This is your guide to the Perth Festival 2026 program. Lean in and let brilliant artists move you in a festival of truth telling and mischief making. It’s what Perth Festival is here for. No download required. Open and start reading right away!
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Contents
Perth Festival acknowledges the Noongar people who continue to practise values, language, beliefs and knowledge on kwobidak boodjar. Noongar people remain the spiritual and cultural birdiyangara of this place and we honour and respect the caretakers and custodians and the vital role Noongar people play for our community and our Festival to flourish. We also acknowledge all First Nations people, whose contributions make our Festival culturally and artistically richer. Our hearts are happy that you are here, on the traditional lands of Whadjuk, part of the Bibbulmun nation and its people.
Getting started Welcomes Festival with us Festival Club
Theatre LACRIMA
East Perth Power Station East Perth Power Station
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50 52 54 55 55 55 56 56 56 57 57 57
Lé Nør [the rain] 16 Meow Meow’s The Red Shoes 20 Haribo Kimchi 32 POV 34 Dragon I 35 Scenes from the Climate Era 36
Casa Musica Main Stage Max Cooper SYBER: 013 Bleak Squad Rebel Rebel Morcheeba Nilüfer Yanya Baker Boy
Support us
Connect with us
Information Booking details
Dance Songs of the Bulbul
90 92 94
Access Schedule
Black Country, New Road
14 18 28 29 29 30 31
Sudan Archives
U>N>I>T>E>D Perth Moves
Special Events Karla Bidi
Boorloo Contemporary Boorloo Contemporary Lance Chadd Tjyllyungoo
All-Styles, All-Ages Dance Battle Concrete Echoes
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58 59 60 61 62 63
A View From A Bridge the booster protocol The BhuMeJha Project Summit at Lawson Flats Let Me In, Let Me Out Nitja
10 33 37 38 39 49
CERCLES
Ballet at the Quarry
Kait James Melissa Sandy Kwop Ben April Phillips
Music Sanctum Series Roomful of Teeth
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VR & Film Lotterywest Films Cine Wonders
The Embassy The Embassy
Echoes Through Time
Martin Hayes 24 Lonquich-Clerici-Mehner Trio 25 Åkervinda 25 The Trial 26 Mayhem and Rapture 27 Secret Opera 27 Astral Weeks Sessions 49
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Ali Bodycoat & The Embassy Big Band
Biomass
42 43 43 44 44 45 46
Somi
Exhibitions Brad Rimmer
Makoto Ozone
Promises & Wild Beasts C.W. Stoneking Le Gateau Chocolat
70 71 71 72 73 73 74
Awakening Histories Painting Itself Thania Petersen Birrundudu Drawings
Qendresa
Marney McQueen 46 What’s TINA Got to Do With It! 47 Annahstasia 47 Emily Lubitz 48 Meow Meow 48
Gracie Green Pascale Giorgi
Perth Festival Noongar Advisory Circle Roma Yibiyung Winmar, Vivienne Binyarn Hansen, Richard Walley, Barry McGuire & Mitchella Waljin Hutchins
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Image: Jessica Wyld Photography
Welcome Anna Reece, Artistic Director
Western Australians are born into a place of sand dunes and salty air, huge skies and vast horizons. It is this open spirit we carry into 2026 as we infiltrate our city with culture this summer. From office towers, town halls, a power station and a cathedral, to riversides, hillsides and the vast night sky – we unlock spaces and transform them into sites of surprise and delight. This year we hold firmly to our curatorial pillars – Karla Bidi, Boorloo Contemporary, East Perth Power Station and The Embassy. They are the backbone of our Festival, uniting us in celebration and reflecting our commitment to honouring home while opening our arms to the world. Truth hums through this program: the truth of the Country on which we live, of the human heart – its love, its longings and its fears. The truth of global imbalance,
of histories that cannot be ignored, and futures still to be written. These truths surface in stories that comfort, challenge and transform. At its heart, this Festival remains committed to First Nations voices and the artists of this place, whose courage and vision shape culture in Western Australia. Our international program speaks to this moment in time – from the intensity of masterful European theatre to new perspectives from across the Indian Ocean rim and Southeast Asia. These voices ground us, connect us to the world and inspire us all to look beyond the horizon. In a fast and fractured world, we invite you to slow down, lean in and let brilliant artists move you in a festival of truth telling and mischief making. It’s what Perth Festival is here for.
