Smitten When Bitten
The underbelly of Darwin’s creative scene is exposed under lights this month, as Darwin Fringe Festival rears its lovely [croc] head for 10 art-filled days of music, theatre, dance, cabaret, and more.
By Tierney Seccull
Since its first signs of life in the 80s – starting as a club space within the Bougainvillea Festival, these days the Darwin Festival – Darwin Fringe really came into its own in 2014 thanks to a dedicated team of creatives passionate about supporting local emerging and independent art.
This passion has seen the annual program blossom over the years, from 20 events in 2014 to a huge 75 in 2023. Director Hannah Illingworth says backing local creativity is a worthy exercise.
“We invest a lot of money into local artists, and we really value them. We have been working really hard to build that national awareness of what happens in Darwin, and shine a national spotlight on things that may not be in the mainstream.”
This annual investment in local art generates robust returns. Darwin Fringe alumni from previous years have gone on to perform at festivals around the country, including Australia’s biggest arts festival, Adelaide Fringe.
“It’s always so exciting to see [other festivals] program an artist that we took a chance on. It’s amazing to see Fringe elevate people … to see how this platform can be leveraged to give people more opportunities.”
An exciting development for Darwin Fringe is its recent transition to become an incorporated association, with the establishment of a board of directors. Inaugural Chair, Zoe Scrogings, says it’s all about sustainability.
“It opens the organisation up to more diverse funding opportunities, and provides other opportunities to develop partnerships. It really supports Fringe to develop and grow, and gives more sustainability to what is such a vital platform for emerging, early career and independent artists to create new work,” she says.
“It’s also really important for the community to be able to see work that’s outside of the mainstream and creates a very vibrant arts scene.”
The “arts festival with bite” offers a safe place to expand on one’s cultural experience, exposing audiences to genres, themes and artists they may not have otherwise engaged with. Illingworth says they could see glimpses of themselves in the works.
“We really try to put on stories and shows that we hope people see themselves reflected in, and maybe sides of themselves they don’t often get to see on stage.”
A large part of the Fringe ethos is to support artists to have discussions that might be a bit more difficult or may not be welcomed by mainstream communities, which is strongly reflected in the 2023 program.
“Looking at some of the shows there’s a theme of finding – and really looking at – one’s own journey. That’s popped up across quite a few of the local works that are being presented,” Illingworth says.
“Bella Maree tells her story about escaping a cult through music, Transition to Technicolor is a story of a trans woman speaking into the universe the things she wishes she said to her father before he left his family, and Manifesto of Saltwater Women is a cross-collaboration of poetry and music, telling stories of being First Nations Djapu (Aboriginal) and Te Aitanga o Hauiti (New Zealand) and how those two communities connect.
“A Night with Pastor Ace is a story of growing up queer in the church, and Baggage Claims is about growing up Jewish in Australia and finding your connection to community. It’s extremely diverse in terms of practice, background and discussions.”
Accessibly is at the core of Darwin Fringe, in terms of the events and shows programmed, of course, but also when it comes to ticket pricing. With the average cost of tickets coming in at less than 20 clams, with plenty of free events for all ages to experience, you can afford to take a gamble.
So go on. Expand your horizons, try something new and sample a tasty treat from the diverse Darwin Fringe menu. You might just find your new favourite flavour.
Darwin Fringe Festival
WHEN FRI 14 – SUN 23 JUL
INFO darwinfringe.org.au
Sample the Menu
The 2023 Darwin Fringe program is bursting at the seams, with more than 250 artists presenting 153 individual events. In fact, it would take this entire edition of OTL to tell you about them all, so we've popped together this handy list to tempt you with some of the tasty bites in this year's Fringe.
Opening Night
There’s nothing like a party to get the good times rolling, and Darwin Fringe’s Opening Night offers a range of events to kick off the 2023 festival. And literally gets rolling. Enjoy tunes from talented singer/songwriter Kirra Voller, an intimate discussion between a child and father on their connection to Country in Us Mob - Kulumbirigin Danggalaba, and the Civic Park Roller Disco.
WHEN FRI 14 JUL | 5-9PM
AT BROWN’S MART HUB
COST FREE
Opening Night Party
Ramingining band Yellow Nation headline the official Opening Night party, so pop on your party outfits and get ready for a boogie!
WHEN FRI 14 JUL | 6.30PM
AT BROWN’S MART COURTYARD
COST $15-$20
Come To The Edge
With an evocative soundtrack, quirky characters and aerial choreography, this short dance theatre work is about diving into the unknown – a metaphor for the courage needed to leap beyond our boundaries.
