What’s on in Perth & WA

The Festival aspires to create new work and stimulate discourse about Western Australia and our place in a complex and political world. The Festival’s ambition is to lift audience expectations and opportunities for Western Australian arts practice, contributing to a vibrant and resilient culture. Founded in 1953 by The University of Western Australia, the Perth International Arts Festival is the longest running international arts festival in Australia and Western Australia’s premier cultural event. The Festival has developed a worldwide reputation for excellence in its international program, the presentation of new works and the highest quality artistic experiences for the people of Western Australia.

International siren and comedienne extraordinaire Meow Meow opens our Kabarett Haus accompanied by the full force of West Australian Symphony Orchestra with Pink Martini's Thomas M Lauderdale on keys.

Join the spectacular queen of song for an unforgettable evening of exquisite music and much mayhem. Prepare for Piazzolla tangos, Weill, Brecht, Brel – even Radiohead – alongside original chansons by Meow Meow, as this postpost-modern diva showcases her glorious brand of subversive and sublime entertainment.

The Lambs and the Pickles are as contrasting as the Australia they inhabit. In post-war Perth they share an old house at No 1 Cloud Street that’s haunted by a dark history. Over the course of two decades their stories become entwined with those of our suburbs, our city and our river.

After breaking box office records in Melbourne, this iconic story born of our city is coming home. Directed by Perth's own Matthew Lutton and with a cast of Australia’s finest actors, Cloudstreet is an epic Festival experience packed full of hardship and heart.

A night of piano, pain and laughter from an artist that defies defenition. Adored by fans of the inventive punk cabaret and darkly original song craft of her former band The Dresden Dolls, Amanda Palmer's unapologetic solo career has been aesthetically boundless and undeniably ambitious.

Now, she brings her critically acclaimed one-woman show down under. Experience her raw emotion, intensely personal lyrics, incredible musicality and intimate interplay with the audience as she performs solo on piano, sharing songs and stories in one epic concert experience. 

Pugsley Buzzard delivers an explosion of funky R&B, soul and blues. His set will feature moody and intriguing renditions of his own multi-dimensional songs and personalised interpretations of classics from the original masters. Having toured extensively throughout the US and Europe Pugsley now resides in Berlin and will be joined by some of Berlin’s Finest.

Sunday Music is FAC’s free weekly live music program. Enjoy the best local and touring bands every weekend in the beautiful setting of FAC’s Front Garden. Bring a rug and picnic to this family friendly event, or enjoy wood fired pizzas and drinks from our bar. Some chairs provided.

In 2016 UK performance maker Bryony Kimmings nearly drowned. Postnatal breakdowns, an imploding relationship and an extremely sick child left her sitting beneath the waves hoping she could slowly turn to shell. Four years later and she is able to deal with life again, but wears the scars of that year like a dark and heavy cloak. 

I'm A Phoenix, Bitch, is a show about motherhood, heartbreak, and finding inner strength - a powerful, dark and joyous one-woman tour-de-force.

Chained in a secret dungeon, an innocent man awaits certain death. But in Beethoven’s ode to love, risk and triumph, there is one prison guard who holds the key to his fate. Fidelio is the uplifting tale of Leonore, a heroic woman who creates a daring plan to free her husband from wrongful imprisonment, and the tyranny that put him there.

Under the direction of Asher Fisch, Beethoven’s score blazes with soul-stirring emotion in this concert production of a work rarely performed in Perth. German soprano Christiane Libor delivers a mighty, no-holds-barred performance as Leonore, leading one of the finest casts ever assembled in Australia.

Celebrating the 250th anniversary of Ludwig van Beethoven’s birth, Fidelio is presented as a hallmark work of the 2020 Perth Festival. Featuring the full force of the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, the West Australian Opera Chorus and WASO Chorus with narrator Eryn Jean Norvill, this once in a generation retelling of one of the most inspiring stories ever set to music is completely unmissable.

Opera in concert sung in German with English subtitles

Embodying a gospel groove that has thrived throughout their vibrant 70-year history, the Blind Boys transcend race and genre, injecting an unparalleled spirit into their music. Experience their thrilling vocal harmonies and jubilant live show and you’ll be a fan for life.

The publication of The Handmaid’s Tale in 1985 and the current, Emmy-award winning television series have created a sweeping global cultural phenomenon, as ‘handmaids’ have become a symbol of women’s rights, standing against misogyny and oppression.

In Conversation with Margaret Atwood is an Australian premiere literary event spanning the breadth of Atwood’s remarkable career, her diverse range of works and why, in the Booker Award winning The Testaments, she has returned to her seminal story, 34 years later.