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How to Festival with us
See a film anytime Mon 24 Nov – Sun 29 Mar or join the action for our main Festival season Fri 6 Feb – Sun 1 Mar. Meet up at one of our hub venues, experience our huge range of free events or buy a ticket to a show. There are lots of ways to Festival with us.
Booking tickets is easy ↗ DIY online at perthfestival.com.au ↗ Give us a call on 08 6488 5555 . ↗ Drop in and get that personal touch at Perth Festival Box Office.
Perth Festival is for everyone No matter what you’re into the Festival has something for you – and everyone is welcome! For many of our events you don’t even need to buy a ticket. Just show up and experience music, exhibitions, dance, special events and more – all for free. To help you decide what performances might suit you best we’ve added access symbols on the event pages of this brochure. See p92 for all access details and visit perthfestival.com.au to download our Access Guide. But not all shows are for everyone Some Festival events may contain content that you might not be comfortable with and would want to know about before you book. Some events may also contain elements that could affect your health. You’ll find all our health and content information on individual event pages at perthfestival.com.au Got a question? Check out the FAQs at perthfestival.com.au and you should find all the info you need.
What will it cost me? That depends on what show you see, where you sit and if you’re eligible for any discounts or special offers (like concession, Mob Tix or Festival Club prices). The prices you see in this brochure are the range of full-priced Adult tickets. That’s the most you’ll pay – we don’t charge any transaction fees. There are also plenty of Festival experiences that will cost you absolutely nothing! Stay connected Subscribe to our enews to be the first to hear about new releases, event updates, special offers and the must-sees for 2026. Visit perthfestival.com.au to sign up for all the goss and go behind the scenes. Get social with us and tag @perthfest
Hon. Roger Cook MLA Premier of Western Australia
Prof. Amit Chakma Vice Chancellor,
Ben Wyatt Chair, Perth Festival
The University of Western Australia The University of Western Australia is proud to be the founder of Perth Festival and to continue to be a supporter for more than 70 years. From its beginnings on our Crawley campus, the Festival has grown into one of the nation’s most significant cultural celebrations, enriching the life of our communities, State and beyond. UWA shares with the Festival a commitment to creativity, diversity and discovery, and this partnership creates opportunities for students, researchers, artists and audiences to engage with bold performances and ideas that inspire curiosity and conversation. We are excited for the 2026 program and are delighted to be hosting the Lotterywest Films program under the stars at the Somerville Auditorium – a place where world cinema meets community in a uniquely Perth setting.
WA is the envy of the nation – and for good reason. Our strong economy and world-leading resources sector provide quality jobs and helps us support a thriving and inclusive community. To ensure our economy remains the strongest in the nation, the WA Government is committed to fostering a vibrant and creative State. Perth Festival plays a vital role in this vision – which is why we are proud to again support the Festival through Lotterywest. As a highlight of WA’s event calendar, it brings together global artists, local talent and the spirit of our city – making it a unique event found only in Perth. I’m thrilled to see the return of Perth Festival to East Perth Power Station this year – a special hub to meet friends, listen to music, enjoy good food and be inspired by Indigenous art. Enjoy!
