- Liane Morris
Newcastle Fringe 2023
NEWCASTLE'S OWN FRINGE FESTIVAL, NEWCASTLE FRINGE, IS ENTERING ITS 8TH YEAR, BIGGER AND BRIGHTER THAN EVER BEFORE. A RISING STAR ON THE INTERNATIONAL FRINGE TOURING CIRCUIT, IT HAILS ITSELF AS AUSTRALIA'S BIGGEST LITTLE FRINGE FESTIVAL, AND IT SMASHES INTO THE CITY OVER TWO WEEKENDS FROM 9 TO 19 MARCH.
The city will be buzzing with a plethora of entertainment options to suit every taste, with 398 amazing local and international artists and 135 performances of 55 individual acts. Newcastle Fringe Chair, Brooke Twyford, notes that the festival continues to grow yearly, and this is, again, the biggest it has presented.
"Our stellar line-up includes 13 side-splitting comedians, 14 musical artists covering both original and much-loved compositions from baritone to soprano and from ukuleles to rock bands, nine flirty adult-only cabaret and burlesque shows, nine serious and not-so-serious theatre acts and an award-winning flamenco dancer, six community choirs and, ta-da, four shows specially designed for kids of all ages.
WHAT IS FRINGE?
Fringe Festivals began with the inception of Edinburgh Fringe in 1947. The core of the Fringe ideology is to provide access and opportunities for emerging artists and to celebrate the diversity and talent of each city's local and aspiring arts scene.
Fringe festivals come in all shapes and sizes and are born out of passion and hard work, passion for creative development and expression, for creating a platform for artists to perform and for art to be enjoyed, and for seeing and realising new ideas and initiatives. Fringe festivals have a reputation for presenting the cutting-edge, the uncensored, the quirky, the naughty and the undiscovered genius.
NEWCASTLE FRINGE
Newcastle Fringe was founded in 2016 and has continued to grow in size and diversity year after year, even through COVID. Organised and run annually by a passionate and committed volunteer Board, the festival is supported by the community and the generosity of corporate sponsors and partners who make each year possible.
In 2022 the festival sold 4,542 tickets, attracted 1,135 visitors to the city, and returned earnings to artists of over $67,000. The success of this tiny volunteer organisation attracted the attention of local award-winning agency Engineroom Design, which partnered with the festival and developed a fresh brand redesign to breathe new life into the festival's marketing.
This year the festival is also supported by the City of Newcastle. Cr Carol Duncan said Newcastle Fringe aligns with the city's strategy to attract locals and visitors into the CBD and Hamilton precincts at night, supporting local businesses and jobs.
"March is set to see the city attract visitors from near and far with the return of Newcastle Fringe and the Newcastle 500, following a three-year hiatus due to Covid-disruptions," Cr Duncan said.
"Newcastle Fringe will add to the vibrancy of the city's already rich arts and cultural scene and provide a wonderful cultural offering for locals and visitors to our city."
Other changes for the festival this year include a merchandise range featuring the new colourful logo with t-shirts, coffee mugs, tote bags, and even baby wear! Head to www.newcastlefringe.com.au to purchase.
INTERNATIONAL ACTS
This is the first time since 2019 that Newcastle Fringe has been able to welcome back international artists now that the borders have reopened following the pandemic. One of the most exciting international acts is Flamencodanza, an award-winning performance of inspired, powerful and elegant Flamenco dance and guitar by Aylin Bayaz and Raul Mannola, direct from Spain. Awarded Best Dance and Physical Theatre Show at The Hollywood Fringe in 2022, this show has been presented worldwide and fuses elements of Flamenco, Brazilian music and jazz. A show for lovers of dance, guitar and world music, there is nothing 'emerging' about these artists – they are the real deal.
