August 2019
Desert Festival 2019
Presented by Red Hot Arts Central Australia, the 2019 Desert Festival is an exposition of dynamic events encompassing local and interstate theatre, music, arts and performance. DesFest will run over seven weeks from 29 August to 12 October presenting a smorgasbord of local and interstate talent. The opening street parade takes place at the Alice Springs Town Council Night Markets on Thursday 29 August from 5PM – 9PM. The markets will come alive with performances from Red Centre legends like…
Find out more »DesFest 2019 Opening at The Night Market
Presented in partnership with the Alice Springs Town Council Get ready to kick off DesFest 2019 with a bang! Join us for the annual DesFest Opening at the first Night Market of the season. With an eclectic mix of some of Alice Spring's finest musicians and roaming performers to start the festival right. With performances including Coloured Stone, Eastern Arrernte Band, Rusty and the Infidels, Zimbabwean Outback Melodies and so much more! Bring the whole family, grab a bite to…
Find out more »Sing Hum Records Presents Unified
Unified, presented by Sing Hum Records and Desert Festival, features Alice Springs finest emerging electronic acts. Unified brings a night of transformative musical performances, through the funnel of local contemporary record label Sing Hum Records. This is the chance to catch award winning artists Xavia, Resin Moon, Broadwing (Darwin), Casii Williams and Stellar Sea in one night of musical distinction and exploration, a celebration of sound. Sing Hum Records, established in 2016, strives to support and grow a community of…
Find out more »September 2019
The Dust Sings
The Dust Sings is a suite of songs inspired by Central Australia, Alice Springs, the country itself, and the lives and stories of several significant Aboriginal elders. Building on a rich personal history of songwriting and performance, Steve Bevis, weaves together songs, sounds and stories that evoke the joy, the tears, and yes, the rage, of lives lived upfront and outback. Poetic and passionate, this specially curated performance will invite the listener into moments of intimacy as well as communal…
Find out more »Warren H Williams Family Band
After returning from a stint in Nashville recording a new album with Dani Young titled ‘Desert Water’, Warren H Williams is returning to the Centre to grace the stage of good old Monte's Lounge as part of DesFest 19, and he's bringing the whole family. The newly recorded album features Warren's family members from the Hermannsburg Choir and was released nationally via ABC Music in June 2019. Join us for this year’s 2019 Desfest, celebrating the vibrant community, arts and…
Find out more »Kids Markets – Junkyard Beats
Junkyard Beats is an all inclusive workshop for kids where we collectively create music and connections by using everyday 'junkyard' objects. Throughout the workshop we will explore different 'trash' objects to make sounds, rhythms and eventually compile songs. Holding an open space for young minds to creatively flourish through self expression and with each other as a group! Out of these supposedly 'single use' items, kids can get creative and make their very own instruments to take home with them.…
Find out more »Wormy Lizard Man’s Big Adventure
All kids must be accompanied by an adult.
Find out more »Wormy Lizard Man’s Big Adventure
All kids must be accompanied by an adult.
Find out more »Wormy Lizard Man’s Big Adventure
All kids must be accompanied by an adult.