WHEN FRI 14 JUL, 7PM | SAT 15 JUL, 3PM & 6PM
AT DARWIN ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE
COST $20-$25
Fringe Club
Party well after dark, and dance, smile or jump on stage at these three special club nights. Each one features different local acts and showcases a different genre of music. Let's party!
WHEN SAT 15, FRI 21 & SAT 22 JUL | 10.30PM
AT BROWN’S MART STUDIO
COST $10-$15
Scones of Destiny
Join a baking class like no other with Josh Wyndham-Kidd, and feel the prickly bits of your year melt into a tasty, sweet treat. With jam and cream.
WHEN SAT 15 JUL | 4.30PM
AT BROWN'S MART STUDIO
COST $15-$20
Wagait Arts Festival - Growing
Journey across Darwin Harbour to beautiful Wagait Beach to celebrate art and culture at the 2023 Wagait Arts Festival.
WHEN SAT 15 & SUN 16 JUL
AT WAGAIT BEACH COMMUNITY CENTRE
COST FREE
The C'stars All Stars
Darwin’s CemeNTstars All-Abilities Theatre group performs their way into your heart and soul with their new show.
WHEN TUE 18 JUL, 6.30PM | SUN 23 JUL, 2PM
AT TRAVERS STREET THEATRE
COST FREE
Manifesto of Saltwater Women
Melanie Mununggurr and Juran Timu Adams present a series of poetry and stories woven through spoken word, song and music, inspired by YolÅu and Maori cultures connected through saltwater and the journey of womanhood.
WHEN TUE 18 – THU 20 JUL | 7.45PM
AT BROWN'S MART THEATRE
COST $20-$25
Transition to Technicolor
This show shares unsaid words one queer person wishes they got to tell their father before he passed, and how they navigated their queerness through the magic of makeup.
WHEN WED 19 & THU 20 JUL | 6PM
AT BROWN'S MART STUDIO
COST $10-$15
Embrace
Enjoy this emotional ride that is life, relive your youth, understand loneliness and isolation, and embrace the future. This production features students that have varying disabilities, and has been shown at Brisbane, Wynnum and Adelaide Fringe festivals.
WHEN THU 20 JUL, 1PM | FRI 21 JUL, 6.30PM
AT TRAVERS STREET THEATRE
COST $22-$33
The Voyage of Trepanger
A young seafarer recounts his personal odysseys to decipher the enigmas of tales from the primal voiceless land. His journeys take him worldwide and ultimately lead him back to his place of origin.
WHEN THU 20 & FRI 21 JUL, 5.45PM | SAT 22 JUL, 3PM
AT BROWN'S MART THEATRE
COST $15-$20
Come and Get it Super Fun Kids Show… WOO!
This show’s for humans who enjoy super fun stuff with music, dancing and LOL's aplenty.
WHEN FRI 21 & SAT 22 JUL | 12PM
AT BROWN'S MART THEATRE
COST $5-$10
A Night with Pastor Ace
This sacrilegious musical comedy is about Ace and their journey to discovering queer joy and self-acceptance.
WHEN FRI 21 JUL, 6PM | SAT 22 JUL, 4PM
AT BROWN'S MART STUDIO
COST $21.50-$29
Incubator
Darwin Fringe’s annual zine and digital art fair returns, so get your hands on special goodies from over 15 stalls. Bring cash!
WHEN SAT 22 JUL | 2-6PM
AT BROWN'S MART COURTYARD
COST FREE
Comedy at Dom's Bar & Lounge
Make tracks to Dom’s in Nightcliff, as talented comedians take the mic over five hilarious nights to get you giggling.
WHEN SAT 15, SUN 16, THU 20, FRI 21 & SAT 22 JUL
COST $9-$28
Free Courtyard Performances
Accessibility is at the heart of Darwin Fringe, and the good folks at Fringe have programmed these free, sweet bitesize performances in the Brown’s Mart Courtyard to give everyone a nice dose of art.
WHEN SAT 15, SUN 16, THU 20, FRI 21 & SUN 23 JUL
AT BROWN’S MART COURTYARD
COST FREE
Cover Artist
EACH YEAR, THE Darwin Fringe croc gets a nifty lil’ rework. The 2023 iteration is created by Dominique – aka Space Cadet Art – an emerging local Indigenous artist. She uses different mediums and styles to create art and experiences, ranging from lino printing to digital designs. We think this year’s croc rocks!
No Traash
Darwin Fringe strives to offer a space that is safe and comfortable for all artists, staff and audience members. No Traash is a zero-tolerance policy for any behaviour that may be deemed unsafe, harmful, or disrespectful. So head along, have a good time and be a good human – it’s easy!
Inset: Photo: Paz Tassone