It is common for international artists to tour the Fringes, which is what Sylvia Brecko from Germany is doing. Her show Fur Baby is showing here first, for one show only before heading on to Adelaide Fringe, where she is a regular fan favourite. A very talented singer and cabaret performer, if you love your pet, you'll love this show. And another performer hitting the Adelaide Fringe stage is Alice Fraser: Twist. Fraser divides her time between the UK and Australia between co-hosting Andy Zaltzman's cult The Bugle podcast and television appearances (Amazon Prime, ABCTV). Named one of The Telegraph UK's Best Shows Of Edinburgh Fringe in 2022, Fraser delivers a "breathtakingly funny" gut-punching comedy show that spans the satirical, social, philosophical and personal.
ONE SHOW ONLY
Several shows appear for one performance only, and you'll only get one chance to see them, so bookings are advised. Kicking off the festival is Dane Simpson in Didgeridoozy. The 'massively talented' indigenous comedian, all the way from Wagga, has won a stack of comedy awards and performs regularly on TV and at Fringe and comedy festivals across the country. He is definitely one not to miss; he's an A-lister.
Other one-show-only gigs are the Australian Ukulele Orchestra, who will astound you with their repertoire and the sound that's possible from this quirky little instrument; Spooky Men's Chorale who were a sell-out at last year's festival and The Whole Shebang – also a 2022 festival sell-out that features all female comedy and raises money for women in crisis. The Quokkas, who were Best Album nominees for the 2022 Kids Music Awards, and are on a mission to break down barriers and celebrate inclusiveness, are an absolute highlight of the kids' program, appearing for one show only at Hamilton Uniting Church on 18 March.
Silverchair holds a special place in the heart of all Novocastrians, and Chicks Cover the Chair features an incredible one-off showcase of all female-fronted bands, where the chicks pay homage to the band that put Newy on the international music map. At the other end of the musical spectrum, Newcastle Fringe founder Phil Aughey performs his intelligent, intimate and intense show that has been performed at Fringe Festivals all over the world - Chopin's Last Tour. The show explores the year leading up to Frederic Chopin's death and is interspersed with Aughey's incredibly talented piano playing.
The mini-choir festival that ran at last's year's Fringe and was a sell-out success will run again this year and features Song Sisters, Heathens & Hunter Singers, Hummingsong and Newcastle Chamber Choir. A day of joyful song and musical connection for lovers of choral music at Hamilton Uniting Church on 18 March.
$50 VIP TICKETS - GUARANTEED FRONT SECTION SEATS
This year you can buy guaranteed front-section tickets to some of the most in-demand shows, including Spooky Men's Chorale, Red Light Confidential and Bur-Roque. Both Red Light Confidential and Bur-Roque have a debauched, burlesque flavour, with the former including burlesque, circus, cabaret, music, comedy and magic and billed as the perfect XXX-rated late-night cherry on your Fringe flavoured cake. Bur-Roque is a kinky comedy show with live punk/rock music by The Cunning Stunts, a 3-piece band. Go on a saucy bender with a 70/80s backing track led by Sophie Cook, who was last year's Best Individual Performer at Newcastle Fringe. Rated M. You'll need to fill a table of 4 to qualify for the VIP $50 pp ticket at both these shows.
GIGGLES GALORE
Always a Fringe favourite, comedy and standup are the backbone of festivals worldwide. Get your fill of giggles with this year's great selection of shows. Local girls Eddy Rockefeller and Loz Budden are featuring their new shows. In The Loop with Eddy Rockefeller features this talented stand-up and muso in an adult-only comedy spectacular – raunchy and irreverent. 9 Lives Presented By Loz Budden takes us back to the '80s when life was simple, free, wild and untamed, with rules no one followed.
