‘I SET OUT TO CELEBRATE THIS INCREDIBLE CORNER OF THE WORLD AND THE STORIES THAT MAKE IT UNIQUE.’ WENDY MARTIN HON. MARK MCGOWAN MLA PROF. DAWN FRESHWATER JOHN BARRINGTON PREMIER OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA VICE CHANCELLOR, CHAIR, PERTH FESTIVAL UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA Western Australia is one of the world’s best It is Festival season again and we are about Perth Festival is a place for dreaming, Four years ago I announced my first Perth Festival program as a newcomer privileged to be welcomed places to live and visit because of to share a wonderful cultural adventure that experimentation and making unexpected our enviable lifestyle and events like will challenge our senses and celebrate our discoveries. Our art and our culture enable into the embrace of this city. Inspired by Western Australia’s distinctive sense of place and its people, I Perth Festival. connections with each other. us to investigate just who we are in a playful set out to celebrate this incredible corner of the world and the stories that make it unique. and friendly context. The longest-running international As the founder of Perth Festival, The arts festival in the southern hemisphere is a University of Western Australia is delighted Our Festival exists to enrich life in Western That commitment began with our 2016 Barrie Kosky’s Komische Oper Berlin, Our Festival Connect and Education showcase of the world’s best artists alongside to support Australia’s premier curated arts Australia through art. Our local audiences, Opening event Home and culminates for New York’s Elevator Repair Service and programs sit at the heart of what we do Western Australia’s own exceptional creative festival and one of the greatest in the world. and those we welcome from farther me as Artistic Director with the return of the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber and we continue to make rich offerings for talent and Indigenous culture. afield, can enjoy the Festival as the home Boorna Waanginy: The Trees Speak. This Choir to the remarkable cross-cultural creative learning to the local arts sector The Festival has been a much-anticipated Perth Festival has been a source of great of international excellence in the arts epic event will transform Perth’s beloved collaboration between Chinese and and arts lovers young and old. We invite you highlight of summer in Perth since 1953. It pride and joy for our university ever since in this State. Each year the Festival is a Kings Park into a nocturnal wonderland and Australian dancers and musicians One to join in. Professor Fred Alexander brought to life unique opportunity to share in the global delight visitors with its vivid expression of Infinity. Two of the world’s most exciting celebrates our capital city’s unique qualities, Perth Festival is the result of the hard his vision of a ‘festival for the people’ conversation that art creates. Indigenous culture, while also reminding us artists working in dance, South Africa’s engages diverse audiences and brings us work, care and dedication of a fantastic 66 years ago. of the need to care for the ground beneath Dada Masilo and Ireland’s Michael Keegan- closer together as a community. team, to whom I am enormously grateful. We also support our creative industries our feet. Dolan, bring thrilling productions of classic I also extend deep thanks to the Festival A key driver of our creative economy, The Festival’s impact on Perth and its people as a presenting platform and through our ballets reimagined and made searingly Boorna Waanginy is the centrepiece in Board, our patrons, sponsors, donors and this landmark event also promotes local each summer is a great expression of the year-round work behind the scenes with WA relevant for now. a series of work by Western Australian supporters and to the many people across innovation and cultural exchange with the University’s mission to engage with our local artists and companies. That is as important artists and companies under the banner In these times who can argue against Perth who continue to cherish the Festival. world to boost skills, attract tourists and and global communities in the pursuit of to us as the international highlights. Made in WA. This program includes the need to appreciate difference and provide jobs. excellence and innovation. I now truly call this place home and seven world premieres of daring local honour the things that connect us? Our Wendy Martin has been a champion for complete my cycle of four Festivals by The State Government is proud to support productions nurtured and commissioned visiting artists do just that. The British I wish to thank outgoing Artistic Director local artists over her four years as Artistic presenting a lovingly made