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Melbourne Fringe Festival

Fringe Festival Review: Showga

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Reading the bio for this piece, I was expecting to go along and have a good laugh at someone satirically poking fun at the pretentiousness and fake elements of the yoga / wellness industry which at the moment, is so very trendy – and for the most part I did.

What I didn’t expect was an hour-long performance which was actually quite insightful – playing on not only the aforementioned pretension and perceived judgement of many so-called wellness “guru’s” but also the hidden undercurrent themes of this genre like low self esteem and hiding one’s own self-loathing by projecting it out onto others… kind of like blowing out someone else’s candle, so yours can shine that little bit brighter.

A clever and relatable piece, with plenty of crowd interaction, dressed up in 12 inch glitter platforms, a green two-piece and a feathered headdress reminiscent of of Bollywood-themed Priscilla, Chelsea Evans (aka Chakanunda Vaganunda Chikki Chikki Wa) is one flexible, funny woman.

Showga has finished it’s Melbourne Fringe Festival run, with the last show running Sunday evening, 20 September 2015 at the Butterfly Club.

Visit the website here. 

Written by Guest Blogger, Kerstyn Dance.

Melbourne Fringe

Fringe Festival Review: Torte e Mort: Songs of Cake and Death

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The biggest challenge one faces when they go and see a cracking Fringe Festival performance, is how do you talk about the show without actually giving away the best bits? It’s a bit like Fight Club – the number one rule is; you don’t talk about it…

Channeling a gorgeous Marie Antoinette, Anya Anastasia, backed by Bec Matthews (aka ‘The Executioner’) on drums, kazoo, saw and more, delivered clever and catchy songs that took us at a rapid and humorous pace through the life, death and hereafter of the infamous French queen – from her hedonistic ‘let them eat cake’ beginnings through to her untimely end and beyond. The performance was rounded out with visits from prominent afterlife figures positioned throughout the show to add deeper, life lessons to the show which were packed with satire, wise-cracking puns and glow-in-the-dark paint.

Photo by Kate Pardey
Photo by Kate Pardey

I actually was sort of sad when the show came to an end. If you are a fan of perfectly placed puns, don’t mind a little bit of intellectual humor balanced with gorgeous costumes, a mean keyboard and cracking vocals, and glitter adorned props, you should definitely get along and see this show.

Torte E Mort dropped lots of quirky unexpected surprises throughout the performance but rather than spoil it for everyone else, I’d just recommend heading along to see it at the perfectly located Melba Spiegeltent in Collingwood – tickets are $25, and it’s running for a short time (but a good time) only – until Sunday 20 September, 2015.

Where: The Melba Spiegeltent, Circus OZ

When: Until this Sunday 7:45 pm – 9:30 pm

Visit the website here. 

Written by Guest Blogger, Kerstyn Dance.

Photos by  Kate Pardey.

Channels Australian Video Art Festival

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Channels Australian Video Art Festival,  Australia’s only biennial celebration of video art and culture kicks off with a bang this Thursday.  The 10-day curated festival will feature 60 artists in 21 events and will present the very best contemporary video practice from across the globe in Melbourne and in the digital sphere. 

International festival guest Sam Smith’s new exhibition Slow Fragmentation will mark the launch of the event and the evening will screen  a selection of twelve video works from artist-run-initiatives in Australia and New Zealand at Screen Space.

Other highlights include:

Saturday 19th September, 4-6pm – opening event with drinks at Incu and Zambes.

Selected by Project QUAD, seven video works are presented in non-traditional exhibition spaces including shopfronts, restaurants and hotels along one of Melbourne’s busiest laneways. Flinders Lane, CBD.

Saturday 19th September, 10am – 5pm –  In the Epoch of the Near and Far opening.

In the Epoch of the Near and Far features work by Petra Cortright (USA), Heath Franco (AUS), Marian Tubbs (AUS), Emile Zile (AUS/NL), Keith Deverell (UK/AUS) and Aaron Christopher Rees (AUS). Six artists examine the interplay between digital and physical life.  Grey Gardens Projects, 51 Victoria Street, Fitzroy 

Sunday 20th September, 2-4pm – Augmented Reality Workshop

An introductory workshop with artist Kate Geck, where you can make a simple print image interactive. Kate Geck’s immersive AV installations will also feature at Channels Festival joint closing night event in partnership with Liquid Architecture, Two Party State.  Grey Gardens Projects, 51 Victoria Street, Fitzroy

When: 18-27 September 2015

Visit the website here. 

chocolate festival

It’s Joy O’clock – Celebrate with Cadbury Chocolate.

