its 5th Year at the stunning Burswood Parklands on Saturday 31 October & Sunday 1 November. As Perth's largest outdoor Beer & BBQ festival there will be over 120+ beers on tap & dozens of BBQ food vendors and also carnival & bucking bull rides, lots of seating & shade, market stalls and live music from WA's best musical acts! 

This year’s Vernissage will launch Refracted Reality, a specially curated exhibition by Guest Curator Anna Louise Richardson featuring the hand-picked work of ten compelling artists. All works will be for sale on the night, with all sale proceeds returning directly to the artists.

Salon Vernissage 2020 will also open the window on PICA’s 2021 program, offering guests a glimpse into the exciting spectrum of contemporary arts experiences planned for next year.

This will be an ideal opportunity to dust off your finery, mingle with like-minds, buy art from PICA’s specially curated selection, and support artists when they need it most.

Artitja Fine Art Gallery invites you to this exhibition of paintings and found objects from remote community artists in which the importance of story is emphasised.  Storytelling is a vital part of Aboriginal culture and historically a valuable method of passing on cultural knowledge through generations.  In emphasising this aspect of the art we acknowledge the gift we are given by the artists in connecting cultures by sharing that knowledge.

Tucked away in his quiet attic, his only companions are the characters he has created in his stories. And then one day, Bambert decides to set his stories free, to send them out into the world on little balloons in the hope that they will find a home.

The stories contain instructions: whoever finds them should return them to Bambert, postmarked with a stamp from wherever they landed, so he knows where they should be set. But as each day passes and no stories return, Bambert’s hope begins to fade. Will his stories ever find a home?

Since its premiere in 2016 Bambert’s Book of Lost Stories has charmed audiences across the country and around the globe. This special return season of our Helpmann Award winning production brings Bambert home to Perth once more.

A reminder of how stories connect us to the world and ultimately, the power of kindness.
 

A leading Summer event in Paris for the past 30 years, this iconic and secret affair is now renowned across the world. Starting in Paris in 1988, Francois Pasquier decided to organise a picnic for his friends asking them to dress in all white to easily recognise one another. Now, Diner en Blanc is held in 77 cities in over 23 countries with more than 120,000 annual guests.

To uphold the Diner en Blanc tradition, guests are asked to wear head-to-toe white attire and bring their own portable tables, white chairs, white table linens, tableware, and gourmet meals (you can also pre-purchase a gourmet picnic). Over the course of the evening thousands of chic picnic-goers will eat and celebrate amid music, entertainment and dancing.

The evening is filled with eye-catching selfie opportunities and visually breathtaking moments including the traditional group waving of a white cloth napkin at sunset (to mark the commencement of dinner) and the lighting of thousands of sparklers (to initiate dancing and mingling). At the end of the evening when the trumpet sounds guests will pack up all of their belongings and depart, leaving behind no sign of their elegant revelry.

As always, the location is 100% secret for the approx. 3000 attending, and will be until the day of the event. All guests will meet at a secret gathering point before the Le Diner en Blanc volunteers guide attendees to the secret dinner location to converge on a magnificent event setting. To secure a place at the Diner en Blanc, those who are not members and leaders friends as well as sponsored guests, must join the waiting list.

Fremantle Theatre Company (FTC) present a clear breath of fresh air to WA on the tail of Covid with a new voice, at a new space, with an incredible company of artists ready to revitalize the local performing arts scene with a truly international standard production.

THE OTHER PLACE by Sharr White is a beautiful piece of writing that demands true excellence in performance – and FTC have just that, in their stellar cast lead by KATE WALSH with DALIP SONDHI, LUCY KATE WESTBROOK and MARARO WANGAI.

A brilliant doctor watches her world slip through her fingers, unraveling without her - taunted by her daughter, the echo of loss and a whisper of hope. A heart-breaking and uplifting experience that is human to the bone . . . and beyond.

There’s free tarmac rally action across the city. Competitors will compete on closed road special stages in and around Perth, Whiteman Park, Muchea, Ellenbrook street stages, Kalamunda (including the infamous Zig Zag), Toodyay, Chittering and Bullsbrook, along with Malaga Sunday morning prior to the finalé at the City of Perth Special Stage along Riverside Drive next to the spectacular Swan River from 1.00pm.

