A splash of everything at the Perth International Arts Festival 2016

The Perth International Arts Festival (PIAF) revealed its program earlier this week to a throng of media and lovers of various arts. From performance and visual art to live music and multimedia, every artistic taste is catered to in a program packed with things-to-do over the Summer 2016 season.

First up is the Lotterywest Festival Opening, where a gathering of Western Australia’s most renowned artists aim to celebrate the state’s diverse culture and community. The outdoor spectacle promises to reflect on the concept of ‘Home’ – what it means to our most evocative and imaginative artists and, more importantly how it relates to our locals, from the inner-city through the suburbs to way out in the outback. One thing’s for sure, the ‘Home’ festival opening is set to be huge. Bring a picnic and settle in from 6pm at Langley Park for a 90-minute extravaganza whose billing includes the John Butler Trio, the Drones, the Triffids, the Panics and the Waifs – and that’s just the amazing musical contingency!

To the festival program itself – everything from skateboarding to jazz, circus antics to contemporary dance will be on show during PIAF 2016. Highlights that we’re already penning into our social diary include Refuse The Hour – a surreal chamber opera that investigates notions of time, cabaret darling Meow Meow’s splash of a production Little Mermaid (including a musical palette as diverse as Amanda Palmer and Kate Miller-Heidke), the brilliance of Brazilian choreographer Lia Rodrigues in Pindorama, and The West Australian Ballet’s night of dance under the stars, Ballet At The Quarry: Five By Night.

Sure, there might not be giants kicking off the proceedings this coming Perth International Arts Festival, but the talent looks huge just the same.  Antonino Tati

To view the full The Perth International Arts Festival runs from February 11 to March 06, 2016. To view the full program, visit www.perthfestival.com.au.