What does it take to launch a fringe festival in Wynnum, during a pandemic?
Tom Oliver’s determination to provide performers with an outlet for their talents, and audiences quality entertainment, saw 2020’s inaugural Wynnum Fringe become a highlight on Brisbane’s entertainment calendar. And this year’s line-up is expected to once again captivate audiences, and inspire creatives to produce new and exciting works.
When the final curtain fell on the Wynnum Fringe in November 2020, there’s no doubt organiser Tom Oliver and the thousands of patrons who enjoyed the program felt something special had just taken place. Over a weekend in one of the wildest years in recent history, the Wynnum Fringe organisers had pulled off what was seemingly impossible: to safely host an innovative festival of 50 events and 150 performers amid a pandemic.
Wynnum Fringe 2021 will expand its offering and footprint with an extended six-day program of free and ticketed shows across more local venues soon to be announced.
The Raine & Horne Spiegeltent will showcase global disco phenomenon Velvet Rewired, direct from its Sydney Opera House run, from Wednesday 17 November.
Mr Oliver had a lead role in the original Velvet production, touring alongside disco diva Marcia Hines in 2017 and 2019, and is delighted to bring the hit show home.
“My journey from a lead role in the original production of Velvet to being a co-producer on the new version and bringing the new show with Marcia Hines and an array of acrobats, aerialists, vocalist and circus performers, including my good mate Craig The Incredible Hula Boy, to Wynnum Fringe as part of its national tour is extremely exciting,” Mr Oliver said.
“Wynnum has never had a Spiegeltent – let alone hosted a national production of this magnitude and size – and we’ve curated a three-week program of local music and comedy acts as well. I can’t wait to announce that soon too!”
Wynnum CBD will continue to act as the heart of the arts festival and a pedestrian playground featuring laneway activations, food trucks, outdoor bars and free local performances on Friday 19 November and Saturday 20 November.
Attendees at this year’s Wynnum Fringe can expect world-class entertainment from local, national and international artists and creators spanning a variety of performance genres from comedy to dance, music to circus and everything in between.
“It’s a great opportunity for Wynnum to celebrate what it has to offer and for visitors from Brisbane and beyond to experience this beautiful bayside suburb on the fringe of the city,” said Mr Oliver.
In the lead up to the Fringe, be sure to get your tickets to Rock the Bay, a live October concert showcasing a must-see line-up of beloved homegrown icons alongside up-and-coming local talent, headlined by
Daryl Braithwaite.
Wynnum Fringe 2021 and Rock the Bay are supported by the RISE Fund through the Australian Government. Wynnum Fringe is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland and features on the It’s Live! In Queensland events calendar. These will be run as Covid-safe events; however in the event of a lockdown/outbreak, the event will be postponed and full refunds issued.
Rock the Bay is on Saturday 9 October 2021 on the front hill at Iona College, Lindum, and Wynnum Fringe 2021 will run from Tuesday 16 November to Sunday 21 November 2021 at various venues. For pre-sale tickets and to view the full program, visit www.wynnumfringe.com
