CULTURE
Festival fever
WORDS TAYLA ARTHUR PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED
M
As organisers put together the finishing touches for the Noosa Long Weekend Festival next
month, festival director Ian Mackellar and festival president Johanne Wright provide a sneak
preview at what audiences can expect from the standout cultural and artistic spectacular.
agical, celebratory and fun. These are the three words
Noosa Long Weekend Festival director Ian Mackellar
uses to sum up the spectacular he has planned
for when the annual event returns for its 15th
anniversary from 15 to 24 July.
I’m talking to Ian and Noosa Long Weekend Festival’s president
Johanne Wright about what audiences can expect during the 10 days
of the 2016 festival, and based on their reactions – Ian’s eyes glowing
with an uncontainable passion and Johanne’s fervent smile each time
she mentions a new act – it’s going to be an incredible event that’s not
to be missed.
Boasting in excess of 80 ticketed and non-ticketed events ranging
from music, dance, theatre and film acts through to literature forums,
thought-provoking discussions, food events, comedy performances
and workshops across all genres, there’s certainly plenty to see and do.
Add to that a variety of free events targeted at capturing the
hearts of audiences young and old, and it’s easy to see the recipe
behind Australia’s foremost regional community arts and cultural
festival’s success.
“As clichéd as it sounds, part of our mission here at Noosa Long
Weekend Festival is to ensure there is something to suit everyone – to
suit all tastes, all ages and all budgets as well,” says Ian.
“One of the major things about this festival is that we are trying
to ensure there are plenty of things for our community. We want to
bring the best of the best into Noosa so people don’t have to go to
Melbourne or Sydney to enjoy them,” adds Johanne.
“We have a range of wonderful national and international
performers coming out. We go from opera at one level to smokey jazz
and blues at the other and everything in between.”
This year’s event is headlined by international cabaret diva Meow
Meow, who is flying in from London especially for a one-night
appearance at the festival. Her much anticipated performance is set to
follow on from the Hastings Street Carnivale Parade, which will see
the festival open in a flurry of colour, sequins and feathers that will
culminate on the beach with a night-time skydiving spectacular.
june 2016
What will ensue throughout the 10 days of the festival is a who’s
who of the art, performance and cultural world. Crowd favourites
Queensland Ballet will perform an incredible array of awe-inspiring
works. Concert pianist Julian Gargiulo will leave audiences
enamoured with his spine-tingling performance. Plus, in a magical
combination that will connect audiences to the earth through the
power of music, Didgeridoo player William Barton will team up with
classical outfit, Southern Cross Soloists.
“What’s UNIQUE about our festival is the
opportunity to see a show that’s world-class,
but also the opportunity after the show to
MEET THE PERFORMERS and perhaps
have a drink with them.”
The list goes on, with audiences also getting the opportunity to
meet these breath-taking performers both during workshops and in a
once-in-a-lifetime experience thanks to the festival’s newest addition,
LOCALE after DARK.
“What’s unique about our festival is the opportunity to see a
show that’s world-class, but also the opportunity after the show to
meet the performers and perhaps have a drink with them at the bar.
It makes for an up close and personal experience,” says Ian of the
pop-up performances set to take place at Locale Restaurant each
night from 8pm.
“To me, the uniqueness of the location, the intimacy of the
performances, and the wonderful injection of the community spirit
that is evident over the 10 days of the festival, that is what makes the
Noosa Long Weekend Festival so very special,” says Ian.
For more information or to purchase tickets to one of the many
fantastic events at the 2016 Noosa Long Weekend Festival, call
5329 6560, visit www.noosalongweekendfestival.com, or call into
The J Theatre at Noosa Junction.
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