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Darwin Festival Program Launch

The Darwin Festival program is hot off the press and out in the wild.

Thu 21 June, 2018

The Festival boasts a huge program with more than 113 events in every genre across the three-week festival from August 9-26.

Tickets are on sale from Thursday 21​ July at 10am.

 Artistic director Felix Preval says the team is thrilled to finally share the program with the world. 

“We have another fantastic program for this year’s Darwin Festival and we couldn’t be more delighted to announce it,” he says.

“Our Festival program spans 113 events, features 595 artists - 305 of who are NT locals - and is spread across 31 Darwin venues, so there is no shortage of artistic happenings to enrich one’s Festival experience.

“It’s a program full of light and laugher and reasons to celebrate, with an incredible line up of international cabaret, comedy and contemporary music acts, as well as work from across the country and, of course, a stellar line up of local performers right from here in the Territory.”

The program features a line-up of local shows to celebrate 40 years of Territory self-governance, Congress, Pivot, and Face to Face, the who’s who of comedy – including Sam Simmons, Urzila Carlson, Ross Noble and Joel Creasey – and a special opening night performance of Buried Country.

“We welcomed record crowds at last year’s Festival and 50% of shows sold out. The appetite for incredible entertainment is strong in the Top End so I encourage everyone to book in early to avoid disappointment this year," Preval says.

OFF THE LEASH TOP PICKS

A unique adrenaline-pumping theatre show exploring the struggles of a Congolese refugee inside the boxing ring. 

Read our interview with lead actor Pacharo Mzembe here.

A play by an award-winning playwright Alana Valentine about a mother’s loss and a nation’s obsession after the death of baby Azaria Chamberlain.
 
Jodee Mundy explores her life as the only member of her family with the ability to hear on stage, performed with an Auslan interpreter for the hearing impaired community. 
 
Darwin-based dance company Tracks teams up with the Sri Lankan and Balinese communities to perform a show about their passions ­– right on a cricket pitch. 
 
After a run of sold-out shows last year, The Aurora Speigletent is back with a new show full of gut-churning contortion, breath-taking acrobatics and jaw-dropping stunts. 
 

As part of the celebrations of 40 years of self-governance, Congress pairs eight locals with eight writers to prepare and perform an imaged first speech to Parliament.
 
Take the kids to see three healthy ewes and a young ram make Festival Park their home.
 
This 90s masquerade-ball-rock-show will see Electric Fields team up with local musos Caiti Baker, Stevie Jean, David Garnham plus heaps more to bring the soundtrack of Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo and Juliet to life, including music from Radiohead, Everclear and Garbage.
 
Winners of last year’s NIMA for New Talent, Electric Fields will be an epic electronic show with soulful music not to miss.
 
Home grown hip-hop legend Baker Boy heads back to the Top End to show fans why he’s dubbed the Fresh Prince of Arnhem Land.

Darwin Festival | Thu 9 - Sun 26 Aug | darwinfestival.org.au

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