The Perth Festival has been celebrating Perth and Western Australian art for 65 years. This year, an eclectic program of contemporary music, dance, theatre, visual arts and lectures will be sure to thrill. Experience a nocturnal wonderland at King’s Park with ‘Trees Speak’, listen to Orbital, Britain’s giants of electronic music, at Chevron Gardens or enjoy a spellbinding circus event delving into Vietnamese culture by Cirque du Vietnam.
The Perth Festival has been celebrating Perth and Western Australian art for 65 years. This year, an eclectic program of contemporary music, dance, theatre, visual arts and lectures will be sure to thrill. Experience a nocturnal wonderland at King’s Park with ‘Trees Speak’, listen to Orbital, Britain’s giants of electronic music, at Chevron Gardens or enjoy a spellbinding circus event delving into Vietnamese culture by Cirque du Vietnam.
Born out of the UWA’s annual summer school entertainment nights in 1953, the Perth Festival has cultivated decades of cultural growth as the oldest arts festival in the Southern Hemisphere.
It is Australia’s premier curated multi-arts festival and one of the greatest in the world, known for commissioning major new works, celebrating the unique qualities of Perth and engaging diverse audiences.
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2019 Program
Boorna Waanginy: The Trees Speakis an epic event that will transform Perth’s beloved Kings Park into a nocturnal wonderland, delighting visitors with its vivid expression of Indigenous culture and reminding us of the need to care for the ground beneath our feet.
Five Short Blasts, a journey on a flotilla of boats, departs from the mouth of the Swan River in the early morning and at dusk.
Some brilliant artists from across the globe will be welcomed in the program, from Barrie Kosky’s Komische Oper Berlin, New York’s Elevator Repair Service and the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir.
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Two of the world’s most exciting artists working in dance, South Africa’s Dada Masilo and Ireland’s Michael Keegan-Dolan, bring thrilling productions of classic ballets reimagined and made searingly relevant for now.
The 2019 Artist-in-Residence, Ursula Martinez, will present two hilarious and provocative works; one of which she returns to a show made with her parents, Family Outing – 20 Years On.
Cassils, a Canadian transgender artist, will present work that challenges norms and will change the face of contemporary art.
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Writers Week
Writers Hub at UWA welcomes writers, storytellers, musicians, artists and theatre makers from around the globe and this year writers will hit the streets, libraries and bars of Perth and beyond to spread a range of exciting words and ideas.
Films
With Lotterywest’s diverse program of films, Perth Festival provides the best of international cinema under the beautiful Western Australian night sky.
Begin a new cinematic journey each night at the festival’s two outdoor cinemas, Somerville at UWA and Joondalup Pines; both offer delicious menu choices and pristine lawns for the perfect picnic.
This year’s program is full of must-see films showcasing new voices, new stories, and new perspectives.
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Tickets
Jump online, book in person or contact the Info Centre on 6488 5555 for tickets. Prices vary for events. Student, concession or Friends prices are available.
‘Tix for $36’: these discounted tickets will be released at 9am each Friday to a range of fantastic shows.
Image credit: Perth Festival