A festival of villages

Exploring the cultural precincts of the Sydney Fringe Festival.

With over 300 visual and performing arts events running through the month of September, the Sydney Fringe Festival is shaping up to be a goldmine of cultural opportunity. Theatre, cabaret, music, sound, visual art, dance, film, digital art and more will spread over 70 venues, utilising both traditional and new art spaces, and exploiting some of Sydney’s secret hotspots.

To make the Fringe representational of the diverse Sydney arts scene, the areas of Newtown, Erskineville, St Peters, Enmore, Glebe, Chippendale, Leichardt, Marrickville and Surry Hills have been formed into five creative villages that will host all Fringe events. 

For those curious about what to expect from each precinct, here’s the lowdown.

Newtown, Erskineville, St Peters and Enmore

Bursting with live music, theatre, galleries, bookshops and crafts, the Newtown, Erskineville, St Peters and Enmore area has a strong cultural community that embraces difference. 

‘Everyone is free to express themselves however they like, there’s little judgement and a place for everyone,’ said Xavier Toby, who will be running a walking tour When we were idiots through part of the precinct. ‘Actually it’s so diverse most people fit in most places.’

Already a locale buzzing with action, the Sydney Fringe has activated over 30 venues in this area, making it the busiest spot to visit during the festival. Venues are plentiful and diverse, with Fringe-goers able to choose between theatres, hotels, bars, community centres, or even relax in a car park (specifically the Dendy cinema car park as venue to the Artcore guerilla art fair).

There are also many visual art sites in the area, and according to studio manager of May Street Studios Yvonne Levenston, more and more of these creative spaces are popping up. ‘The area is coming alive with creative residences and specialised art studios opening up,’ said Levenston. May Street Studios alone houses 35 working artists, who are available to chat with during its open studio event towards the end of the month. There is a long list of other galleries and studios with Fringe events also waiting to be visited.

For punters that truly desire insider information on this precinct, The Amazeballz Race could be the golden ticket. This event promises a mystery adventure through undisclosed streets and spaces of the precinct and is guaranteed to expose more than a few hidden treasures.

Leichhardt 

If magic and mystery is what you seek then look no further than Leichhardt. Magic, mentalists, fire performance and dangerous dance mix with theatre, visual art, comedy and music in this vibrant precinct.

Quite notably, Leichhart is home to the Forum, a space packed with events of various disciplines. The Fringe’s largest visual art event Fringe Arts at the Forum will take place in this venue, as will contemporary dance theatre work Gothica. Both are sure to draw a crowd.

Beyond the Forum a multitude of alternate spaces is on offer. According to Liam O’Donoghue from AV Union, host to Why magic is, ‘The Leichhardt area and it’s surrounds have great cultural assets. AV Union is just one, though on Parramatta Road we also have Black Wire Records and Articulate Project Space, only a few minutes away we have Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Cooperative plus a bunch of other independent spaces dotted throughout the rest of the LGA (Leichhardt greater area).’

With cheap rent, great public transport and the potential to make a bit of noise, Leichhardt is primed to explode in the near future. The Fringe offers a chance to explore it now.

Marrickville

Marrickville is a diverse area that offers the irresistible combination of artistic spaces and friendly-minded folk. ‘Marrickville attracts creative people, kind people, loud people, shy people: every people! We’re a pretty welcoming suburb,’ says Alison Avron from The Newsagency, an intimate live performance venue on Enmore Road.

Manager of the Vic Dan Rule, agrees. ‘I think the diversity of the precinct is one of the most unique in all of Sydney. Cultures from around the world have assimilated without issue and the area has embraced all the different traits with gusto.’

This year the Sydney Fringe will fill Marrickville with comedy, music, theatre, cabaret, comedy, burlesque and yes, more comedy. Most of the knee-slapping shows will happen at the Factory Theatre complex, with comedians such as Dan Ilic, Bish Marzook, Alice Fraser and others performing works within its multiple performance spaces.

The Camelot Lounge will also be in full swing with a whole month of live music, including the familiar voice of Abby Dobson, co-founder of music group Leonardo’s Bride. The Camelot Lounge has a main music stage, a side stage, and a lounge-room style bar to unwind in before or after a show.

A trip to Marrickville may also deliver a few surprises. Home to many practicing artists, the area has an easy-going flow and a flavour of the unexpected. Random revelries might pop up at any hour in Marrickville, making it an adventuresome spot to visit.

Surry Hills and Oxford Street

Shops, bars, clubs, hotels and live music venues fill the precinct of Surry Hills and Oxford Street. The area is a collection of contrasts with a dynamic mix of spaces and locals.

Comedy, theatre, visual art and even indie-rock will find a home in the precinct during the Fringe. Phillip Werner’s 101 Vagina exhibition at TAP Art Gallery and Theatre is sure to be a highlight thanks to the highly praised photographic work and the free publicity garnered from outraged citizens who find the subject matter confronting.

The wicked world of cabaret is also explored in great depth through a wide selection of shows.

The Slide Lounge on Oxford Street is set to sizzle, with cabaret events that incorporate both modern and historical trends of the form. Variety entertainment with a modern twist is explored in Noir et D’or, starring Miss Burlesque 2012 Brianna Bluebell. Blush Opera embraces the past by enacting a saucy and excessive imagined history of Marie Antoinette and Madame Veuve Clicquot – Le Grand Dame of Champagne; the ultimate party girls.

Cabaret also sashays into The Old Fitzroy Theatre in Dance with de Vil, this time with a distinct comedic edge. Sydney based comedian Jared Jekyll stars as the playboy son of a renowned villainess in this singing, dancing extravaganza that is sure to tick more than a few boxes.

Glebe and Chippendale

Offering a selection of visual arts, comedy, and theatre, the Glebe and Chippendale precinct is also home to Sydney Fringe Festival hub, the Emerald City Garden Bar, located in the courtyard of the Seymour Centre. For punters not sure of what to do and where to go in the Fringe, the Emerald City is a great place to catch up on what’s happening around town.

According to Status update comedian Alex Wasiel, the Glebe and Chippendale precinct has a village feel to it, with an interesting mix of young professionals, artists and students. The precinct is also big on the funny stuff. ‘It’s become something of a hub for comedians. You’ll find them there most nights, lurking the streets clutching crumpled bits of paper with new set material for testing,’ said Wasiel. 

Many comedic events are programmed through Chippendale, including Lou Pollard, who will be sidestepping her usual pre-teen audience to share a few dirty secrets about single motherhood in her show Not suitable for children. This will play out at The Lybrary; a heritage listed site and favourite venue of Chippendale’s student population.

According to Café Church Administrator Allison Forest, Glebe in particular is an opportunity to embrace a more relaxed pace. ‘It’s home to an incredibly diverse community and it’s quieter than some other parts of the inner city with a bit more space to breathe and relax. It’s got bars and bookshops and cafes and parks, which make it a good place for people who like to listen and contemplate.’

The Café Church space reflects this comfortable energy. ‘It’s designed for listening and relaxing and is much loved by acoustic musicians, especially pianists because of our beautiful grand piano,’ said Forest. Many acoustic events will be held at the space, including a poetry and music event entitled Sylvia Plath in the domestic sublime by pianist and spoken word artist Danaë Killian. 

The Sydney Fringe Festival runs from 6-29 September. Most tickets are under $30 and are on sale now through the official Sydney Fringe Festival website or by calling (02) 9020 69 80.

A comprehensive guide to programmed events is also available on the website. Events can be searched for through genre, location, venue or date.