The buzz from Perth Festival 2025 has barely died down and here I am welcoming you to join us for another amazing summer adventure. Putting on an international multi- arts festival is a huge undertaking and there are so many people that are crucial to its success. Our dedicated team of staff and volunteers of course, as well as our family of donors, our many partners and other supporters and you – the diverse range of people we are so happy to celebrate this event with. Whether you settle in for an evening at the transformed East Perth Power Station, take a quiet moment to appreciate this place at Karla Bidi, hit the dancefloor at The Embassy or see the best in theatre, dance, music and visual art from here in WA and around the world, I look forward to seeing you making the most of Festival time in this special city of ours.
Consider this your VIP invitation to experience Perth Festival to the max this summer. Enjoy perks like ... ↗ First choice of the best seats with a priority booking period.
↗ Up to 15% off your Festival tickets. ↗ A peek behind the scenes with invites to exclusive insider events. All this for just $59 a year!
Festival Club is your gateway to what makes Perth Festival tick. Join now at perthfestival.com.au and get access to the best of the Fest.
Terms and conditions apply.
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Connect with us Perth Festival is created for and with its community.
Arts I ndustry
We co-curate an extensive program of workshops, masterclasses and much more. Plus, an artist club to bring everyone together!
Creative Learning
Our Creative Learning program creates opportunities for young people to participate in our Festival as artists, audiences and creative innovators.
Image: Sky Perth
Community Engagement
Your ticket gets you in. Your support brings it to life!
By fostering connection and collaboration with community through our cultural ambassador and community partner programs we strive to make Perth Festival a place where everyone belongs.
Behind every unforgettable event is a community that makes it happen. When you experience a show at Perth Festival, you’re not just seeing a performance – you’re stepping into a world that’s been months (sometimes years!) in the making. But here’s the thing: the ticket you buy only covers 17% of what it costs to bring the show to life. The rest? That’s made possible by people like you – our community of supporters who believe in the power of art to transform, inspire and connect. With your help we can continue to create bold, boundary pushing experiences for everyone. Your support, no matter the size, helps us continue creating art that speaks to our audiences.
Our Connect program creates accessible entry points for artists, arts workers, schools, young people and all communities to engage with the Festival. We celebrate diversity and difference. We’re committed to reducing barriers to access and inclusion to create opportunities for everyone to be a part of the art we share.
Anyone curious about the arts is welcome to connect with us. Discover all the experiences we have on offer
at perthfestival.com.au Our door is always open!
Be part of the story. Scan the QR code to donate today.
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Karla Bidi A Lotterywest Community Experience
A beacon of light, a welcoming campfire, an invitation.
WA
From the hills in Mandoon/Guildford to the sea in Walyalup/Fremantle, this is your invitation to be part of Perth Festival. Join us by the river, under the stars, every night of the Festival for a free, open-air sound and light installation, created by First Nations artists Ilona McGuire, Jacob Nash, Chloe Ogilvie and Ian Moopa Wilkes. Inspired by the Noongar tradition of lighting fires to greet and guide visitors, Karla Bidi , meaning Fire Trail, transforms the Derbarl Yerrigan/ Swan River and Djarlgarro/Canning River into an illuminated pathway. Explore the trail of 11 beacons and discover sounds and stories of the stars at each location in an experience that will touch hearts gently yet profoundly.
6 Feb – 1 Mar Mon – Sun 7.30 – 10.30pm Free event
A Perth Festival commission
Explore all the sites at perthfestival.com.au
↗ Walyalup
↗ Gaboordjoolup Hurlingham Playground
↗ Whadjuk Boodjar Burswood Park
↗ Mandoon
South Mole
Lilac Hill Park
↗ Dyoondalup
↗ Kaarta Gar-Up Lookout Kings Park and Botanic Garden
↗ Matagarup East Perth
↗ Koondela Woodbridge Riverside Park
Point Walter Reserve
↗ Whadjuk Boodjar Shelley Beach Park
↗ Boodjargabbeelup Point Fraser
↗ Warndoolier
Mardalup Park
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‘It puts our own perspectives into perspective.’ The Guardian (UK)
A View From A Bridge Joe Bloom
Strangers share. The world tunes in. People, stories, the space in between.