Comedy often blossoms out of an unusual perspective of a common situation. In What's Mine Is Yours, Annabelle James reveals how she was left at the 'comedy altar' in this Sydney Fringe sell-out show. For those of a certain age, Kelly Mac: Wrong Side of 50 takes us on a riotous romp through the quirks and perks of middle age - nominated for Best Comedy at Sydney Fringe 2022. Also on the subject of age is the Grande Dame of comedy, Di Barkus and her one-woman show Oops! In the Age of Viagra where she shares her secrets of sex and celibacy. And don't miss Work Hacks From The Holy Book, which is brought to you by Sydney's only Lebanese, lesbian, ex-Jehovah's Witness, comedian Naomi Mourra who shares how the Bible helped her in the holiest of careers in Human Resources.
In true Fringe style, there are comedians performing their debut and those that are more experienced. Frankie Fearce debuts in Are You a Boy or a Girl? with side-splitting wit, humour and insight into the queer gender non-conforming experience. Then there's the comedian and journalist Matt Harvey in Wage Against the Machine. Harvey is an experienced comedian who performs at festivals across the country and beyond – this is a comedy to get you thinking.
KIDS ARE CATERED FOR
There are four kids shows this year, including The Quokkas listed above. For the kids who love it disgusting, with oooey, gooey, yucky, slimy topics and boogers, bottoms, pop-offs and smells, comes Mr Snotbottom, the Prince of Putrid, The Willy Wonky of Weird! Then there's Jack the Silly-Yak, who has been diagnosed with Coeliac Disease and is finding it tricky to like his new food. This interactive show with dancing, big imaginations, creative fingers, and loud singing includes a Creative Play Session after. For those kids who love music, singalongs and magical experiences, join the fun in LizzieLand.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THEATRE, CABARET & MUSIC
There are too many shows to list them all here, but some deserve special mention. When it comes to classical music, you're in good hands with Electro Lieder and Hunter Wind Quintet. If you want to get down and dance, don't miss Midnight Removalists, Reckless Empire, Kahibah Brass Kills the Radio Star and Pilot Buffalo Teen Band. If original music and killer vocals are your thing, don't miss Powerhouse by Li Laurent and Eddy Rockefeller, or if you prefer lyrics to make you laugh and think, Fringe favourites Clark Gormley and Wayne Thompson are back with their latest 'Nerds' show You Can't Polish a Nerd.
Cabaret is king at Fringe, and this year doesn't disappoint with Black Starr Cabaret and Doll Haus Cabaret returning to keep things flirty and sexy. Tap your foot to Bossa Nova beats with Hip Gringos Guide to Rio, and from the producer of Mad Bitches Inc. comes Strange Men – a journey into masculinity with primal drum rhythms and funny jokes. For award-winning cabaret, Apocalypse Please is likely to sell out as it's a combination of burlesque, comedy, stripping, singing and storytelling!
When it comes to theatre, Newcastle is blessed. Winner of the 2022 World Monologue Games, Lou Chapman presents the Lou Chapman Show, an evolving theatrical feast of dangerous ideas and misfit characters in a hilarious rant against everything. Kali Girl: A Love Story with a Dead Ending is billed as a gothic sci-fi romance that riffs off Wuthering Heights and features a live band with demonic dance! There's satire with Ita's Last Dance and The Tale of The Great Emu War, physical theatre with The Red Light that promises to be hilarious and lots more.
FREE ENTERTAINMENT
Ticket prices at Newcastle Fringe range from free to $50, with most shows sitting around $20 to $30. This year a Hamilton Hub will be created on James Street Plaza on Saturday, 11 March (6-8pm) and Saturday, 18 March (12pm-1pm and again at 6-8pm). The Fringe Ticket Box will be open, where you can purchase tickets to Fringe Festival shows and be entertained by FREE family entertainment. It's a great chance to see some of the artists performing at this year's festival. There will be something for the whole family ranging from children's comedy and theatre, magic, singing, music, circus, face painting, and, to top it off, a fire show at dusk.
Download the complete Fringe program and purchase tickets at www.newcastlefringe.com.au, or keep your eyes open at your local cafes, library or tourist information centre for printed booklets. This is your Fringe Festival – get amongst it, have fun and support the participating artists.
.png)
