MOUNT Gambier’s own award-winning Australian choreographer will bring two entertaining performances to the city as part of the Fringe in Mount Gambier.
From New York to London and Paris, the talented local has returned to his home, joining an array of comedians, musicians and cabaret performers in the second annual event.
The city streets will be filled with blue this weekend when the “Fringe” lands in Mount Gambier, providing a wide-range of entertainment for the community to enjoy.
Whether you want to have a laugh at comedians, be amazed by cabaret performers or listen to music from quality musicians, there will be something for everyone when a packed weekend full of events kicks off tomorrow evening.
Tomorrow night’s “Lift-off Street Party” is expected to attract hundreds of people to the heart of Mount Gambier as roving artists and performers bring the Fringe party to the Blue Lake city.
Mount Gambier’s own Lewis Major – an award-winning Australian choreographer – is one man who is getting back to his grassroots by bringing two different shows to the region for the festival.
“It’s been a normal trajectory, New York to London to Paris and back to Mount Gambier and I am really excited to be back in my home town,” Lewis said.
“I will deliver two performances – Losers and Trolleys – which will involve a range of local people and also bring in choreographers from the outside.”
Losers is a simple 15-minute piece that will premiere at the Mount Gambier Fringe, which Lewis said he has had great fun curating with passionate local performers.
“Losers is all about standing up straight with your shoulders back and facing up to the world, which works well being so close to Anti-Bullying Week,” Lewis said.
“We originally started off wanting to create an outdoor water slide for the performance, but then we realised it would be the end of March and was likely to be cold, so it did not quite get off the ground, but it’s slowly morphed into an exciting new idea.”
Previously involved in Fringe festivals in other cities, Lewis encouraged people in the region to make the most of the range of events on offer during an action-packed weekend.
“It’s great the Fringe has branched out a bit further because growing up there were limited opportunities to engage with live performances here in Mount Gambier, so it is great to have a number of things on during this festival,” he said.
“It is an uncurated arts festival full of free events where anything goes, so you have to expect anything, because anything could happen.”
Gavin Clarke is another local man who will return to the Mount Gambier Fringe to collaborate with other artists in a grassroots art initiative “Send ME to the fringe”.
Local musician Louise Adams will be curating the performance, which will involved everything from music to dance, visual art, words and comedy.
“Gavin is a really talented artist with many talents and it will be great to see him share his experience and encourage other budding artists to perform,” Louise said.
Louise said “Fringe in Mount Gambier” will not only be a great chance to showcase local talent, but also provide entertainment from national acts.
“It is really important for people to get along to the various artists performing this weekend and show them how much we enjoy having this event in Mount Gambier,” Louise said.
“We want to make ‘Fringe in Mount Gambier’ our own and hope that people go home having seen something weird, wonderful and amazing.
“Enjoy the free shows and then sit down with your family to pick out a ticketed event to get along to and support the wonderful artists we have attracted to our region.”