UK / WA AUSTRALIAN EXCLUSIVE
On a bridge with nothing but an old red telephone, London artist Joe Bloom has created one of the most moving digital projects of our time. What began as a simple experiment has become a global phenomenon, with hundreds of thousands of followers and millions of views online. A View From A Bridge invites you to lift the receiver, look out at the view and share what rests in your heart. A confession, a memory, a fragment of hope – truths spill into the handset while Joe films from afar, the camera slowly pulling back to reveal each speaker as part of a wider world in motion, the final clips released online. A View From A Bridge is about connection in a distracted age. We witness the courage of strangers. The beauty in hesitation. And just how extraordinary ordinary people can be, when given the space to speak. In 2026 Perth Festival invites Joe Bloom to add a Western Australian chapter to his global collection. Released across February, follow online as the voices and bridges of Perth become part of a viral network about connection, courage and the quiet power of listening.
6 Feb – 1 Mar Discover on Instagram, TikTok or YouTube Visit perthfestival.com.au
for details Free event
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‘Breathtaking.’ Le Monde (France)
LACRIMA Caroline Guiela Nguyen & Théâtre national de Strasbourg
A cinematic thriller exploring the invisible cost of perfection.
FRANCE AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE SEASON
Paris, 2025. A prestigious fashion house receives an important commission – to create the wedding dress for a British royal princess. Beauty, secrecy and power collide in the story of the creation of a dress and the secret that ties it together. From a Parisian haute couture fashion house to an embroidery workshop in Mumbai, to a lace atelier in Alençon, invisible hands labour in silence, stitching threads of ambition, sacrifice and survival. All for a dress that will spend mere minutes in the spotlight. LACRIMA unfolds with the edge-of-your-seat suspense of a bingeworthy series, as renowned French director and filmmaker Caroline Guiela Nguyen pulls back the velvet curtain on the world of haute couture. This is theatre as sharp as a needle – dazzling in its spectacle, unflinching in its humanity, unforgettable in its emotional impact.
6 – 10 Feb Heath Ledger Theatre Yandilup/Northbridge Duration 2hrs 55mins including a short pause Fri & Sat 7pm Sun 5pm Mon & Tue 7pm Post show Q&A Mon 9 Feb Tickets $79 – $119 Performed in French, Tamil and English with English surtitles
Supported by Perth Festival Medici donors and The Embassy of France in Australia
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‘A song of beauty and light and life.’ The Guardian (UK)
Songs of the Bulbul Aakash Odedra Company
Birdsong, like dance, is ephemeral. It exists only in the moment – vanishing as soon as it is sung.
UK AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE SEASON
From award-winning UK choreographer and dancer Aakash Odedra comes a transformative experience that transcends physical and emotional boundaries. A place where the graceful yet powerful art of Kathak dance and Sufi storytelling intertwine to create a dialogue between intense physicality and a spiritual journey. Songs of the Bulbul is a stunning solo dance work inspired by an ancient Sufi myth of a bulbul (or nightingale) held in captivity. The beauty of this songbird’s melody serves as a metaphor for the fleeting moments of dance, and life itself. From Persia to the Indian subcontinent, this tale of sacrifice and beauty explores the idea that freedom can only be found in the ultimate release. Rooted in the music, dance and poetry traditions of Sufism, Songs of the Bulbul seamlessly blends Indian classical music and orchestral elements for a contemplative and captivating experience. Aakash Odedra’s powerful performance poses a universal question: will we remain confined to the material world like the caged bird, or will we soar toward liberation and unity with the divine?
13 – 15 Feb His Majesty’s Theatre Karboordup/Perth CBD Duration 60mins Fri – Sun 7.30pm Post show Q&A Sat 14 Feb Tickets $39 – $99
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‘Creative brilliance.’ The West Australian
Lé Nør [the rain] The Last Great Hunt
A faux foreign film created live on stage.