On Sunday 25^th October in the city is the Shannons Classic on the Park, a showcase of beautiful cars from yesteryear and the Celebration of Motorsport on Langley Park with over 600 cars, bikes and boats on display as well as free activities for the kids.

Find out more: targawest.com.au

The Nambung Country Campout with Music is WA's best camping event. There will be country music, entertainment and food stalls onsite to be enjoyed by all. The event will be held just 2 hours north of Perth at Nambung Station, a working sheep and cattle station. Nestled along side Nambung shearing shed you get to soak up the best entertainment in the shade. Artists perform to a fully packed program. It's the best weekend of all things country. 

It’s been described as a “must-see” for theatre people – the world premiere of professional premises is coming to Paper Mountain in Northbridge.

Written by Perth playwright Andrew O’Connell and presented by Company O, the play follows a series of rehearsals led by a less-than-competent theatre director.

While rehearsing Shakespeare’s The Tempest, it becomes increasingly evident to Dave – who’s doing his best to rehearse for the part of Prospero – that director Malcolm doesn’t quite know what he’s doing.

Dave is unforgiving when it comes to people not being able to do their job properly and sets out to expose Malcolm as fraud.

But Lindsay, who is rehearsing for the part of Miranda, is quite fond of Malcolm and tries to defend him when Dave goes on the attack.

She sees no reason why Malcolm’s deception should be exposed, even if it is true, and doesn’t think going after him will help to make the play any better.

Dave wants his pound of flesh and Lindsay soon finds herself in the crossfire. The Tempest eventually reaches opening night but one person is missing in the end…

professional premises plays at 7.30pm October 15, 16, 17, 22, 23 and 24. Tickets are $25 – book through trybooking.com. The show is on upstairs at Paper Mountain, 267 William Street, Northbridge.

Every Friday! Straight off the hotplate, Perth's finest will be serving up more than you can handle.

Karnivore BBQ bring low n slow smoked brisket, Churras, our fav neighbourhood Butcher, fire up their Brazilian BBQ, Nimrod Kazoom ruins your diet with his crispy pork shanks and waffle fries (FKN AYE), El Argentino come in hot with their flavorful Asado ribs and flame grilled Argentinian steak, and Kazz's Jamaican Kitchen serve up the best jerk in town. **sucks it in**  Then get ready for some ~ real juicy ~ burgers from Greenhorns and top it all off with some Taiwanese fried dirty bird from Two Peck Chicken.

CheatMeats are rolling in every few weeks with some absolute fire - Linley Valley pork pig on a spit. Damn son.

DJs play til late, so pull up a milk crate and we'll sling you a bev.

Find Meat Market taking over Washing Lane every Friday, 5pm till 10pm, smack dab in the centre of Northbridge - opposite, The Moon, and down the street from everyone's favorite duck house, Good Fortune Duck House.

Meat Market is made possible thanks to the legends at 188 Realty, CheatMeats, Linley Valley Pork, Northbridge Common and KINN & Co.

We meat Fridays. See you down the lane. 

Start your weekend off right with locally sourced wines, craft beers, tasty nibbles and free live music from some of WA's hottest musicians.

Gather your colleagues and head to Crew & King from 4pm-8pm (live music from 5pm-7pm) every Friday between 2 October and 6 November 2020.

Here to take a tour of tease across our sunburnt state in 2020, the headliner and superstars of PIBF are coming to Perth & regional WA this October!

From the 22^nd of Oct to the 3^rd Nov, feast your eyes upon Burlesque Hall of Fame ‘Bettie Bombshell’ – our 2020 headliner, and a glitter clad bus full or showgirls, drag queens, circus artists and musicians!!

They’ll be heading to Perth central, Katanning, Kalgoorlie, Merredin & Northam to perform in shows, teach in workshops, network at forums – come be part of the fabulousness!

