Come As You Are
Darwin’s about to get a little bit louder, wilder and weirder, as the underbelly of our thriving creative scene is exposed, unleashing the goods upon us over 10 art-filled days at Darwin Fringe Festival.
By Tierney White
FROM MODEST BEGINNINGS back in the 80s as part of the Bougainvillea Festival, these days known as Darwin Festival, Darwin Fringe has grown into a beautiful, magical beast, the 2024 program teeming with music, theatre, dance, cabaret, and more.
Hannah Illingworth returns to the helm as Artistic Director, and says Darwin Fringe stays true to its ethos of providing accessible and affordable art for all, with some exciting developments this year.
“An exciting new feature, that makes some existing features even better, is that we received a grant from Arts NT to get some additional access support, which includes having our Opening Night interpreted in Auslan, as well as a couple of the performances. That’s been something we’ve been working on for about four years, so that’s an exciting feature for us,” she says.
Darwin Fringe casts its net even further in 2024 where accessibility is concerned. A larger range of demographics have been considered in the program, and the Festival’s tentacles reach beyond the confines of the CBD.
“We’ve got two cool, fun events that have popped up – two parties, out of the hubs and away from the city. The Wet After Fifty pool party at Nightcliff is for people aged 50-plus, and we’ve also got Club Krock at Club Tropical at Lee Point, which is an all-abilities disco. So, there’s a good spread of the party this year, which is really nice.”
With venues dotted around town, punters can soak up the Fringe experience in Winnellie – at a secret location, so watch this space – and the northern suburbs, plus Darwin Entertainment Centre, Bustard Town, and the heart of Fringe, Brown’s Mart Precinct.
Tickets remain affordable as the average ticket price hovers around the twenty-dollar mark, plus there’s a bunch of free events to enjoy. Community groups also see the benefits of the beast, as the opportunity to be included in the program has seen their shows sell like hot cakes, likely to sell out by the time Opening Night rolls around. This is also your friendly reminder to book your hot tix so you don’t miss out.
Adding to the excitement of Fringe is the opportunity to see creativity from around the country. Beth Lucas is an alt-country singer songwriter hailing from Queensland and relishes the opportunity to return to Darwin Fringe after her debut last year.
“I’m very excited. My favourite part about Darwin, and I’ve only been up there a couple of times, is that everyone is so welcoming … it’s very relaxed and the audiences are all really attentive,” she says.
Lucas also notes the opportunities Fringe Festivals provide for audience members.
“I think getting in front of new audiences [is important], the variety of performance styles is so broad … I think there is something for everyone. Even if you’re going for a musical act, I’m sure those people might be surprised to … experience different art forms.”
Whilst Darwin Fringe provides punters the chance to experience work beyond Territory borders, it also allows Territorians to flex their creative muscles to an engaged audience, ready to gobble up whatever it is they’ve got to dish out.
Floopy's Fuzzled Feelings comes to you from the Central Australian desert, presented by Jasmine Story and Betty Sweetlove, aka Sweet Story Theatre Co. The duo welcomes the chance to share their work with Top End audiences.
“Performing at Fringe allows us to contribute to the amazing Territorian performance art on showcase at the Festival,” they say.
“As artists from the Central Desert, our practices and the show have been so enriched by our local arts community, which has such a positive and supportive attitude to creating new works. We're so excited to share an example of the creativity that comes from our community known for its regional art.”
No matter which way your 2024 experience rolls out, Illingworth says everyone is safe to experience what Darwin Fringe has to offer.
“One of the things I really love about Fringe is that you can really come as you are. That, to me, seems super important in social spaces these days, and I love that you can come as you are as an artist, or an audience member … and that feels really special,” she says.
“What people are sharing is so bold and so brave, and they really offer us an opportunity to reflect and celebrate. It’s just been really nice to try and curate more of those spaces.”
Darwin Fringe Festival
WHEN FRI 12 – SUN 21 JUL
INFO darwinfringe.org.au
Take a nibble…
What's your jam... Music, theatre, comedy, spoken word? Or perhaps there’s something you’re yet to experience? Whatever floats your boat, there’s plenty to take a sneaky sample from in the 2024 Darwin Fringe program. Go ahead, sink your teeth in.
Opening Night Party
IT’S PARTY TIME, Fringers! Celebrate under the trees in Civic Park for the Official Welcome to Country before soaking up the festival energy and celebrating independent, emerging and experimental art into the night, with a back-to-back line-up of exciting local acts.
WHEN FRI 12 JUL | 5.30PM-12AM
AT CIVIC PARK & BROWN’S MART COURTYARD
COST $15-$20
Chameleon
Looking for a new point of view on mental illness wellness? With original music from the world of blues, jazz, folk and rock, Chameleon packs a healthy dose of funny – with a feelings chaser – for the mind, body and soul.
WHEN FRI 19 JUL, 8PM | SAT 20 JUL, 6PM | SUN 21 JUL, 4PM
AT BROWN’S MART STUDIO
COST $20-$29
Liquored Up Late
From zero to 100 fast, this is the Queer Pussy Powered hairball you’ve been dying to cough up. A show of sexually charged nonsense with juicy facts thrown in, Liquored Up Late is powered by those who have one, know one, or are a bit of one.
WHEN FRI 12 & SAT 13 JUL, 8PM SUN 14 JUL, 6PM
AT DARWIN ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE
COST $22.50-$45
Man of Paper
Tender and bittersweet, what you learn about the Man of Paper is a matter of chance and fate. Sometimes you don’t know a person until they have already gone.
