Perth International Arts Festival

Editorial

Featuring more than 800 performers from Australia and abroad the Perth International Arts Festival is Western Australia's premier cultural event and features almost four weeks full of the very best that the international and local arts community have to offer.

This year's festival - the fourth and final Perth Festival from Artistic Director Shelagh Magadza - will literally set the streets of the city ablaze right from opening night, when German masters Pan.Optikum kick off three and a half weeks of cutting edge art with a spectacular free performance of Transition, featuring amazing acrobatics, live music, and fireworks (pictured).

Other highlights include Australia's first all-indigenous musical, Waltzing the Wilarra, starring Trevor Jamieson, Kelton Pell, Ursula Yovich and the much-loved Ernie Dingo making his return to the stage for first time in almost 20 years; the devilishly entertaining The Red Shoes, Kneehigh Theatre's twisted take on Hans Christian Andersen's cautionary fairytale reminding us to be careful what we wish for; and a dazzling live music program that features everything from jazz and chamber music to the delicate sounds of Iceland's Amiina and the plaintive voice of Canada's Martha Wainwright.

There's also a writers' festival, a fantastic visual art program, films, events for kids, theatre and so much more.

“From the timeless beauty of ancient art forms to the world premieres of new Australian work, it is a program that reflects our unique place in the world and the cultures within it,” says Artistic Director Shelagh Magadza.

“It is a program that invites everyone to come out and play this summer, and to be part of the wonderful experience that is the Festival.”

Richard Watts, Citysearch

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