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Blindfolds, Country Music Comedians, Rockabilly Gypsy Punk and Tape Artists.... Dunedin showcases art, innovation and experimentation in the South Island’s only Fringe Festival.
The 2011 Dunedin Fringe Festival has attracted over 50 comedy, music, dance, theatre and visual art acts, including its biggest ever line-up of comedy and touring artists. The Festival will be held from 17-27 March with the full programme launched on 17 February. The event, which includes all art forms, will be the eighth Fringe Festival held in Dunedin since it was founded in 2000.
The 2011 Dunedin Fringe Festival has attracted its best ever line-up of music and comedy acts. In keeping with Dunedin's rich history as a music hub, the Festival presents biennnial experimental music event Lines of Flight which will be held in Port Chalmers over three days. Plus, Dunedin will be the first to see several comedy acts that are in New Zealand for the International Comedy Festival in Wellington and Auckland in April.
What makes the 2011 Dunedin Fringe Festival so unique is its focus on experimentation. A non-curated Festival, the Fringe has an open access artist policy. Many acts and exhibitions hold their world premiers at the Dunedin Fringe. “The Dunedin Fringe has built a reputation as a launching platform for emerging artists. We've had tons of artists launch their careers here and go on to tour extensively internationally," said Paul Smith, Festival Director.
The plethora of visual arts, theatre, music, comedy and outdoor acts ensures there is something that appeals to every audience. Some key events that showcase the diversity of this year's Fringe include:
· Wilson Dixon, Cowboy Comedian from Cripple Creek Colorado, Winner of "Best Local Show‟ and the Supreme Award, "The Fred‟, at the 2010 New Zealand International Comedy Festival.
· The Barons of Tang, Melbourne based 7 piece band that mesh traditional gypsy and tango feels with circus, rockabilly and jazz into high energy music. The Barons of Tang will be performing at the official Fringe Festival Launch and at the Festival Club on the 17th March and at Otago University for the Pick of the Fringe on Friday 18th March.
· Still Life at the Station - A first time event for the Fringe, over 20 human statues from around the country will descend on the iconic Dunedin Railway Station.
· Pick of the Fringe - The Octagon will be transformed into a stage for the lunchtime performance series, and a tape art installation by visiting artist Erica Duthie.
· Festival Club at Bennu Restaurant - Hosted by Radio One's Aaron Hawkins, it's magical mayhem in a stylish setting with atmosphere to burn – don't miss the late night action from key festival music acts such as Bird Wizdom and The Eastern.
· Animae Tape Art - Artists Erica Duthie and Struan Ashby have created large ephemeral works of art on buildings around the world – with tape. In two locations they will evolve a mural over four days entitled Animae, drawing life-sized mythical creatures into public spaces. Come see the artists as they draw – you may be immortalised in their temporary mural.
· The Eastern - Christchurch band presents No Depression. Part concert, part play, part sing-a-long, part campfire story, part bar room string session features songs of history, hope, danger, drama, woe, solidarity, strength and sadness.
· Footnote Forté – Hullapalloi. Hullapolloi is a new work from Kate McIntosh and Jo Randerson made for Footnote Dance. Here is a group of odd creatures. They move together, breathe together – shuffle, grunt and fall together. With their special equipment and odd-shaped bodies they train, they play, they follow the rules. The rules are complicated and strict. They play again.
Full programme information and artist profiles will be available on www.dunedinfringe.org.nz from Tuesday 22nd February.
CONTACT:
For more information please contact:
Sarah Girvan
Publicist, Immersion Marketing
03 479 2036 or 021 552 240
sarah@immersionmarketing.co.nz
Paul Smith
Director, Dunedin Fringe Festival
03 477-4983 or 021 150 9207
director@dunedinfringe.org.nz
Printed Guide Hits the Street
The Festival Programme was launched at a raucous event on 17 February in Dunedin. The printed guide looks colourful and eye-catching with our blindfolded woman staring out into black space and having a damn good time doing it!
This year we have 50 events spanning all art forms with a particularly strong comedy and theatre section. In addition we have a handful of awesome Festival produced events that take art to the people in new and exciting ways.
The printed Festival Guide is out on the street now and another 10,000 will be distributed over the next few weeks to cafes, bars, galleries, libraries, the visitor centre, theatres and many other places all over Dunedin. We have also posted programmes to selected outlets around New Zealand so they can see what they're missing out on – who knows they might just jump on a plane and visit! It'll be worth every bit of effort.
Meanwhile stay in touch with the latest info on the Festival's Facebook page.
Have you found your fringe?
Volunteering for Fringe
Become a volunteer for the Dunedin Fringe Festival and experience first hand some 50 cutting edge art events by New Zealand and international artists. Volunteers are an essential cog in the Fringe machine. We need dozens of helpers to ensure the smooth running of what will be a vibrant and exciting festival.
No experience is necessary. Enthusiasm is however, a must. We have seven main volunteer role areas. Jobs within each of the areas vary and volunteers may be asked to help out in more than one area. Each volunteer has the opportunity to give their role preference and we will try our best to accommodate,. No promises! They are as follows:
Front of House: These volunteers will man the box office for Fringe run venues. They will also be needed for festival events such as the programme release on 17th February and the festival awards night on 27th March. We ask that those wishing to do FOH come to a short training session after our welcome meeting on 8th March.
Event Assistance: Volunteers in this area will pack-in and out stage and seating for events and shows. Event assistants may also be required for our larger outdoor events for security and crowd control.
Kiosk Staff: Volunteers in this role will man the Fringe information kiosk positioned in various central city locations answering enquires and selling festival t-shirts.
Promotions: Volunteers working in promotions will have a wide variety of roles from programme drops to street hand-outs and publicity stunts. The more volunteers we have in this role, the bigger and more vibrant our presence will be.
Admin: Admin volunteers will work in the Fringe office fielding enquiries and checking float calculations for accuracy.
Hospitality: At times our volunteers may work over meal times or into the night, in such instances we hope to feed the starving masses. Hospitality volunteers will pick up food from cafes and deliver it to working volunteers.
You can donate a few hours here and there or immerse yourself in the Fringe experience. Volunteering gives many perks such as meeting great artsy people, a free Fringe t-shirt, and discounted (sometimes free) entry into events. It is also a great thing to write on your CV, not to mention heaps of fun with a great bunch of like-minded people! It's the perfect way to embrace your fringe within.
Expressions of interest to Katie: volunteer@dunedinfringe.org.nz or phone 03 477 3350