 

Oct 23rd: The Court Hotel (opening night)  https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/the-tease-factory-perth-international-burlesque-festival-tickets-115555735315?aff=efbeventtix&fbclid=IwAR1UZBZ73Ov-JwIZCVFhHSGVZt9YRkKSuheY2isPEGJ4xSziz3jscCZ4d4w

 

 

Oct 24th:  The Astor Theatre https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/the-tease-factory-perth-international-burlesque-festival-tickets-115555735315?aff=efbeventtix&fbclid=IwAR1UZBZ73Ov-JwIZCVFhHSGVZt9YRkKSuheY2isPEGJ4xSziz3jscCZ4d4

 

 

Oct 29th:  NorthamEarly show:

https://events.humanitix.com/perth-international-burlesque-roadshow-northam

Late show:

https://events.humanitix.com/perth-international-burlesque-roadshow-northam-late-show

 

 

Oct 30th: Merredin https://www.trybooking.com/BLBTJ

 

 

Oct 31st  Kalgoorlie https://sa2.seatadvisor.com/sabo/servlets/EventSearch?presenter=AUGOLDFIELDS&event=PIBF

 

A PARK bench is the basis of six very different short plays at the Old Mill Theatre this October.

Written and directed by Perth playwright Noel O’Neill, each play features two actors and is presented by Maverick Theatre Productions under the umbrella title A View from the Park.

Passion Play is a comedy about an egotistical, lecherous theatre director who has walked out of auditions for an Easter play about the crucifixion and his agent trying to reason with him.

It’s followed by Daddy’s Little Girl where a dominating father insists on orchestrating his daughter’s wedding – but, underneath, it’s about him not being able to let her go.

In Rules of Engagement, a man (played by O’Neill) is about to propose marriage after receiving some advice from his mother but soon realises his bride-to-be carries a lot of emotional baggage.

A superstitious man meets his long-term partner in Sign Right There and she is under the impression he might move in with her, although he has other plans.

Walking Matilda is a twisted tale of betrayal and deception with the revelation of many secrets when two friends meet.

Rounding out the set is One For Sorrow, featuring two lifelong friends – one is gravely ill and the other has neglected the friendship, so he tries to heal the wounds by lending a hand.

“I like the idea of the park bench because I consider it ‘middle ground’,” O’Neill said.

“It’s not ‘your place’ or ‘my place’ but a free atmosphere where people can either solve their differences or walk away from them.

“I always consider the bench itself to be a character that brings people together in conversation while exposing little pieces of what’s going on inside.”

The main challenge, according to O’Neill, is how to make each play interesting.

“It’s not so much about what the actors are doing but what they are doing to each other with the dialogue,” he said. “That’s where the action really is.

“I try to inject a little comedy into drama and a little drama into comedy because I always feel life is like that.”

Born in Ireland, O’Neill moved to New York in his late teens and appeared in many off-Broadway productions before moving to Perth more than 20 years ago, clocking up numerous awards for writing and directing.

He has previously worked as a lecturer at the WA Academy of Performing Arts and Perth Actors’ Collective and is currently appearing as Watto in the ABC-TV series The Heights.

“The appeal of A View From The Park is the fact you have six unknown situations and there’s s a curiosity to that,” O’Neill said.

“When you present a full play, you have one story and can more or less figure out the ending in most cases.

“But with the park bench plays you have six situations and the audience really has no idea of the outcome each time.”

A View from the Park plays at 7.30pm October 23, 24, 25, 29, 30 and 31 with 2pm matinees October 24, 25 and 31. All tickets are $20 – book at www.trybooking.com/BLLMM.  

The heritage-listed Old Mill Theatre is on the corner of Mends Street and Mill Point Road, South Perth (opposite the Windsor Hotel and Australia Post).

Join The Corner Gallery in their warm and cosy secret cinema as they screen a sci-fi masterpiece, Inception, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Ellen Page and other Hollywood legends. The film will play for one night only as part of the venue's pop-up cinema. Don't miss out!

Throughout jazz history a handful of musicians claimed their kingdom and became masters of their domain.

King Oliver ruled over New Orleans in the early part of last century. The Duke and The Count developed big band music into what it is today. Benny Goodman, the King of Swing, ruled with an iron clarinet over the 1930s, and Ella Fitzgerald was crowned the Queen of Jazz, a title she still holds. This jazz royalty changed music forever, and we will forever bow down to these supreme leaders. All hail the jazz!