Find out more »Fan Fatale presents “Evolution”
Evolution: how do you choose to evolve? Centred in the vast landscapes of Central Australia, Evolution is both a reflective and bold exploration of our relationship to that which sustains us. Incorporating spoken word, film and theatrical fan dance Evolution is presented by Fan Fatale, an exciting collaboration between two eclectic Alice Springs artists, All Things Peachy and Rosie Wild. Fan Fatale explores connection, strength, vulnerability and the surreal through theatrical fan dance. Follow your passions, make art but also…
Find out more »Musical Meditations
Musical Meditations is a very good example of the honey crumpet phenomenon with butter, all you have to do to activate this phenomenon is do something you love for 10 minutes (each day). Then something good will happen. A wizard friend of Christopher's hypnotised him about three years ago to play the guitar for ten minutes each day and he has done just that ever since. From that experience came a series of 10 minute pieces which has now transformed…
Find out more »The Primordial Mermaid
Written and performed by Miriam Pickard. Based on the Ancient Egyptian Myth of Isis; the Queen of the Waters from 3500 BC. Once upon a time deep in the Primordial Ocean an enchanting mermaid was born. Ever since she has been traveling the waters of life, gathering ancient stories of creation. Her beauty-barnacles and buck-teeth have been known to bring lovers to their knees, she puts the G in Goddess. Let the waters of your imagination flow inside the belly…
Find out more »The Misadventure of Pout: Prince of the Desert
Prince Pout III's sensationally sardonic tales of misadventure, from familial drama to man-droughts in the desert, have kept audiences in stitches! Catering unapologetically to an LGBTQI+ audience, their friends and allies, Pout always has a story to tell. So, enter his court for an evening of crazed comedy and leave just a little bit more fabulous than when you arrived! Since debuting at Darwin Fringe in 2017, he has carved out an LGBTQI-themed comedic niche, making a fabulous splash across…
Find out more »Dark Moon
Written and performed by Miriam Pickard with Danny Pratt on electric guitar. Based on poetry written nearly 4000 years ago about the Descent of Innana, Dark Moon retells stories from Inanna, Queen of Heaven and Earth by Diane Wolkstein and The Moon: Symbol of Transformation by Jules Cashford The Dark Queen calls out from the Great Below and invites you to descend and gather with her amongst the seeds and soil and the dark of the moon. The Queen gives her sincere apologies for her…
Find out more »Theatre Mash-Up Workshop
This workshop, presented by Miriam Pickard aka Primordial Mermaid, will be a mash-up of voice work and clown exercises. All skill levels welcome! Feel free to contact me with any further questions contact Miriam at miriampickard@gmail.com Miriam graduated Charles Sturt University with a BA in Theatre/Media and completed theatre training in France with Master Clown teacher Philippe Gaulier. She is developing a unique storytelling format blending mythology, character based comedy and clown. She is committed to creating work that is accessible, entertaining…
Find out more »High Society and Other F*ckups
She’s back, and bawdier than ever! In a hilarious whirlwind of wicked charisma and anecdotal spectacle, critically acclaimed avant-showgirl, Miss Friby, will present a wild array of cabaret, burlesque and vaudeville acts. Sharp wit, satirical bite and absurdist performance is on the menu as Miss Friby, dissects humanity and its graceless empire. This 'strange bid to justify every mother f*cking sh*tty thing that ever bloody happened' will be oddly refreshing and downright bizarre. See yourself in satire, I dare you.…
Find out more »Kids Markets – Junkyard Beats and Trash Puppets
Junkyard Beats is an all inclusive workshop for kids where we collectively create music and connections by using everyday 'junkyard' objects. Throughout the workshop we will explore different 'trash' objects to make sounds, rhythms and eventually compile songs. Holding an open space for young minds to creatively flourish through self expression and with each other as a group! Out of these supposedly 'single use' items, kids can get creative and make their very own instruments to take home with…
Find out more »Cabaret Comedy Workshop: Where Sequins & Satire Converge – presented by Miss Friby
This fun and informative workshop explores act development through the genre of cabaret, where sequins and satire converge. How does one nail 'profound' to the wall? Perfect for musical performers, circus, vaudeville/variety and anyone with a desire to create some good old fashioned entertainment with elegant wit and wicked humour. In this workshop you will learn some great tips and tricks to apply to your creative process, and a hilarious cabaret act, that explores social satire and vivid 'jazz hands'!…
Find out more »Dance Workshop presented by Yellow Wheel
This workshop will introduce participants to movement qualities present within QUARK and will include repertoire from the show. Participants will also generate their own material around the theme of connection and disconnection through choreographic tasks used in the creation of QUARK. Yellow Wheel, established in Melbourne in 2012, is an Australian dance company specialising in working with young people and emerging artists. The company offers a range of programs to connect emerging dancers with professional artists, and provides rigourous contemporary dance training and professional development.…