WHEN SAT 20 & SUN 21 JUL | 5PM
AT BROWN’S MART THEATRE
COST FREE-$15
ODDITY
Award-winning artists from Corrugated Iron Youth Arts soar with captivating aerial skill and artistry, inviting you to witness the magic of individual expression in flight, inspired by the iconic Ziggy Stardust.
WHEN SAT 13 & SUN 14 JUL 2PM & 6PM
AT CORRUGATED IRON HALL
COST $12-$22
Conspiracy FACTS: Wake up, sheeple!
Do you think we landed on the moon? Do you think the Earth is round? Do you think "Australia" exists? Take the red pill and learn the conspiracy facts about how the world really works.
WHEN SUN 14 JUL | 6.30PM
AT DOM’S BAR & LOUNGE
COST $7-$10
Kissing Contest
Two of the world’s most attractive clowns take to the stage to settle a question that's been asked since the dawn of time – who can get the most kisses?
WHEN WED 17, THU 18 & SAT 20 JUL, 8PM | FRI 19 JUL, 10PM
AT BROWN’S MART STUDIO
COST $30
Tori Crisp - Flying Solo
Tori delves deep into the psyche behind a particularly strange attraction, and attempts to come to terms with a more conventional one. Men.
WHEN THU 18, FRI 19 & SAT 20 JUL | 7PM
AT TOP FLOOR COMEDY
COST $16.50-$20
Floopy's Fuzzled Feelings
Floopy's a little monster with big feelings. Performed by Jasmine Story and Betty Sweetlove, this show is an interactive, multi-sensory journey for four to seven-year-olds. Join Floopy and Fizz as they uncover strategies for recognising and responding to big emotions.
WHEN FRI 19 JUL, 11.30AM SAT 20 JUL, 11AM
AT BROWN’S MART THEATRE
COST $10-$15
An Afternoon with Beth Lucas
Experience Beth Lucas' raw talent in this acoustic show, that delivers heartfelt storytelling and captivating melodies, showcasing her rising star in alt-country music.
WHEN SAT 13 JUL | 2PM
AT AIR RAID RECORDS
COST $20
AWE-Bells
The Arafura Wind Ensemble presents a music program that culminates in a specially commissioned work by Kieran Hurley, featuring the iconic Beagle Bells of Civic Park.
WHEN SAT 20 JUL | 6PM
AT CIVIC PARK
COST FREE
Home on Stilts at Town Hall Ruins
Relax and unwind in an iconic Darwin location with eclectic local trio, Home on Stilts, as you’re transported to a world of down-tempo grooves. Nice.
WHEN SAT 13 JUL | 6PM & 7PM
AT TOWN HALL RUINS
COST FREE
Cycles and Comorbidities (C&C)
Join Electric Blue in her debut show about the abyss and playground of our inner world, and how sometimes we’ll do anything to avoid dealing with it. Part-song, part-spoken word poetry, all mental health nonsense.
WHEN SAT 13 & SUN 14 JUL | 2.30PM
AT BROWN’S MART STUDIO
COST $12-$20
Living In a Dream That Wasn't Even You: A Cosmic Poetry Showcase
Allow Twinkle Glizzy to lead you through a hypnotic dream of creamy poetry, accompanied with healing frequency music composed and produced by Twinkle Glizzy herself. Be guided through the darkness of spiritual ascension to reach the promised enlightenment of eternal love, waiting on the other side.
WHEN SAT 13 JUL | 6.30PM
AT BROWN’S MART STUDIO
COST $11
What We Do With Words
This emerging writers’ group has been giving each other encouragement over the last year-and-a-half. The result? A selection of short stories to read about the NT, Darwin, what’s changed, what hasn’t, and how we manage here.
WHEN SAT 13 JUL | 1PM
AT BROWN’S MART THEATRE
COST $7.50-$15
Great Detectives: All New Mysteries
1950s detectives, Candy Matson and Johnny Dollar, bring their hit show to town. Be immersed in the experience of attending a 1950s radio recording, which is recreated in a night of mystery, comedy and intrigue, not to be missed.
WHEN SAT 13 JUL, 5PM | SUN 14 JUL, 3PM
AT DARWIN ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE
COST $35-$50
Mad Are We
This new theatre work, currently in development, blends live performance with soundscape to explore autistic female experience in the context of a coming-of-age queer love story.
WHEN SAT 13 & SUN 14 JUL 12.30PM
AT BROWN’S MART STUDIO
COST $15
Club Krock
Get ready for an epic night at Club Krock! Dance, music and inclusive fun for all abilities, exclusively for over 18s.
WHEN FRI 19 JUL | 6PM
AT CLUB TROPICAL
COST $10
Incubator
Darwin Fringe’s annual zine and digital art fair returns, giving you the chance to get your mitts on a range of handmade and limited-edition goodies. Check out reads from across the country, including collections from Small Zine Volcano (Naarm/Melbourne).
WHEN SAT 13 JUL | 2-6PM
AT BROWN’S MART COURTYARD
COST FREE
Closing Night Party
It’s Darwin Fringe’s closing night and they’ll party with you if they want to. (They do!). This shebang is hosted by Crimson Needles, with performances from Julsy Spirals and more, with Dj Klit Kat spinning vinyls into the evening. Celebrate creativity and see out the last delicious moments of the 2024 Darwin Fringe Festival.
WHEN SAT 20 JUL | 10PM-2AM
AT BROWN’S MART STUDIO
COST $10-$15
Click here to see all Fringe events uploaded to our website!
Thumbnail, header & inset photo: Helen Orr
Inset: Darwin Fringe Program