WA
Somewhere in the northern seas lies the small, fictional island nation of Sólset. Once a thriving metropolis, a decades-long drought has plagued the community. Now, only a hopeful few remain. From the multi-award-winning team, who filled our hearts and stretched our imaginations with Night Night in 2025, comes a deeply romantic, hilarious and visual extravaganza that will reignite your love of humanity. And give you hope for a world that’s falling apart. A nostalgic celebration of everything worth fighting for, Lé Nør [the rain] is told with ’80s flair and a touch of late-night SBS.
25 – 28 Feb Heath Ledger Theatre Yandilup/Northbridge Duration 90mins Wed – Fri 7.30pm Sat 2 & 7.30pm Tickets $49 – $79 Post show Q&A Fri 27 Feb
Performed with English surtitles
A Perth Festival commission
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‘Visually arresting and full of possibility.’ Dance Australia
U>N>I>T>E>D Chunky Move
A futuristic dance epic.
AUSTRALIA / INDONESIA
Part ritual, part cinematic battle, part future vision. Human bodies colliding with digital culture in a wild odyssey of machine mysticism. U>N>I>T>E>D is a dance experience like no other. Six performers in sculptural, motocross- inspired costumes transform into otherworldly beings, moving with unstoppable energy to a thundering score by Javanese experimental duo Gabber Modus Operandi. Created by Chunky Move’s visionary Artistic Director Antony Hamilton, this genre-bending performance fuses explosive choreography with sci-fi design, streetwear-inspired costumes and a soundscape that shakes you to the core. It’s dance turned inside-out, an hypnotic spectacle that is as much about what you feel as what you see. U>N>I>T>E>D is an exploration of future worlds and the technologies that shape them. Expect a night of relentless movement, fierce sound and wild imagination – dance that pushes limits and takes you somewhere altogether new. A Perth Festival commission Commissioned by Asia TOPA, Arts Centre Melbourne, Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay (Singapore) and Perth Festival
19 – 22 Feb Heath Ledger Theatre Yandilup/Northbridge Duration 55mins Thu & Fri 7.30pm Sat 2 & 7.30pm Sun 7.30pm Post show Q&A Fri 20 Feb Tickets $59 – $79
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‘Devilish funny bones and heavenly vocal chords.’ Evening Standard (UK)
Meow Meow’s The Red Shoes Black Swan State Theatre Company, Malthouse Theatre & Belvoir St Theatre
Leave in love with life again.
AUSTRALIA
From a chorus of hairy fauns to singing swans and showgirl stars, experience an unforgettable, frenetic musical celebration that will shock you out of stagnancy and into ecstatic oblivion. Having wowed New York’s Carnegie Hall, cult cabaret artist and the world-renowned creator behind Meow Meow’s Little Match Girl and Meow Meow’s Little Mermaid now urgently remedies The Red Shoes . This fairytale by Hans Christian Andersen brutally punished its covetous protagonist with an ever-dancing curse that propelled her far from heaven’s gates. Meow Meow asks: what if she could never start dancing at all? Can we save her? Can we save the world? This decadent song-and-dance extravaganza will remind you why you wanted to dance in the first place. Dance we will and dance we must.
26 Feb – 1 Mar His Majesty’s Theatre Karboordup/Perth CBD Thu & Fri 7.30pm Sat 2 & 7.30pm Sun 5pm Post show Q&A Fri 27 Feb Tickets $80 – $139
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Image: Anja Schutz
Sanctum Series A series of rare and radiant sounds.
Roomful of Teeth
USA
Join us for a fine music journey inside the luminous surrounds of St Mary’s Cathedral. Across five exquisite concerts, we invite you to step out of the everyday and into the cathedral’s inner sanctum. Hear and feel the beauty and power of the human voice and the intimacy of small ensembles – artistry that thrives in resonance and closeness. Soaring choral harmonies sit alongside the electrifying clarity of a quartet, as the deep traditions of sacred music meet the bold spirit of contemporary invention. Each performance creates its own world. With international luminaries, Australian masters and WA’s finest musicians sharing the stage, Sanctum Series offers a program of profound beauty and thrilling discovery. These evenings are designed to be savoured. Gather with friends and share a drink as the summer sun sets.
