The 2013 Sydney Fringe Festival is finally here. Planting its roots in the inner west, the third annual event is set to celebrate the alternative, the quirky, the classic and even the mainstream. We’ve digested each performance headed your way and put together a top ten list of events worth checking out.
1) 101 Vagina Book Exhibition
The 101 Vagina Book Exhibition isn’t only relevant in light of the increase in labiaplasty sought out by women, this project challenges the idea that there is some ideal that all women are supposed to conform to.
Opening night: September 17
Venue: Tap Gallery
2) Animorphed
Simon Binns of performance collective Applespiel re-reads his favourite childhood book series Animorphs in an attempt to discover whether a childhood love is still a great series of novels. Simon will also attempt to morph into an animal.
Dates: September 20-21 & September 27-28
Venue: Pact Theatre
3) Chris Leben: Accidental Pornographer
Chris (seen on Breakfast show and fired from 2DayFM and triple j) was raised in a deeply religious household as a god fearing altar boy but somewhere along the way he managed to contract multiple STD's, set his bed on fire during sex and direct, produce & write soft core porn. His parent's don't talk to him anymore.
Dates: September 11 and 13
Venue: The Factory Theatre
4) Fringe Comedy Showcase
Running out of time to catch all of the comedy at The Fringe? The Fringe Comedy Showcase at The Factory Theatre gives you a taste of the entire comedy program with eight comedy acts performing nightly.
Dates: September 11 – 14 & September18 – 20 & September 25 - 28
Venue: The Factory Theatre
5) Jude The Obscure
Pegged as little known material from the future catalogue of Judith Lucy, this work explores the role of humour at this unique juncture of global ecological crisis. All told with Lucy’s hilarious dry wit, of course.
Dates: September 4-7 & September 11-14
Venue: Pact Theatre
6) Madame Butterfly
Produced especially for Adelaide Fringe Festival, one of the world's best-loved opera, Puccini’s Madame Butterfly transcends its frontiers into a display of contemporary dance and neo expressionist dance.
Dates: September 14 & 15
Venue: The Forum
7) Sydney Fringe Film Festival
For one night only, the festival will exclusively screen The Naughty Room, a film by soon-to-be touring singer-songwriter/filmmaker Cosmo Jarvis. The black comedy was premiered on BBC4 at the end of 2012 receiving glowing reviews for a debut feature.
Date: September 29
Venue: Dendy Cinemas Newtown
8) Van-Anh Nguyen ft. Chris Howlett: Piano & Cello Unplugged
Young and talented pianist Van-anh has teamed with cellist, producer and festival curator Chris Howlett for a classical duo record, Sentimentales. In the pair’s first public performance, Van-Nah will also chat about her choices of works and perform solo piano works of Chopin, Tchaikowsky, Liszt and more.
Date: September 11
Venue: Glebe Café Church Space
9) koLABorAYshun
The Melbourne-based movement teams literature, poetry and spoken word for a night of challenging envelopes and testing oneself, genres and expectations, trying to push boundaries. Participants are actress and singer Lady Hannah Cadaver, folksinger Penelope Swales, poet, musician and singer Fjalar de Haan, and koLAB organiser, singer/songwriter, electronic musician, and poet Thomas Kent.
Dates: September 11-13
Venue: Harold Park Hotel
10) 20 Years of Underground Techno (Q&A with director Amélie Ravalec)
This 52" documentary tells the story of an underground movement, from its beginning until now. Twenty people trace the evolution of techno over the years. They all have different profiles - DJ, producer, label manager, promoter, record shop owner... but all share a common passion: techno.
Dates: September 6
Venue: The Forum
The 2013 Sydney Fringe runs from September 7-29.