A Night of Jazz Royalty: Swingin’ with The Count & The Duke
with the WAYJO MinterEllison Monday Night Orchestra, plus Tuesday Night Orchestra
Fri 23 & Sat 24 Oct, 7.30pm
Downstairs at The Maj, His Majesty's Theatre Perth
Limited tickets only from Perth Theatre Trust

THE magic of Cinderella will cast a spell on you this October as the Wembley Theatre Company brings the classic fairytale to life as a pantomime.

Written by Tony Nicholls and directed by Bryce Manning, the show takes the traditional story and mixes in a range of extraordinary characters including a stepmother full of malapropisms and an unlikely fairy godmother.

Thrown into the mix is a range of jokes, slapstick, puns, songs and laughter as Cinderella journeys from her downtrodden existence to princess life.

“Tony Nicholls’ pantomimes never stray far from the expected plot structure we’re all familiar with,” Bryce said.

“While we know we are watching Cinderella, Tony includes sub-plots, sub-sub-plots, songs and a myriad of characters that make us laugh and cry – but never distract from what we all know will happen.

“The challenge for a theatre director is to find a heartbeat in the script.

“It normally takes four or five rehearsals before the cast is clear and confident with the direction I am taking them.

“It’s then they take ownership of their characters and the play and each actor starts the process of playing a part in this living, breathing thing called theatre.”

Involved in acting, directing and theatre teaching since 1984, Bryce trained as an actor at the University of Western Sydney before moving back to Perth to start his teaching career.

He formed the Wembley Theatre Company in 1996 and has been producing, directing, writing and acting in the company’s annual productions for the past 24 years.

The company has seven pantomimes it performs in rotation and last staged Cinderella in 2014.

“This year’s production will be vastly improved,” Bryce said. “We have new LED lights, stage microphones, stunning new costumes and an impressive smoke machine.”

Cinderella plays at 7pm October 16, 23 and 30 and 2pm October 17, 18, 24, 25, 31 and November 1. Tickets are $17, $12 concession – book at www.trybooking.com/BLKAD.

The pantomime is showing at the Wembley Community Centre, 40 Alexander Street, Wembley.

Ink your diary for 23rd and 24th October when a new festival celebrating the humble Squid jigs into Busselton.

Expect squid fishing competitions (with a cash prize), education and clinics, giant sea creature kite flying, south west sea and land food and wine sampling and demonstrations featuring cooking over fire, squid kids’ activities, live entertainment and more.  

The program will feature Friday night food and wines events, entertainment and learn-to-squid clinics; and on Saturday, visitors will enjoy a cheery south west culinary marketplace and entertainment on the Busselton Foreshore, squidding contests for kids and adults, and a colourful sea creature kiting display.

This is a free event, running from 4pm on Friday the 23rd and 9am Staurday the 24th.

The mini fest will take place over two stages at Freo Social on October 23rd, there will also be an art market and exclusive merchandise available. This will be the follow up release to their praised 2019 EP "Cleaning The Dishes" which saw them tour the country, win a WAM award and two Song Of The Year awards.

The new EP will dive deep into new sounds and ideas; guiding the listener on a journey from stripped back poetic folk, to hard hitting electric guitars.

Joining the lineup will be the soul wrenching sounds of Nika Mo, the cut throat songwriter rock of New Nausea, the glistening indi folk harmonies of Clove, and more yet to be announced.

JACK DAVIES
Busker, rambler, egg scrambler... Jack Davies is widely regarded for his witty lyricism and powerful storytelling. After joining forces with his merry band of bush chooks, the group's thundering folk-rock ballads quickly garnered acclaim across the country. Recently, they took home the WAM award for best folk act, a SOTY award for best country song, and an NLMA award for WA's best live act. Close to home, The Bush Chooks have played a string of sold out headline shows and supports; most recently supporting names such as The Waifs, Tash Sultana, San Cisco, Newton Faulkner, Weyes Blood as well as playing a lauded set at the Fremantle Falls Festival. Now, after having the world flipped upside down, hard fried, the chooks gleefully return to the WA stage with their brand new EP "Songs For A Long Walk".