Roomful of Teeth are unlike any vocal group you’ve ever heard. Grammy Award-winning and globally acclaimed, they reimagine what the human voice can do – bending rules, breaking boundaries and revealing new expressive possibilities at every turn. With adventurous world-building and contemporary classical precision, this powerhouse octet dissolves borders between ancient and cutting-edge sound. Drawing from their lauded album Rough Magic alongside a kaleidoscope of works from their expansive catalogue, they create an extraordinary sonic landscape. Eight voices soar through the cathedral, filling it with music that reminds us the human voice is limitless – and never quite what it seems.
13 Feb St Mary’s Cathedral Yandilup/Perth CBD Duration 90mins including interval Fri 7.30pm Tickets $59 – $89
12 – 26 Feb
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Lonquich-Clerici- Mehner Trio with Júlia Pusker Four internationally acclaimed musicians reunite in Australia for a program that reflects their musical histories. Clarinetist Tommaso Lonquich, cellist Umberto Clerici and pianist Claudio Martínez Mehner each enjoy distinguished international careers. Together as a clarinet trio they have transcended geographical distance to build a remarkable artistic partnership. They are joined for this performance by violinist Júlia Pusker, praised as ‘a true aristocrat of the violin’. Experience chamber music of the highest calibre in an exquisite evening of Beethoven, Poulenc and Bartók. Fri 20 Feb 7.30pm ITALY / SPAIN / HUNGARY Duration 2hrs including interval St Mary’s Cathedral Tickets $59 – $89 Åkervinda Step into a sound world where ancient Nordic folk songs are reborn with a breathtaking freshness. Award-winning Swedish vocal quartet Åkervinda draw on centuries-old melodies and reimagine them through luminous harmonies and daring improvisation. With nothing but their voices Åkervinda conjure landscapes of forests, mountains and folklore, weaving stories of love, loss and resilience. A spellbinding journey into the heart of Scandinavia’s musical soul. A performance as
West Australian Symphony Orchestra Echoes Through Time Centuries collide in sound and spirit as Riley Skevington leads WASO musicians in an evocative chamber music program. Melody Eötvös’ Meraki brims with vitality and soul, while Henry Purcell’s The Fairy Queen enchants with its theatrical spirit. Wojciech Kilar’s Orawa bursts with raw, folk energy before the stillness of Arvo Pärt and Benjamin Britten cast a spell of reflection. The concert culminates in Ralph Vaughan Williams’ transcendent Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis — music of profound beauty and resonance. Thu 12 Feb 7.30pm WA Duration 90mins including interval St Mary’s Cathedral Tickets $59 – $89 Martin Hayes Few musicians capture the spirit of Irish traditional music quite like master fiddler Martin Hayes. With his unmistakable tone, exquisite phrasing and deep emotional range, he has enthralled audiences from rural village halls to the world’s great concert stages. Joined by guitarist and composer Kyle Sanna and supported by WA’s own Robert Zielinski and Manuela Centanni, Martin Hayes presents an uplifting evening, where the ancient and contemporary meet. Experience quiet moments of stillness giving way to exhilarating bursts of rhythm and fire. This is your chance to witness one of Ireland’s most extraordinary musicians at the height of his powers. Thu 19 Feb 7.30pm IRELAND Duration 90mins St Mary’s Cathedral Tickets $59 – $89
contemporary as it is timeless. Thu 26 Feb 7.30pm SWEDEN Duration 60mins St Mary’s Cathedral Tickets $59 – $89
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Image: Stef King Photography
West Australian Symphony Orchestra
West Australian Opera
Image: Cole Baxter
Mayhem and Rapture
Secret Opera
Lost and Found Opera
The Trial An opera by Philip Glass with libretto by Christopher Hampton Based on the story by Franz Kafka Contemporary thriller meets operatic fever dream in the Australian premiere of Philip Glass’ The Trial . Franz Kafka’s nightmarish world of accusation and authority finds a thrilling new voice with Lost and Found Opera. Under a blaze of fluorescent lights and with the shuffle of endless paperwork, the action unfolds in the chilling maze of a forgotten office space in Forrest Chase, where order masks chaos and every desk hides a secret. With its hypnotic Glass score, Oscar-winning dramatist Christopher Hampton’s razor-sharp libretto and a powerhouse ensemble led by the magnetic presence and vocal fire of Noongar singer Jarred Wall, this stark bureaucratic dystopia crackles with Kafka’s black comedy while resonating uncannily with our times.
