Danish fringe festival Brave New Works returns to Coolabup this week for ‘Whizzbangaversary’, celebrating 30 years of experimental, multi-platform local artist platforming.
Nelson Blake, executive director and festival coordinator at Denmark Arts, said the five-day program will challenge audiences to “turn your tables, shed your stripes, be brave, be new and be yourself.”
“Brave New Works is essentially a fringe festival, but it’s a platform for local artists to try something brave, new and never done before,” Blake said.
“It’s the same with the audience. The important thing is to go and see things you don’t normally get to see.”
What began as a small community arts event focused on circus performances at the Danish Scout Hall in 1994 has since grown into a multi-platform arts festival that last year attracted around 3,000 people to this small Great Southern town. I did.
“The first iteration was authentic, old-school Danish,” Blake said.
“Back in the day, it was really ad hoc, low budget, and had a strong circus element.”
With a diverse program featuring 42 works by approximately 80 artists, there is sure to be something for everyone.
The biggest highlight is probably the latest project from Danish Dancing Divas, a performance group founded by Inge, who also runs Danish Dance, and the Di Filippo Marionette Puppet Theater Company, which is performed in a refurbished van. Dew.
Mr. Blake particularly admired the space time travel spoken word performance by Kass Rolf & Friends and Wasteland Saga by rising comedy talent Hardy Croucher, who was a finalist in his class at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. He says he is looking forward to it. Clown in 2023.
“It’s a really well put together, layered comedy show, a little bit subversive, a little bit outlandish, but really good,” Blake said.
With the third day of the festival falling on Australia Day, Mr Blake was also proud that the event recognized 26 January, which was designated as a day of remembrance by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander activists in 1938. ing.
“From a Danish art perspective, we are celebrating how we should mark the day of the invasion,” he said.
“A Noongar-led response to Invasion Day is taking place on the riverside Corroboree area.”
Liz Jacques, who has been with the festival since 2010 and is a performer for creative personality Gertrude Wellies, says the festival is all about honoring its heritage while making way for the next generation of artists. I’ll tell you.
“This is about encouraging people to take on challenges, be creative and do things that may be seen as a bit quirky, that put smiles on people’s faces and actually benefit the mental health of their communities. It’s a sign of ambition.”
