Holloway Launches Gigantic 2015 Perth Festival

“Daring and unforgettable, diverse and enriching, innovative and profound” – Artistic Director Jonathan Holloway last Wednesday launched his exciting lineup for the 2015 Perth International Arts Festival.

Speaking to an audience of over one thousand gathered in the Perth Concert Hall, Holloway assured the faithful and Friends of the Festival that the 22.4 million dollar event would allow audiences to “experiences both the intimate and epic. Experiences that whet the appetite and stimulate all five senses.”

Holloway emerged to greet audiences to “Let it Go” from the movie Frozen and a flurry of feathers (ending just as he started having presented Place Des Angesas the opening to his first festival in 2011). “That’s what you get for letting your daughter choose your entrance music for you, he joked” And so started the laughs as the program was launched with humour and enthusiasm, reflecting the passion and love Holloway has for Perth and his job as artistic director. This is Holloway’s last Perth Festival and he is departing having engaged Perth audiences in some dramatic and original pieces, and this year is no exception.

The 2015 program will launch with the Australian exclusive The Giants, transforming and disrupting the streets of Perth. Over three memorable days in February, Perth will be immersed in a modern-day fable, played out by the Giants across the streets of the city. The Journey of The Giants takes inspiration from uniquely Western Australian stories – of ancient lands, Gallipoli-bound troops and a little girl in a lighthouse who buoyed their spirits. It is expected some 500 000 people will flood the streets over the three days from Friday 13 to Sunday 15 February.

Continuing to commemorate the 100 anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli by Australian Troops will be Black Diggers. Through interweaving vignettes, an all-star cast of male actors tells of the hundreds of dispossessed Indigenous soldiers who heard the call to arms and stepped up to fight for Australia on the battlefields of Europe.

Hailed as one of “the most beautiful shows of the year in operatic London” Madam Butterfly is another large scale production for the festival. E/Prof Margaret Seares urged those at the launch to hand in their membership to NAB (Not Another Butterfly) and experience the grandeur of this production.

The Rabbits, based on the book by John Marsden will have its World Premier from the 12 – 16 February. “The world of The Rabbits invites us to question the constructs of modern life: society, culture, environment… and the essence of our humanity.”

Along with the annual Ballet at the Quarry (Zip, Zap, Zoom) dance includes the Australian Exclusive of Mozart Dances performed by the Mark Morris Dance group and Rising, performed by solo performer Aakash. Other highlights include The Paper Architect, Ubu and the Truth Commission, and no Holloway Festival is complete without Beckett. Not I, Footfalls Rockaby.

Headliners of the contemporary music program include Sinead O’Connor, Rufus Wainwright and London Grammar while 21 acts will play at the Chevron Festival Gardens. The Perth Writers Festival will run a week earlier than usual from the 19 – 22 February. Key speakers include Geoffery Robertson, Bryan Stevenson, Elizabeth Gilbert and via video link from London, Hillary Mantel. The Visual Arts program includes exhibitions by Ragnar Kjartansson, Mariko Mori and Australian Tracey Moffatt. Lotterywest Fesitval Films open on 24 November and runs for a 20 week season. The program also includes the Australian Premier of Screenkids, which will showcase children animations from fourteen European nations. Films include Balloon Birds (Switzerland), Home Sweet Home (Netherlands), Lemonade Tale (Estonia), My little Croco (France) and Puddle (Bulgaria). With so many great films jump online to see what is on offer.

A gigantic program with Australian premieres, world premiers and free family events, there is something for everyone at the 2015 Perth International Arts Festival.

For full program visit perthfestival.com.au

Tickets now available online perthfestival.com.au, phone 08 6488 5555 or Ticketek outlets.