WA AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE
Studio Underground is your intimate concert venue for a soul-stirring evening of contemporary orchestral works. Hear captivating music brought vividly to life by the musicians of the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, led by conductor Benjamin Northey and featuring mezzo-soprano Jessica Aszodi. The program opens with John Adams’ hyper-dynamic Chamber Symphony, followed by Holly Harrison’s playful And Whether Pigs Have Wings . Then be transported by Osvaldo Golijov’s luminous song cycle Ayre , a mesmerising blending of diverse musical traditions and evocative storytelling.
West Australian Opera is back with another experience cloaked in mystery, made for the curious. Meet your fellow secret opera seekers at a secret location and be guided to an undisclosed venue, an intimate, atmospheric space humming with expectation. When the music begins, the secret unfolds. It’s not just opera – it’s an adventure of the senses, where discovery is part of the performance. All you know is the date, time and meeting place. The rest? You’ll have to trust us. 14 Feb – 1 Mar WA Duration 2hrs Sat & Sun 7.30pm Undisclosed location Tickets $89
17 – 21 Feb Forrest Chase Karboordup/Perth CBD Duration 2hrs 10mins
including interval Tue – Sat 7.30pm Tickets $110
Fri 27 & Sat 28 Feb 7.30pm WA Duration 90mins including interval Studio Underground Tickets $65
Performed in English with English surtitles
Presented with West Australian Opera and West Australian Symphony Orchestra © 2014 Dunvagen Music Publishers Inc. Used by permission.
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Image: Edify Media
Image: Ta’alili
Image: Edify Media
STRUT Dance & VSQD All-Styles, All-Ages Dance Battle Breaking, ballet, krump, contemporary or even that dance move you made up at 2am on a Friday night go head-to-head in an all-styles dance battle. We’ve got a DJ, an MC and an expert panel of international judges … all that’s missing are your moves. This is one night guaranteed to leave everyone beaming from ear-to-ear. Come for the battle, stay for the after party! Sat 21 Feb 6pm – 12am WA Forrest Place Free event
Concrete Echoes Ta’alili & STRUT Dance
STRUT Dance Perth Moves Movement, music and connection in the heart of our city.
Join us in the heart of Boorloo, where stone and dance meet, for a collaboration of artists from different movement origins. Beneath the weight of the city, the ground softens for gathering. Award-winning Aotearoa duo Ta’alili (Aloali’i and Tori Manley-Tapu) join with leading street dancers from across the Asia-Pacific to create an original new work, Concrete Echoes – a thrilling display of artistic athleticism.
If you’ve been waiting for your moment to get moving, this is it. Perth Moves is a radical offering of free dance happenings staged in our city square and giving you opportunities to hit the outdoor dancefloor with friends, neighbours and your wider Perth community. Perth Moves lands in Forrest Place with cutting-edge dance activations set to nourish the city’s relationship to movement. Witness the Australian premiere of international dance choreography, the world premiere of a new commission featuring dancers from across Australia’s neighbouring regions and an epic one-night-only anything-goes dance battle. There’s something for everyone at Perth Moves. Whether you’re a full-on dance circle shaker, the friend hyping from behind the camera or someone who’s simply just vibing – all are welcome.