Join us for an unmissable evening of conversation, discussion and Q&A with one of the most vital authors of her generation, as Margaret Atwood shares her signature insight, humour and intellect.

11 days, 30+ culinary experiences, 20+ chefs

A festival that celebrates award winning wine, delicious fresh produce and amazing flavours of the Great Southern. Located along the pristine southern coastline and expanding into the farming hinterland it includes major centres Albany, Denmark, Mt Barker, Kojonup and Katanning.

With 20+ chefs including local stars, Perth talent and the inaugural MasterChef winner Julie Goodwin and fan favourite Derek Lau across 30+ not-to-be-missed culinary experiences, this festival will be home to a music festival, a wine and food festival, long lunches, degustations, premium pairings, community markets and free events.

Great Southern produce is fresh, seasonal and exceptional. Foods like oysters and seafood, chicken, beef and lamb, heirloom vegetables and cheeses all excel on the south coast. You can indulge in all the delicious fresh produce and amazing flavours at many of the events.

The award-winning wine, winemakers and breweries of the Great Southern will also feature across the program. You can expect to sip, taste and savour wine varietals such as Shiraz, Pinot Noir and Riesling, alongside craft beer made locally in the Great Southern.

Feast on the amazing culinary creations from the very talented local stars as they team up with Perth talent and our Australian Guest Chef while they host a range of smaller intimate gatherings to larger events.

Choose from several self-drive adventure packages and include the beautiful natural attractions such as Walpole’s Tree Top Walk and The Gap as well as manmade attractions. With Easter the following weekend, why not stay longer in the Great Southern!

Indulge. Feast. Savour. Adventure

Taste Great Southern is the heart of Western Australian food & wine!

The six-piece will kick off the tour at Fremantle Art Centre in Perth on Friday 1 May, making their way through Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane and wrapping up in Sydney. Perth’s wacky Psychedelic Porn Crumpets join the national run as main supports, bringing their sprawling and grungy psych-round sound to the stage, accompanied by fellow Perth outfit, indie-pop darlings Dulcie who have mesmerised listeners since bursting onto the scene in 2018.

Through a diverse calendar packed with exciting events & experiences (rodeo, dining under the stars, music, yoga boats, comedy and more) to the the local characters & flavour that make Kununurra and the East Kimberley one of the most iconic destinations in the world, the Muster is a truly enthralling, enchanting and magical experience for all.

From humble beginnings in 2001, the Argyle Diamonds Ord Valley Muster came to life quietly as a simple one night affair – a pleasant dinner in the outback for local businesses. Since then it has grown at lightning speed to be firmly established as a pre-eminent event in the national festival calendar,being a 3 time Hall of Fame Inductee (2017-2011-2008) at the WA Tourism Awards as well as being officially recognised as the Best Regional Event in Australia at the 2015 Australian Event Awards to name but a few notches of the Muster’s belt.

There are a range of amazing Land or Air Travel Packages available to help get you here starting at $405*pp (t&c’s apply), so you have no excuse to tick this one off your travel, foodie, adventure or 4×4 bucket lists…

The Muster’s major draw-card, the ‘Aviair Helispirit Kimberley Moon Experience’ continues, deservedly so, to receive international attention and acclaim. Staged at Celebrity Tree Park, the ‘Aviair Helispirit Kimberley Moon Experience’ is attended by celebrities, politicians and business leaders alike. Attracting over 5000 patrons, including 625 guests enjoying a 5 star concert and dining experience within the Kimberley Fine Diamonds Dinner, this truly is a unique and unforgettable experience – a place where city and country folk meet, mingle and dance under the stars.

Iconic Californion trio Green Day are bringing along good mates Fall Out Boy and Weezers to Australia to showcase an unforgettable rock show for the first time ever!

Absolute American rock legends Green Day, Fall Out Boy and Weezers are coming together for the unmissable Hella Mega Tour presented by Live Nation and Triple M. This will be the first time that all three bands will tour Australia together.

The tour kicks off in Perth on November 8, before hitting Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane. You won't wanna miss these legends perform a seriously electric show!

Presale tickets will be available from Tuesday 11th Feb, 10am and general release from Friday 14th Feb, 10am

More info here: http://bit.ly/HellaMegaTourAU

A Walmajarri man living and working from Fitzroy Crossing in the West Kimberley, he combines diverse influences drawn from television and the traditional Kimberley craft of boab nut carving, desert iconography and the epic characters of the Narrangkarni (Dreamtime) to create uncanny technicolour vignettes.

All Mixed Up is complimented by a selection of paintings made in the 1990s by Butcher Cherel Janangoo, a key elder of the Gooniyandi language group instrumental in the retention of men’s law ceremony at Muludja Community. This vibrant pairing offers a glimpse of the rich variety of cultures clustered around Fitzroy Crossing’s Mangkaja Art Centre. Curated by Emilia Galatis in collaboration with Lynley Nargoordah.

