News

Melbourne Fringe cancels 90% of events

Artists will be refunded for all registration and advertising costs says organisers, as the program goes digital.

3 Sep 2021 14:02

Richard Watts

Performing Arts

The digital production LuisVision will be presented at the 2021 Melbourne Fringe Festival. Photo credit: Sarah Collins.

Hopes that the 2021 Melbourne Fringe might be able to proceed with a mix of live and digital events have been dashed following the continuation of COVID restrictions in Victoria.

The decision to cancel all live shows at the 2021 Melbourne Fringe Festival means that approximately 90% of its program – ranging from comedy and dance to an immersive walking tour of Brunswick – will no longer proceed, with the exception of digital and some outdoor events.

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Richard Watts

Richard Watts OAM is ArtsHub's National Performing Arts Editor; he also presents the weekly program SmartArts on Three Triple R FM. Richard is a life member of the Melbourne Queer Film Festival, a Melbourne Fringe Festival Living Legend, and was awarded the Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards' Facilitator's Prize in 2020. In 2021 he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Green Room Awards Association. Most recently, Richard received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in June 2024. Follow him on Twitter: @richardthewatts