2020 was a difficult year for artists and venues, which makes the Newcastle Fringe important to everyone - the artists, the venues and the audience, as it provides five days of employment, customers and enjoyment. People are hungry to get out again and Newcastle Fringe provides a low cost and safe option to do so. #supportarts.
Newcastle Fringe opens on Wednesday, March 17, and runs through Sunday, March 22, at various venues around Newcastle.
Several shows are selling out fast - Disenchanted: A Cabaret of Twisted Fairytales, OMG WTF, Black Starr Cabaret, Bang Bang Bandit Variety Show and Who Let the Dyke Out. Others are doing well in ticket sales and may sell out such as Mad Bitches Inc. and The Art of Falling in Love.
Avant garde arts festival keeps up with changing times, and stays wild
There are several gems that still have plenty of tickets available and are worth checking out.
FOR THE KIDS
Switch Witchetty is fresh from a sold out run at the Adelaide Fringe Festival. Suitable for ages 5+ with tickets just $20 this is a high-energy fairy-tale adventure which has left audiences laughing and singing along from Sydney to Edinburgh.
Do the Hibble Hop has enjoyed rave reviews at World Fringe in Perth, is suitable for ages 2 to 10 and costs $20. It's a hip hop, interactive experience with puppetry, rap and dancing that kids just love.
Fringe for Families at The Station - Saturday this free event 9am to 2pm features markets, street performers, fringe artists and workshops for kids and adults. On Sunday enjoy live musical entertainment, street theatre and evening markets from 4pm to 8pm.
FOR YOUNG ADULTS & THE YOUNG AT HEART
The team behind Jopuka Productions on the Central Coast is bringing 3 theatrical productions to Fringe suitable for older teens and over. For a contemporary, issues-based theatre experience don't miss Gaybies, Moth or Samson. All tickets are $20 each, perfect for drama students.
WCB: Sigil is an exploration of musical spellcasting described as neo-soul, R&B, electronica and trip-hop that conveys the emotional complexities of the human experience. This haunting show is also just $20 per ticket.
Daydreamers Playhouse - support local artists from Newcastle Fire & Flow fresh from their success with The Sci-Fi Spectacular in The Hangar and TinkerBox - flow art, EDM tunes, live singing and VR lighting. If you missed them before, don't miss them now!
FOR BARGAIN HUNTERS
Jawbone by Alex Lykos is a provocative, bold, dark comedy written and performed by filmmaker Alex Lykos (Me & My Left Brain and Alex & Eve). Get $5 off any performance with the code LYKOS.
Fever by Slayge and The Grotty Gang is a darkly comic piece built on sustainable principles. Thursday's tickets have been reduced to $15.
Jane Austen: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly presented by the local Jane Austen Society is completely free but tickets still need to be booked. It will be lots of fun and may include zombies.
FOR FILM LOVERS
Newcastle Fringe Emerging Film Maker's Festival at Event Cinemas Kotara on Thursday March 18, from 3pm showcases the finalists from a global competition of shorts and animations. Expect the weird, quirky and thought provoking.
A Lion Returns [M] - 7pm Thursday at Event Cinemas Kotara, produced by Hunter local Liz Burton and directed by Serhat Caradee this film was nominated for an AACTA award for Best Indie Film.
newcastlefringe.com.au
Liane Morris is the marketing manager for Newcastle Fringe.
