Dubbo Fringe Festival performers revealed

A heady mix of comedy, cabaret, circus, dance, music, poetry and theatre will hit Dubbo as the team behind one of Newcastle’s most popular festivals prepare to host an extravaganza out west.

A staggering 60 shows — including a mix of comedy, cabaret, circus, dance, music, poetry and theatre — are set to captivate crowds when the Dubbo Fringe Festival takes place for the first time in May.

The team behind the popular Newcastle Fringe Festival is setting up a satellite event out west, in a bid to cater to growing interest in the edgy, grassroots, fun performances which make up the Fringe movement and attract visitors to the western region.

Hannah Indigo will perform in OMG WTF, described as a heady mix of burlesque, circus, drag, sideshow and magic.

Dubbo Fringe will take place from May 6 to 8 at seven venues including the Pastoral Hotel, Black Box Theatre, Wesley Hall, Studio 138, Dubbo RSL and Dubbo College Delroy Campus.

Organisers say ticket prices will range from $10 to $35 and the Festival will feature a mix of homegrown and visiting talent, including many performers appearing at Newcastle Fringe Festival from March 17 to 21.

Newcastle Fringe board member Liane Morris said the festival served as an opportunity to support and promote independent artists.

A $7500 grant from Dubbo Regional Council and the provision of venue space free of charge from Dubbo RSL and the Pastoral Hotel made the event possible, Ms Morris said.

Regional airline Fly Pelican has also partnered with organisers to help fly people from Ballina and Newcastle out to Dubbo for the event.

“They are giving us a couple of flights to give away in a competition to help promote the festival,” Ms Morris said.

Stand up comedian Lauren Budden will perform Who Let the Dyke Out — a hilarious and revealing show about life and love.

Ms Morris said locals looking to score a front-row seat to the festival could get involved by volunteering.

“Volunteering for the inaugural Dubbo Fringe Festival is a wonderful opportunity for locals who are interested in the performing arts to learn about arts events, marketing and operations,” she said.

“We encourage anyone over the age of 16 to contact us if they are keen to be involved. It’s great for students, we’ll even provide a certificate of participation should they need it.

“It’s also a great way to give back to the arts community who were so badly hit by the pandemic.”

Lightning Ridge duo the Black Opals. Picture: Supplied

Anyone interested in volunteering or show times and artist information can find out more on the Dubbo Fringe website.

Tickets for the event go on sale on Friday March 5 via 123 Tix.

WHAT’S ON AT DUBBO FRINGE

> Wouldman by Justin Buchta from Sydney

> Songs of Solidarity by the Black Opals from Lightning Ridge

> Newcastle Comedy Showcase

> The Tin Roof Big Band from the ACT

> Visual storytelling show Pecha Kucha

> Circus West performances

> The Tin Camp Sessions by Warren Mason

> Who Me by Rob Lloyd

> Multi-art piece Entanglement by Outback Writers

> It’s a Jungle Out There by Art Dub Club

> From the Notes in my Phone by Orana Dance Centre

> Stand-up comedy shows The Art of Falling in Love and Who Let the Dyke Out

> Musical comedy act Up the Nerdsville Track

> Poetry by Girls on Key

> Songs and poetry in Failure to Launch

> Virtuoso guitarist Victor Martinez Parada

> Performance art show Fever by Slayge and The Grotty Gang

> Cabaret acts OMG WTF, Mad Bitches and Disenchanted: A Cabaret of Twisted Fairy Tales

> One-man theatre show Camino Man

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