Much of this exhibition reveals Hill's own lived experience as a Noongar woman of the Stolen Generations and the profound impact that government policies and widespread racial discrimination have had upon generations of Aboriginal women. For the first time Hill’s work uncovering these experiences has been brought together to present a compelling portrait of Australia's recent shared history.

His ambitious transformations of full scale homes manifest the anxieties in suburban life, presenting images eerily devoid of the human presence that their existence depends on. Suburban Interventions is the first large scale survey of the artist’s photography and films, offering an in depth opportunity to unpack more than a decade of artistic practice.

This selection of original works at DADAA, which vividly brings to life Beasley’s fascination with cheeky dogs and his unconventional journey into the world of contemporary art, is sure to capture the imagination of art (and dog) lovers of all ages.

AGWA has partnered with Otherside Brewing Co. to bring art, music, culture and brews together in a series of free Friday Night events.

Across the four Friday nights in February, enjoy live music from local WA Musician and pop-up bar where you can buy beers from Otherside Brewing Co. and wines from Juniper Estate whilst enjoying AGWA's extensive collection on display.

Dracula choreographer Krzysztof Pastor returns with In Light and Shadow, a neo-classical work set to the music of Bach. Light and shadow interplay as uber-contemporary lines juxtapose with Bach’s rich music. Witness a breathtaking duet accompanied by the Aria before the Corps de Ballet create a magnificent kaleidoscope of patterns to the joyous Orchestral Suite no. 3 in D major.

Graeme Murphy presents a tantalising excerpt from his powerful work Air and Other Invisible Forces. With costume design by Australian Akira Isogawa, you'll be taken on an emotional journey of innovative and hauntingly beautiful dance sequences with allusions to Asia and the West.

The program also features an original new work from Dutch choreographer Wubkje Kuindersma. Listed in the Top 25 to Watch in 2019 in Dance Magazine’s annual list of up-and-coming artists who represent the future of dance, Kuindersma’s new creation forms part of an exciting co-production with Dutch National Ballet

Her unique practice has been influenced by her background in documentary film-making and as a drummer in the post-punk music scene. Visceral and immersive, her installations act as a channel for emotions and histories that dwell in built and natural landscapes. Her video and performance work, Thunderhead channels the energy of the meteorological phenomenon of a supercell.

<p> A mixed-reality work created by legendary artist/director Lynette Wallworth and the Amazonian Yawanawa people, Awavena tells a stunning tale of metamorphosis. This collaboration combines technology and transcendent experience to share a vision and the story of a people coming back from the brink of extinction. Awavena is an unmissable immersive experience and a gift from the Yawanawa at a time of peril. </p>

<p> Once you enter this interactive installation you are free to roam and fly. Words sail through the air as emails. They fall into dust. They form and reform. Created by pioneering artist and musician Laurie Anderson and Taiwanese new media artist Hsin-Chien Huang, Chalkroom is a Virtual Reality work unlike any other. Instead of the brightly-lit gaming world of most VR, everything is hand drawn, dusty and dark, creating a shadowy, atmospheric world to explore.</p>

Start off your weekend right with PICA After Dark! We’ll be keeping our doors open late to give you a one time after dark arts experience. Make the most of your Friday, grab a drink and join us in the galleries or performance space for a relaxed late-night cultural experience.

WHAT’S ON?

Galleries open late
Drink offers with our neighbours from PICA Bar
Art activities
Chalkroom | Free
Created by pioneering artist and musician Laurie Anderson and Taiwanese new media artist Hsin-Chien Huang, Chalkroom is a virtual reality experience unlike any other.
 

Recognised as one of the most exciting artists working in contemporary dance today, Hofesh Schechter is renowned for creating his own genre - part dance, part gig, part theatre and completely original.

Now Perth's own STRUT Dance presents 12 independent artists from across the Asia-Pacific region performing a special version of Schechter's explosive mega hit Uprising and trance-like tHE bAD outside and in the round. Wander through the venue, drink in hand, and take in all the action in a double bill that will have you buzzing. 

Fifty dancers flood the stage, filling the theatre with a living, breathing, joyous mass of dancing bodies, moving in intricate unison and wild individuality. They coexist in perfect imperfection, illustrating the push and pull of humanity and the exquisite patterning found in the natural world.

Riveting and hypnotic, Colossus is an epic and exhilarating dance work that explores the beauty and ugliness of the collective experience. As complex patterns ripple through the heaving throng, a single movement triggers a chain reaction wheeling the fragile whole from chaos to order as it builds towards a united, dizzying climax.