The Arts

The Melbourne Festival

Melbourne Festival’s 2012 program was launched last month with a program that is sure to excite everyone.

In his final year as festival director, Brett Sheehy has gathered some of his favourite artists from his last 10 years of curating arts festivals around the country.

The Arts Centre Melbourne will be part of the festival with more than 10 events being staged across its venues. Arts Centre Melbourne chief executive Judith Isherwood said: “Melbourne Festival is an exciting time for our entire art-loving city and we are delighted that Arts Centre Melbourne will once again host many events and performances across the festival’s 17 days.”

This year’s program includes family-friendly to adults-only shows, from music to theatre to opera to dance to visual arts, talks and forums. Although the festival kicks off in October, Melburnians are renowned to book out the festival early.

Festival highlights at the Arts Centre:

Theatre

An Enemy of the People

One of modern theatre’s most distinctive and audacious companies, Schaubühne Berlin, makes a triumphant return to Melbourne Festival, with a startling take on Henrik Ibsen’s acerbic classic. October 21-27.

No Child ...

Hilarious, thought-provoking and galvanising, Nilaja Sun’s one-woman tour de force depicts a US education system cut adrift. October 9-14.

Dance

I Don’t Believe in Outer Space

Legendary choreographer William Forsythe presents the Australian premiere of an ambitious masterwork – an unmissable event for anyone with an interest in the past, present or future of contemporary dance. October 10-16.

An Act of Now

Chunky Move returns to the Melbourne Festival stage, launching its first show under visionary new artistic director Anouk van Dijk. October 17-27.

Music

Billy Bragg Celebrates the Legacy of Woody Guthrie

On the 100th anniversary of Woody Guthrie’s birth, Billy Bragg brings the songs of the folk music pioneer to life in a rare acoustic show. October 19.

Swanlights

A never-to-be-repeated concert event from Antony and the Johnsons – a transcendental work that sees the sublime vocals of Antony backed by a 44-piece orchestra and an unforgettable visual aesthetic. October 12-13

Kids/Family

How High the Sky
Experience the world through the eyes of your newborn child in this dream-like journey created by Polyglot Theatre. October 24-28.

For full program go to www.melbournefestival.com.au

Arts Centre program go to www.artscentremelbourne.com.au