Fire and Frogmen for Melbourne International Arts Festival 2018

From October 3-21 Melbourne will be immersed in a series of special events taking over the city’s most iconic spaces.

The Royal Botanic Gardens will become home to UK’s  physical theatre company NoFit State which celebrates 250 years since the beginning of circus in the ring in Lexicon, as well as Fire Gardens, a fire-burning spectacular bringing the gardens to life after dark over four special nights.

Christian Wagstaff and Courtney Keith return to the Arts Centre Forecourt with 1000 DOORS, a physically absorbing work providing audiences with an opportunity to choose their own adventure as they go through door after door.

More immersive special events await  when the First Peoples of the land launch the Festival with Tanderrum  at Federation Square.

One of the world’s leading figures of contemporary dance, William Forsythe, pushes the language of ballet to its outer limits in A Quiet Evening of Dance featuring a suite of modern works. US choreographer Mark Morris and his Dance Company perform LAYLA AND MAJNUN in collaboration with the renowned Silkroad Ensemble, a modernday visually stunning interpretation on the age-old tale of love and loss. The Silkroad Ensemble will also present a solo performance showcasing their most beloved pieces.

Melbourne Festival Artistic Director Jonathan Holloway said this year’s Melbourne International Arts Festival explores three parts of our lives. “The Festival is a celebration, reminding us of the brilliance of fire, music, story and art to amplify our joy, intensify our relationships and just fundamentally pump our tyres. It is an intervention, a reminder of the range of stories in the world that we need to hear and empathise with, at a time when stories about borders and asylum, the safety of children and the nature of masculinity and strength are all in the spotlight.

“This Festival is a collaboration between the city and the rest of the world, making Melbourne more than just a rapidly growing physical city, but one whose culture is expanding at equal pace.

“As an active commissioner and magnet for great world art, the Melbourne Festival proves that we are a city with skin in the game,” said Holloway.

The program also features Scottish theatre company Vox Motus’ Flight based on the novel Hinterland by Caroline Brothers, Prize Fighter set in a boxing ring at Northcote Town Hall and Frogman which will involve the audience through a special use of virtual reality.

Direct from Ireland comes Samuel Beckett’s Watt with Barry McGovern, Barking Gecko’s A Ghost in my Suitcase, Trustees from the Belarus Free Theatre Company, and Jimi Bani’s personal story in My Name is Jimi. 

Tickets: festival.melbourne