RISING Friends at Melbourne Fringe
Fringe Festival is flouncing back into Melbourne for October. Here are our (completely unbiased) picks for who and what to see.
Missed it at RISING? See it at Fringe
Shows you may have missed out on seeing during RISING 2021 or 2022,
Janet’s Vagrant Love
Sun 18—Fri 23 October, $15—24
Janet’s Vagrant Love is a work 20 years in the making. Elaine Crombie shares her truth, telling stories of childhood trauma and the struggles of raising young Blak men as a single mum doing the best she can for her boys. Unfortunately, this show couldn’t go ahead for RISING 2022, but is getting a brand-new run at Fringe.
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PENDULUM
Wed 5—Sun 23 October, $25—39
The expansive performance installation PENDULUM, created by percussive artist Matthias Schack-Arnott and acclaimed Australian choreographer Lucy Guerin, finally debuts a full season at Melbourne Fringe (following a cut short premiere season at RISING 2021). Dancers perform with dozens of suspended bells—each of which tolls, pulses and hums as it swings through space in unison with the dancers’ movements.
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More shows from RISING’s mates
Our picks of Fringe featuring artists who have previously been part of RISING.
Up Late with Kate
Sat 22 and Sun 23 October, $24—32
After throwing a kids farty party at RISING 2022, Fat Fruit collaborator Sarah Ward is staying up past bedtime for Fringe. Joining Benn Bennett and Bec Matthews, the trio pay tribute to incandescent icon Kate Bush, performing your all-time favourites, as well as B-sides, singles and rare gems from her multi-decade career.
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Live Leisure Yabby Fishing Restaurant by Long Prawn
Fri 21 and Sat 22 October, $15.50—20
When they’re not unearthing forgotten family recipes, Long Prawn are digging into the dirt where your favourite dishes first got their start—as vege, fruit or fungi. In this case, Long Prawn are inviting you to throw a fishing line with them in the Collingwood Yards courtyard to catch live yabbies. Whatever you catch, you can get cooked up by chef Lorcán Kan (Things Palace, ex-Where The Light Gets in, ex-Attica).
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DisGraceland
Exhibition: Thu 6—Sun 23 October, Free
CLUB FRINGE: Thu 20 October, $10—15
The Wilds’ beloved sparkly sea urchins-meets-fluffy-anuses will forever haunt breakfast TV hosts, but hold a special place in our hearts. The Huxleys are now back, from outer space. Catch the duo as queer alien Elvis’s on a wild road trip across rural Victoria in a lurid visual art exhibition at Trades Hall or come a little later to see the show and join them for a boogie IRL at Club Fringe: DisGraceland.
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Back to Back on Screen
Sat 22 October, $5—10
The Back to Back Theatre ensemble looks back at 30 years of making ‘good art’ and filmmaking through Super 8 footage, documentaries, animations, feature films and shorts. Ensemble member Mark Deans is joined by the multitude of talent who helped create Back to Back works over the decades. If you’ve been fortunate to witness any of their past work, like say Single Channel Video or Food Court, you’ll want to mark this milestone with them, too.
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The Rest Is Up To You : Eryn-Jean Norvill and the Future of the Arts
Sat 22 October, $0—10
If, like us, you were absolutely blown away by Eryn-Jean Norvill’s blockbuster, one-woman performance in The Picture of Dorian Gray this year, you’re obviously a mega fan now. So you’ll want to see Norvill, a performer at her peak, in conversation with a young art maker, at the start of their journey, about what art means to them and what it can mean for their future selves. Bring the young person in your life to stir their own imagination for what’s next.
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As a little extra incentive, the Victorian Dining and Entertainment Program is back to slip more of those well-spent dollars back into your pocket. Book your Fringe tickets then claim up to $125 cash back.
IMAGE: Pendulum, RISING 2021. Photo: Greg Lorenzutti