The 2009 Perth International Arts Festival programme launch on Wednesday marks the beginning of the festival for me. Not only do we get to experience a glimpse of the festival, but the excitement of the events and activities to come is shared with some enthusiasm.
Throughout the evening, I found myself talking to complete strangers about the festival. Topics included: Welcome To Country, amazing didgeridoo playing, insights into the programme, presentations, and of course what tickets were you going to buy? Like the programme launch last year, BOCs set up terminals so that Friends of the Festival could purchase tickets then and there.
The formal part of the evening was held in the Octagon Theatre and the programme launch party was held in the Somerville Auditorium which was in a huge marquee surrounded by vintage cars, dance floor (with dancers), and live music. Food and wine were plentiful, but because the weather was cold and wet, those that wanted elbow room headed for the perimeter. The waitpersons all wore wigs to suit the theme, so they were easy to spot, but they too experienced difficulty making their way through the crowd.
We received our programme in the mail on the day, so it was already earmarked to take along to the programme launch. I got tickets for all that we planned, but I may get some more having seen the presentations.
Tickets so far:
- The Little Match Girl Passion, Paul Hillier’s Theatre of Voices
- Mixed Bill, Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Genève
- A Secret in the Shape of a Song, The Triffids and Friends
- Samuel Beckett: Fragments, Le C.I.C.T. / Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord
- The Life You Can Save (Perth Writers Festival Opening Address), Peter Singer
- The War of the Roses, Sydney Theatre Company with Cate Blanchett and Robert Menzies
Festival Films are on from 1 December, so still plenty of time to get our ticket pack to start the season.
Monday 27 July 2009 at 8:56 pm
fragments was fantastic!