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From next Wednesday to Friday (16th – 18th September), Cadbury will take over Federation Square bringing joy to thousands of Melburnians! The festival will transform Federation Square into a purple inspired wonderland – with a live DJ, heaps of freebies and thousands of Cadbury chocolate products for visitors.

Schedule it in to your calendars and reclaim a lost but treasured moment of the day – the afternoon break. The entertainment will kick off on Wednesday at 2pm, with a big reveal at 3:30pm to mark Joy O’clock. There will also be an oversized alarm clock which will be ticking down to something big… We’re excited!

When: Wednesday 16 September – 8:00am-5.30pm (with Joy O’Clock surprise at 3.30pm), Thursday 17 September – 8:00am-5.30pm , Friday 18 September – 8:00am-5.30pm

Where: Federation Square

Taste Festival

Taste of Melbourne (+ Win a Double Pass)

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Prepare your stomachs. Taste of Melbourne returns to Albert Park this November for four days of foodie heaven. The festival will host over 10 of Melbourne’s latest, greatest and hottest restaurants serving up 50 bite sized dishes all in one unique location. Create your dream tasting menu from restaurants including Gazi, Movida, Supernomal, Royal Mail Hotel, Circa and the Prince.

As well as all the delicious food and drinks there’ll also be live entertainment,  new interactive culinary masterclasses and shops from boutique producers.

This is one garden party on the Melbourne foodie and social calendar you don’t want to miss.

When: 12-15 November

Where: Pelican Lawn, Albert ParkAlbert Park,

Visit the website here. 

WIN 1 OF 5 DOUBLE PASSES TO TASTE OF MELBOURNE. ENTER BELOW

Terms and conditions here. 

Competition ends midday, 2 November 2015.

This competition is now closed. 

Exclusive offer for We Know Melbourne readers:

2 x General Entry tickets for $45* (Save $15**). Book general entry tickets through Ticketek and enter FOODIE in the promotional code box to save OR 2 x Platinum Passes for $239* (Save $31**). Platinum Passes include fast track entry, access to the Platinum Lounge, 30 Crowns, an open bar, exclusive wine tastings plus a gift from Riedel. Book Platinum Passes through Ticketek and enter FOODIEVIP in the promotional code box to save.

Exclusive offer is valid on advance purchase tickets only and applies to General Entry tickets and Platinum Passes. *Prices exclude booking and transaction fees. **Savings based on purchase of 2 tickets and apply to door prices & exclude Crown bond, booking and transaction fees. Offers End at Midnight on Wednesday 11th November. Additional Crowns (the official Taste currency) can be pre-purchased in denominations of 30 or 50 Crowns through Ticketek.

Royal Melbourne Show

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The Royal Melbourne Show is the highlight of the Spring school holidays. Conducted annually by The Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria (RASV), the show celebrates and promotes excellence in Victorian agriculture, attracting around 500,000 people over 11 spectacular days.

Entertain the kids with rides, live shows, arts and crafts. Choose from over 350 showbags on over and get up close with the animals at the farm precinct: including cows, sheep, goats, pigs, horses, cats and dogs.

When: 19- 29 September 2015

Visit the website here.

Melbourne Fringe Festival

Melbourne Fringe Festival

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If you’re into independent and creative arts, your time of the year has come. The Melbourne Fringe Festival kicks off on September 16 with over 400 events, performances and exhibitions popping up all over the city.

We’d suggest you book your tickets to these events:

Luminous

“Enter the world of LUMINOUS, where blacklight body art and circus collide to tell neon-lit stories, create magic and form impossible illusions. Leave logic behind and experience a spectacle where hand-painted performers bring their bodies-as-canvases to life.”

Opening Night Gala – Sept 18

Turn up the glamour at the Opening Night Gala. There’ll be performers from across the festival, dancing and all round good vibes.

Shoot from the Hip Festival

“Shoot From The Hip’ is a thrilling detective story, featuring a femme fatale and a private dick, classic 1940s fashions, a jazz-inspired original soundtrack, all in the licentious speakeasy atmosphere of the appropriately named Jury Room.”

Torte e Mort: Songs of Cake and Death

Enjoy the world premiere season of the darkly humourous, seductive and dangerously witty TORTE E MORT: Songs of Cake and Death.