portrait of place the Festival through its various departments by Perth Festival. Paraorchestra, the world’s only large Wendy Martin for delivering four Director. She has celebrated our sense of and the things that matter. and agencies including Principal Partner orchestra for professional musicians with outstanding Festival programs under place, our connections with the Asian region, a journey on a flotilla of Lotterywest and Tourism WA, which is Five Short Blasts, disability, offers a radical new experience her visionary direction. our living Indigenous culture and the voices boats, departs from the mouth of the Swan supporting the free Opening Event of live music. Our 2019 Artist-In-Residence of artists with disability. On behalf of the River in the early morning and at dusk. This WENDY MARTIN Boorna Waanginy: The Trees Speak. Please join us for the many inspiring, Ursula Martinez presents two hilarious and Festival Board, I offer my warmest thanks to adventure completes the Festival’s trilogy ARTISTIC DIRECTOR provocative and entertaining events on provocative works, including the Perth Congratulations to Artistic Director Wendy her for reminding us that our Festival truly is of oral history projects – including A Mile campus and across Perth over the 2019 Festival commission A Family Outing - 20 Martin for what will be her fourth and final the Festival of Perth. in My Shoes and Museum of Water – that Festival season as we explore new stories Years On, in which she boldly and bravely annual Festival program. I encourage you to celebrate stories of place. returns to a show made with her parents. explore the hundreds of free and ticketed and new ways of seeing the world. Wendy and her team have produced another And we welcome Cassils, the Canadian events on offer and share in the fun with feast of delights for 2019. The only other Our international Festival city also transgender artist whose work challenges locals and visitors alike. ingredient needed is you. welcomes influences and artists from across the globe, from iconic names like norms and is changing the face of contemporary art. 1 GETTING STARTED CONTENTS PERFORMANCE & SPECIAL EVENTS Perth Festival acknowledges that our events take place on the lands of the Noongar people and we wish to pay 4 Boorna Waanginy: The Trees Speak 38 Procession: Soft Soft Loud our respects to the traditional custodians of this Country. 6 The Magic Flute 39 Jazzmeia Horn As we celebrate the work of contemporary artists from around the world, we also acknowledge and respect the 40 Ned Kelly continuing culture of the Whadjuk people and the contribution they make to the life of this city and this region. 8 Gatz 10 Lang Toi 41 Speechless TIPS FOR MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR FESTIVAL 12 A Ghost in My Suitcase 42 CHEVRON GARDENS Book Your Tickets Made in WA N W Bar Underground 14 The Great Tamer E I A Found a show you like? Jump online, book We’re celebrating our home-grown talent in Venture down below at the State Theatre 16 Swan Lake 48 LOTTERYWEST FILMS D M in person or give our Info Centre a call on a series of world premiereA co-commissions Centre of WA and slip into to the late-night A M 08 6488 5555. All the details you’ll need are that we’re branding Made in WA. So if youD see world of Perth Festival. Bar Underground is 18 Giselle on p94. this stamp on an event you know it’s beenE A a place to meet, eat, debrief, muse over a 54 WRITERS WEEK I N created by incredible local artsists.W martini and wind up or down with strangers, 20 Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir Ticket prices listed in this brochure show the artists and friends. DJs will get you moving and range of Adult prices available. The actual Festival Connect you never know who might take to the stage ... 22 One Infinity 58 VISUAL ARTS price you’ll pay depends on where your seat is and whether you’re eligible for student, Get even more from your Festival by Discover Bar Underground – open every night 24 The Nature of Why connecting to our program of conversations, until late. concession or Friends prices. 65 workshops, masterclasses, residencies 25 Five Short Blasts FESTIVAL CONNECT and more. See p65 for details. Let Festival Scent & Taste of the Festival Tix for $36 Navigator Ruth Little be your guide Crush the slender leaves of the Swan River 26 Artist-In-Residence: Ursula Martinez throughout the Festival as she hosts a series SUPPORT Experience the Festival without breaking the Peppermint Tree (known as Wonnil to the of conversations with our artists. All the bank by getting involved in our huge range Noongar people) and you release the essence 26 A Family Outing - 20 Years On details are on p66. 68 Giving Programs of free events. Or score yourself a $36 ticket of summer in Perth.