Fringe Festival | 17 January – 16 February | Various | More details
Perth International Arts Festival | 7 February – 1 March | Various | More details
With programs so packed they have their own catalogues to be poured over, studied and discussed with fellow festival fiends come the two major arts and cultural festivals of summer. The notable developments for Fringe this year are the new hub at the Girls School and a mega expansion of children’s programming – it’s a veritable Fringe Binge for any age!
PIAF has gone next level this year with two extremely special additions. First up is a full week of First Nations programming that includes the world’s first Noongar-language Shakespeare Play and a celebration of the great Australian songman, Gurrumul’s Yolŋu culture. Next up City of Lights is a brand-new festival precinct that takes over the entire Perth Concert Hall – think tunes, foods and friends.
22 February | Supreme Court Gardens | More details
Enjoy a truly immersive (and free!) operatic experience at the Supreme Court Gardens. Artist Sohan Ariel Hayes (Boorna Waanginy and HOME) will transform the park using projection, light and image to create the alluring dark forest. Sung by an extraordinary West Australian cast with the full might of the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, this promises to be a delight for the ears and eyes alike.
OPERA IN THE PARK: HANSEL AND GRETEL 13 - 15 March | Palace Cinemas Raine Square | More details
A recommendation for cinephiles and those who love a debut. Head to the plush Palace Cinema in Raine Square to witness the best WA has to offer at the brand-new WA Made Film Festival. A sampler of WA made shorts, documentaries and feature films combine to showcase and celebrate the extreme talent, stunning locations and unique stories found all across WA. Stay tuned for the program announcement on Feb 3!
Witness the State Theatre Centre of WA Courtyard transformed into a mosh pit of super charged, high-octane dance by the global master of rock ‘n’ roll performance, Hofesh Shechter. Get as close as possible to the action with a drink in hand as you explore every angle of the performance from multiple viewing points or purchase a seat in the upstairs gallery.
STRUT DANCE: HOFRESH IN THE YARD 16, 17 March | Perth Concert Hall | More details
Fifteen years ago, Ben Folds tried out the idea of an orchestral performance for the first time – to a Perth crowd. Today there remains no better way to experience one of the modern world’s most distinctive singer-songwriters than with the full power of WASO! Sure to deliver a solid setlist of hits like 'Landed', 'Capable of Anything', and 'Luckiest' this piano pop sensation is a consummate performer.
8 February – 19 April | Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts | More details
PICA has a great program of events and installations running across the first half of this year. Everything from Fringe Festival features to Perth Festival associations including an exploration of written words, drawings and stories in the virtual reality realm of Chalkroom.
Also worth checking out is Thunderhead: A Live Visual Score. Billed as a sublime and eclectic audio-visual performance that weaves together a spontaneous soundscape with looping vision of a meteorological supercell. Register for free to be part of the opening night to experience an improvised two-hour performance or visit PICA’s main gallery space during the ongoing season.
THUNDERHEAD: A LIVE VISUAL SCORE 
