The Melbourne Fringe Festival continues to support Aboriginal artists through its carefully curated Fatal Fringe programming. Deadly Edge is committed to showcasing groundbreaking and thought-provoking artwork and amplifying Indigenous voices and perspectives on stage. Some highlights of the Fatal Edge program include:
Na Djinang Circus in collaboration with Circa Cairns, world premiere in place, A contemporary circus production that explores humanity, culture and connections to place. In a society turned upside down, who will lead us?
in place Set to explode into the Footscray Community Arts Outdoor Amphitheater, a subversive and challenging Aboriginal-led circus showcases Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s complex understanding of plants and the environment, which is informed by stories and Knowledge passed down by tradition.
Over the past year, local participants have planted native plants and developed deep connections with the land, their work and themselves. This journey will be woven into the performance in placecombines artistic expression with nature to examine society’s impact on the environment and its deep resonance within us all. in place is a show of acrobatics and complex storytelling not to be missed.
Na Djinang Circus is a contemporary circus based in Melbourne whose work explores fundamental human traits from an Aboriginal perspective, using the body to illustrate complex human experiences including trust, connection, vulnerability and joy. Circa Cairns is a Circa initiative supported by the Queensland Government and the Tim Fairfax Family Foundation. It is committed to creating bold art that combines place and culture.
in place Will be on display at Footscray Community Arts from October 17th to 20th.
Another highlight of the festival is digital echo, Created by Aaron Wyatt, Eugene Ughetti and Speak Percussion, they will conduct innovative explorations of the transformation of sound, information and meaning through time and space. Combining technical excellence, contemporary classical music and percussive art, this new work provokes reflection on the history and future of the Internet and interstellar communications, creating a mesmerizing and otherworldly soundtrack.
Snippets of the viola’s melody are sent via Internet connections to five different locations around the place. The captured sounds and digital resonances are then sent back to the performance space, where they resonate with percussion instruments and blend into the live soundscape. As the viola echoes across the country, in and out of live performances, its journey creates unpredictable times that mirror the unseen landscapes of our information highway.
Aaron Wyatt is an accomplished violist who performs regularly with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra. He was nominated for a Helpmann Award for his role as musical director of the opening season of Cat Hope’s new opera. Speechless, at the 2019 Perth International Arts Festival. In 2022, Wyatt became the first Aboriginal Australian to conduct the National Symphony Orchestra in concert. Speak Percussion works with many of the world’s leading advocates of experimental and new music on world-class, adventurous and innovative projects.
digital echo It will be on display at Arts House from 17 to 20 October.
Jikirangangu Vergaiya It will be a powerful show that promises to keep the language and culture of Vergaea alive through creative expression. The performance brings together Wergaia and Wemba Wemba songwriter Alice Skye, Jaadwa composer James Howard and Koori musician Michael Julian.
Each artist brings their own personal history to the performance, combining storytelling with songwriting, sound art and improvised music. Sung in Vergaia, the songs tell stories of family, ancestors, community and dreams, depicting a journey back to the homeland and into the future.
Since the release of her first single, Alice Skye has been hailed as one of Australia’s brightest new stars “You are the mountain.” She has toured with Emily Wurramara and Midnight Oil and opened for The Avalanches.
James Howard is driven by the spiritual potential of electronic instruments and reconnects to his Aboriginal heritage through his artistic practice.
Michael Julian is a proud Curry native, musician, educator and alumnus of Curry. He is passionate about working with Aboriginal artists to amplify the diversity of Aboriginal voices across multiple platforms and communities.
The premiere will take place on October 2-3 at Festival Hub – Trades Hall.
The carefully curated Fringe program continues to produce outstanding work by Aboriginal artists that has attracted thousands of audiences, toured nationally and won multiple Melbourne Fringe and Green Room Awards.
The annual two-and-a-half-week Melbourne Fringe Festival invites audiences to explore the unexpected and the in-between with a bold and daring program of art and performance in theaters, galleries, venues, public spaces, homes, studios and more across the city. Featuring a carefully curated program of large-scale public events and adventurous arts, as well as an open program of more than 400 events, it is one of the largest multi-arts festivals in the country.
The open framework means anyone can sign up to be part of the festival, spreading voices from the fringe throughout the city. Melbourne Fringe puts access and inclusivity at its core and actively works through Indigenous commissioned programs Fatal Fringe, Deaf and Disability arts programs, mentorships, workshops, residencies, forums, awards and touring support To remove barriers to participation and develop artist skills.
The 2024 Melbourne Fringe Festival will take place from 1 to 20 October. For more information, visit melbournefringe.com.au.