Find out more »Cabaret Comedy and Broadway Jazz Workshop – presented by Miss Friby
Presented by Elizabeth Dawson, aka Miss Friby. Character/narrative based choreography & performance - fun, informative, high energy exploration in the classic dance genres of broadway, musical theatre and vaudeville (Fosse, Porter, Miller). Together we will work on a unique dance piece which is equal part story, character & choreography all the while exploring techniques and lines that can be implemented into your work, to give it that added finesse. Performer, producer and show maker, Elizabeth's knack for devising work for…
Find out more »Kid’s Night Markets – Trash Puppets and Catching Kobe
Don't know what to do with your left over trash? No worries, there's a Trash Puppet Workshop where you can create puppets using recycled materials. Maggie Pereyra, a local puppeteer and artist with a background in textile design, sources the materials from factory cut offs, op shops, tip shops and donations. As well as using household waste like bottles and cartons. The idea is to create something new using old, recycled things. To teach children about recycling and sustainability. The…
Find out more »Quark
QUARK explores our human need to connect with each other, and how many things, including social media, threaten these connections. Quarks are the smallest known layer of matter in the Universe, and when pulled apart their bond becomes both stronger and more strained, until it snaps and new quark pairs are created. Just like us, the elementary particles in every cell of our bodies can never exist in isolation. Viewed from all four sides, it's as if the work is…
Find out more »Quark
QUARK explores our human need to connect with each other, and how many things, including social media, threaten these connections. Quarks are the smallest known layer of matter in the Universe, and when pulled apart their bond becomes both stronger and more strained, until it snaps and new quark pairs are created. Just like us, the elementary particles in every cell of our bodies can never exist in isolation. Viewed from all four sides, it's as if the work is…
Find out more »Sequins in the Stinkhouse
OK, so think Vegas gameshow + high end showmanship + mind blowing acts + prison reform ......…bear with us. It’s a WORLD FIRST social experiment and Scandinavia is fuming. Prisoners from the Ipswich Rehabilitation and Reform Facility (ie. the slammer) have been randomly selected to participate in a revolutionary rehabilitation program - tour a world class, decadent as hell, over the top, kid you not, STAGE SHOW SPECTACLE! A variety style show featuring some special local guest performers, in a…
Find out more »October 2019
Japanese Film Festival Screening – Every Day a Good Day
Noriko and Michiko are cousins in their last year of university, trying to find their place in the world of adult life. Michiko is adventurous and graceful while Noriko is clumsy and slow to catch on—so when Michiko wants to begin tea ceremony lessons Noriko is understandably nervous. While their first lesson is difficult and their teacher Mrs. Takeda is rigid, something about the intricate fine details in the practice are fascinating to Noriko, so the cousins decide to continue…
Find out more »Japanese Film Festival Screening – Mirai
Four-year-old Kun’s life gets turned upside down when he meets his new baby sister Mirai (meaning “future”) for the first time. Having only known life as the apple of his parents' eyes, Kun is very quick to become jealous of his new sister, whose arrival steals both his spotlight and his parents’ attention. One day, in the midst of a jealous rampage he runs to the backyard to sulk where he discovers a mysterious magical time-travelling gateway. Through it, he…
Find out more »Japanese Film Festival Screening – Dad’s Lunchbox
Dad’s Lunch Box is a heart-warming story of a newly-divorced father who vows to make his daughter Midori’s lunch every single day until she finishes high school. Meanwhile, Midori it still adjusting to the new dynamic with her father and dealing with the trials and tribulations of high school life–friends and boys at the top of the list. She’s mortified that her classmates notice her father’s awful attempts at cooking, and spends lunch time with her friends harshly critiquing his…
Find out more »Human Rights Film Festival Screening – WARU
“I was moved to tears...Waru is a triumph of writing, storytelling, performance and direction.”- STUFF.CO.NZ A sisterhood of eight Maori female directors bravely share their insights into child abuse. At the centre of their stories is Waru, a boy killed at the hands of a caregiver. It shows how his death and trauma impacts the community, culminating in the preparations for his tangi (funeral). The stories follow different women as they are confronted by guilt, shame, pride and defeat. This…
Find out more »Monkey Marc featuring Rider Shafique and Fyah Roiall
Australian producer Monkey Marc is bringing his album launch show to the Desert Festival! After 3 years of releasing global dancehall hits and reggae riddims with some of Jamaica’s most legendary artists, Monkey Marc is now touring his long-awaited Vital Sound album. In this one-off show, you can expect heavyweight bass vibrations and a dancefloor-pumping adventure through hip hop, reggae, dub and dancehall. To make sure he’s bringing the hottest show of the festival to Alice Springs, Monkey Marc is flying in renowned vocalist Rider Shafique from…
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