Fringe Festival explodes across the west

The Melbourne Fringe Festival is set to explode across the inner-west in dramatic fashion.

The Kabooms will bring their chaotic and colourful show for kids to next month’s festival, joining an eclectic range of performances, talks and workshops for all ages.

Other Fringe Westside program highlights will include a play by Thailand-based theatre company Peel the Limelight, in which the audience will remain blindfolded throughout the show.

Footscray performer Stuart Bowden will be joining the Forest Exchange Lab in collaborating with UK-based risk-takers Forest Fringe in a series of events responding to local spaces and places.

Invite Me to Play will ask young people to join artist Clare Walton on a journey that explores notions of play in public space.

Tea with Chekhov is a collection of three of Anton Chekhov’s famous short comedies while Potato Stamp Megalomaniac offers a kaleidoscopic remembering of a manic episode.

On the music front, the Tim Franklin Trio uses saxophone, keyboards and drums to explore themes of modernity and isolation.

Maribyrnong mayor Catherine Cumming said the festival line-up showed Maribyrnong was home to an increasingly creative community.

“Through our Festival City and arts and culture programs, council is proud to support and foster the arts, which contribute to the cultural and civic richness of Maribyrnong,” she said.

Fringe Westside takes place from September 14 to October 1. Details: festivalcity.com.au

Benjamin Millar