Melbourne Festival 2017

Melbourne Festival has just released its 2017 lineup. And as expected it’s an absolute doozy.

Tapping into the city’s creative culture the annual arts bonanza is spread out over 27 locations around Melbourne and will run from October 4-22. All forms of dance, theatre, music, circus, visual arts and multimedia are invited to throw their keys in the bowl, in what can and should only be described as an arts orgy.

Like a double macchiato with a shot of tequila, artistic director, Jonathan Holloway, has concocted a stimulating lineup for the 2017 instalment. It is an eclectic, very large and very colourful bunch of events ranging from the weird to the wonderful. And to use an extremely hackneyed, yet very relevant expression – there’s something for everyone.

Music fans looking for a gig can wrap their ears around Taylor Mac’s party vibing 24-Decade History of Popular Music; a pulsating solo performance from Hot Chip’s frontman, Alexis Taylor; or the Aussie debut of Italian pianist, Emanuele Arciuli’s.

Biggin’ up the visual arts section you have the likes of conceptual art pioneer, Joseph Kosuth; the genre-defying recipient of France’s most prestigious art award (Le Prix Marcel Duchamp), Kader Attia; and of course the return of the much-loved Melbourne Art Trams project.

If the stage is your bag (baby) then you’ve got the thought-provoking Arab-Israeli crack up, We Love Arabs; a lusty look at the sex lives of over 65-year old Melburnians in, All The Sex I’ve Had; and the interactive criminal trial with real lawyers, Please, Continue (Hamlet).

From Tanderrum, the free opening ceremony performed by the five clans of the Central Kulin Nation, through to the closing weekend acts like Two Jews Walk Into A Theatre, the quality is there and the quantity is there. Have a dig through the diverse program of events, I guarantee something will tickle your fancy.

Melbourne Festival runs from October 4-22.

words by niall roeder