Melbourne Festival is on. The coming together of art, design, theatre and dance has never looked so good. The overwhelming feeling of choosing what to do and where to go is normal. Let’s all take a deep breath. Here are a few of our top picks for the festival.
Contemporary Music – Husky
With their gentle vocals, magical tones and almost mesmerising licks, Husky is doing wonderful things for the Australian music scene. After winning the Triple J unearthed competition in 2011 they have simply gone up from there. In their only show for the festival they’ll be joined by Gian Slater and the Invenio Singers.
Husky, Foxtel Festival Hub, Friday October 11, Doors open at 8pm. Tickets $25
Film – The Boy Castaways
What happens when art depicts life, or vice versa? In Michael Kantor’s debut film, the genre is hard to pin point, but at the end of the day what rings true is the power of music and the power of art. Four men are drawn into the depths of a playhouse and as the film rolls on, jealousy, betrayal, violence, death, sex and desire become intertwined. Starring Tim Rogers, Paul Capsis, Megan Washington, Marco Chiappi and Mark Leonard Winter.
The Boy Castaways, Forum, Tuesday October 15, 7pm, Tickets $20/$15
Theatre – The Beast
From the witty mind of Eddie Perfect, this satirical show melds black comedy and the first world woes of the middle-class. As a group of thirty-something friends vow to live a better life and do more good, all begins to unravel when it’s time for someone to kill the calf for a dinner party. It will be hard not to recognise the ever so obvious difference between what we say and what we do.
The Beast, Southbank Theatre, October 3- November 9, $33-99
Visual Arts – Disarm
In a socio-political critique on current society, Mexican artist Pedro Reyes takes thousands of weapons that have been confiscated by the Mexican government and transforms them into 47 instruments. Think guitars, flutes and even a harmonica. He is making love, not war. Literally.
Disarm, NGV International, 12-27 October, 10am-5pm (closed Tuesdays)
Dance – Urban Chamber Beyond
Hip-hop meets classical chamber music with a touch of dance, poetry and rap in this ‘ode to Melbourne’. Channeling the anxieties, dreams and nuances of Melbourne’s suburban youth, this one is sure to get you thinking.
A little piece of Komninos, the Australian poet, Mary Quinsacara the MC, Outer Urban Projects and MASSIVE Hip Hop Choir will all come together with the youth of today in this powerful performance.
Urban Chamber Beyond, Melbourne Recital Centre (Salon), Friday 25 and Saturday 26 October. 6pm and 8pm. Tickets $35/20.
Classical music – Haydn Unpicked
This rare performance removes the walls between performer and audience as the celebrated Australian String Quartet show us just how you take a piece of music from collaboration to stage. The group will take a Haydn composition they have never played together and in an interactive session demonstrate how it becomes a performance.
Haydn Unpicked, Australian Tapestry Workshop, Saturday October 26, 11am, $20