“Anya Anastasia is accompanied by Bec Matthews on percussion to present an electrifying live performance. We witness Anya’s transformation through exaggerated iconic archetypes in the feminine form, deftly evolving through characters from Marie Antoinette to a feisty she-devil. The show explores decadence, pleasure, hedonism and sardonically unfolding reflections upon potential earthly consequences.”

A Star is Bored – Sept 23 -27th

What does it take to become a practically famous D-List star? Find out as the main character Nick who ‘has legs to make any showgirl jealous, a fabulous headshot and a brand new BA in Music Theatre’ tries to become the next big thing.  

#DearDiary – Sept 22-27th

In her self-penned solo debut, #Deardiary Andi Snelling’s caberet-infuse romp tells the story of a lifetime lifetime of secret observations obsessively documented. 5000 pages  of a soul-baring catalogue never before read.

Sure Sign of Love – Sept 15 -20th

Dating by the stars! Melbourne Chanteuse and Cabaret Performer, Elena Gabrielle, self-penned solo debut will take you on an ‘horror-scopic” astrological journey to discover which signs are the best and worst lovers, the tightest with money, the biggest crybabies and your most compatible matches.’

 We are giving away a double pass to each of the following shows:

Sure Sign of Love –  18 Sept

#Deardiary – 26 Sept

Shoot From The Hip -19 Sept

Competition closes 2pm, Thurs 17 September

Enter below

THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED.

Terms and conditions here.

Melbourne Arts Festival

Melbourne Festival

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Celebrating 30 years of arts and culture, the Melbourne Festival returns to our city from 8-25 October. With a program filled with  dance, theatre, music, circus, visual arts, multimedia, outdoor and free events there is something for everyone.

Some of our top picks include:

Melbourne Art Trams

Melbourne artists will showcase their art on Melbourne’s iconic trams. Now in its third year, Melbourne Art Trams is a vibrant celebration of a vehicle that has become an emblem of Australia’s premier arts city.

“This year’s creative focus was conceived in association with MPavilion. We invited artists to take inspiration from Melbourne’s architectural landscape and design a tram that responds to how design and architecture define the character of the city.”

Patti Smith’s Horses

Celebrating the 40th anniversary of Patti Smith’s iconic debut album Horses, four of Australia’s best rock artists—Courtney Barnett,Jen Cloher, founding Magic Dirt member Adalita and The Drones lead man Gareth Liddiard will perform the album in it’s entirety.

Artists in Conversation: Clint Mansell

Sun 11 October, 4pm

“Legendary film score composer Clint Mansell discusses the challenges of creating soundtracks for films such as Requiem for a Dream, Noah, Moon and Black Swan.”

MPavillion

This pop-up pavilion will be set up in the Queen Victoria Gardens and will bring together a series of creatives for  a four month program of free talks, workshops and performances.

The Secret Garden

Sat 10 October—Sun 22 November

Appearing for the first time in the Southern Hemisphere, The Secret Garden will open up a netherwold of strange delights and encounters. Created by  by Swedish artists Nathalie Djurberg and Hans Berg, their immersive experience is one not to be missed.

Desdemona

Fri 16 October – Mon 19 October

“Desdemona is the most fiery angel in Shakespeare’s creation—a radiant and radical woman of independence, courage, and love. She is now given an astonishing and provocative further voice by Nobel Laureate Toni Morrison, who reveals secrets in Othello that will change forever our reading of the play.”

When: 8-25 October

Where: Various venues across Melbourne

Visit the website here. 

 

 

Rustica Canteen

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Melbourne CBD breakfasts just stepped up a notch with the latest opening of Rustica Canteen in Guildford lane. Setting up shop in the space that was formerly Utopian Slumps, their modern, warehouse space feels crisp, fresh and clean.

All of the sourdough loaves are delivered from their Fitzroy bakery, Rustica Sourdough each morning and just like their sister store, their space is part bakery, part dining area, part “I’ll start my diet tomorrow” area. We’ll bet you won’t be able to  say no to dessert when you see their pastry display – some of the ones we drooled over include lime & coconut croissants, choc and peanut butter croissants and  salted caramel choux bombs,

Their breakfast menu is filled with all sorts of mouth watering dishes. We tried the filled croissant with chilli scramble, jamon serrano and manchego cheese, and also the breakfast burger. Both delicious and satisfying!

With Short Stop Coffee and Donuts, Krimper and Raw Trader just around the corner, Rustica are up against some tough competition. But we think it’s well worth the visit! We can’t wait to try their lunch menu.

Where: 33 Guildford Lane, Melbourne 3000

When: Mon – Fri 7am -4pm, Sat – Sun 8am -4pm