Magic Moments this Awegust

If you’ve been dreaming of balmy Dry season nights under festoon lights, the time has finally come.

^{By Tierney White}

Armed with a program packed with art, theatre, comedy, cabaret, music, and more, the 2024 Darwin Festival puts the awe in August, set to sprinkle its magic upon us for almost three weeks. Artistic Director (AD) Kate Fell says she’s excited to see the program lift from the pages into reality.

“It’s the super-exciting bit … It’s so buzzy – and I love how the people of Darwin get behind the Festival and want to ask questions and find out about shows.”

The curated program, which is the second under the artistic leadership of Fell, packs a punch. But there’s one hand-picked highlight with a local flavour the AD says revellers shouldn’t miss.

“I can’t wait to see Big Name, No Blankets here in the Territory. I saw it in Sydney, and it’s a show that I’ve heard about for a long time. It’s been about five years in the making. Seeing it in Sydney was fabulous, and it’s such a brilliant show, but all I could think of was how awesome it was going to be at the Amphitheatre, in the NT,” she says.

“The artists, and [Ilbijerri Theatre Company] and Sammy Tjapanangka Butcher and his family are just so excited that this special NT story is going to be here, on the big stage, in our opening week.”

Described as a rock ‘n’ roll theatre extravaganza, Big Name, No Blankets tells the story of Warumpi Band, a rock group that formed in 1980 in the remote community of Papunya.

Staying true to its ethos of providing accessible events for all, the program includes a mixture of free events, giving everyone a shot at some Festival frivolity.

“Your experience of the Festival can be simply coming to Festival Park, enjoying some food, and listening to some great live music. We’ve got an absolute cracker line-up on the Darwin Port Bandstand … and it really reflects that cultural diversity of Darwin. Then, of course, there’s the incredible art exhibitions happening at the galleries,” Fell says.

“This year we have an awesome installation called Lost Dogs’ Disco by Eness, a fantastic company. Some of them are six-metres high, giant inflatable dogs, and it celebrates the role that dogs have in our lives. It’s just gorgeous, and interactive, and playful.”

Breaking beyond the CBD, an exciting new development is the expansion of the Festival into Palmerston, an effort by the team to reach new audiences and new venues.

“Palmerston is a great opportunity in that middle weekend. On Friday night is when the markets are on, so we are amplifying that with some fantastic free entertainment for the whole family,” Fell says.

“And Saturday is an awesome comedy show with Merrick Watts as the host … and The NEO as the music, so it’s just going to be a really great night, and hopefully connect with people who may not be able to get to Festival Park.”

Whatever tickles your fancy in this year’s program, Fell says magic moments await.

“Darwin Festival is – and I’m very biased – but I’ve been to a lot of festivals and there’s just something about Darwin Festival … it’s the history, and the connection, and the way the Festival makes the most of Darwin in August. It’s just a beautiful time.”

Darwin Festival
WHEN THU 8 – SUN 25 AUG
INFO darwinfestival.org.au

_{Header & thumb: Helen Orr}