Presented with Performing Lines WA
24 – 27 Feb INTERNATIONAL / WORLD PREMIERE Duration 60mins Tue 8pm (preview) Wed 6.30 & 9pm Thu & Fri 9pm Forrest Place Free event
21 – 28 Feb
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Image: Quentin Chevrier
Image: Hypnosis Creative Agency and Mauro Palmieri Photography
Boris Charmatz / Terrain & STRUT Dance
Witness ballet at its most radiant as Perth’s iconic summer event returns. Beneath the stars and against the breathtaking backdrop of the Quarry Amphitheatre, Incandescence ignites the stage with four dazzling world premieres created exclusively for this unique outdoor setting. Blending the timeless elegance of classical ballet with the daring innovation of contemporary choreography, Incandescence promises an evening alive with contrast, colour and energy. Each new work illuminates a different area of dance – from luminous lyricism to striking athleticism – together forming an unforgettable celebration of artistry, light and movement. Gather friends, bring a picnic and let the summer night envelop you in an atmosphere unlike any other. West Australian Ballet Ballet at the Quarry Incandescence
CERCLES Open air XXL dance workshop
FRANCE / WA AUSTRALIAN EXCLUSIVE
AUSTRALIA WORLD PREMIERE
French choreographer Boris Charmatz invites 200 amateurs to a six-day workshop to explore the circle as a cocoon, as a raging crowd or a wall of bodies – agile, determined. Together with a dozen professional dancers from Europe and Australia, he transmits a collection of circle dances set within the expanse of Forrest Place. CERCLES is an exciting choreographic emergence that builds night after night. Propelled by a soundtrack by Meute, a Hamburg-based band who reinterpret electronic music classics in their own unique way, this communal movement experience extends our perception of what dance can be. Sign up to be part of this free open-air workshop or witness CERCLES as it unfolds over three nights in Forrest Place. Visit perthfestival.com.au for details of how you can join in.
26 – 28 Feb Forrest Place
6 – 28 Feb Quarry Amphitheatre Mooro/City Beach Duration 2hrs including interval Tue – Sat 8pm (no show Tue 10 Feb) Gates open 6.30pm Tickets $85 – $125
Karboordup/Perth CBD Thu – Sat 5.30 – 8.30pm Free event Visit perthfestival.com.au to sign up for the workshop
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Image: Dan Grant
Jaha Koo / CAMPO
pvi collective
Haribo Kimchi
the booster protocol
SOUTH KOREA / BELGIUM AUSTRALIAN EXCLUSIVE
WA WORLD PREMIERE
18 – 22 Feb Studio Underground Yandilup/Northbridge Duration 70mins Wed – Fri 7pm Sat 1 & 7pm Sun 6pm Post show Q&A Thu 19 Feb Tickets $59 Performed in English and Korean with English surtitles
24 – 28 Feb booster HQ Boorloo/Perth CBD Duration 80mins
The surprising flavour of seaweed soup, the sharp sound of a knife slicing cucumber, the hiss and sizzle of mushrooms on a scorching fire. Welcome to a pojangmacha , a typical late-night South Korean snack bar. Here you’ll meet Jaha Koo and join him, a snail, a gummy bear and an eel as they explore migration, home and the healing power of food. In a series of intimate, absurdist anecdotes, Koo recounts the evolution of kimchi culture, the bitter pain of unadulterated racism, the shame of trying to blend in and the deep umami taste of home. Combining music, cutting-edge video and robotic performers paired with cozy chatter and a culinary journey, Haribo Kimchi is a heart-warming performance that plays with all the senses.
Something is happening to people. Large pockets of society are refusing to participate in a broken system. Is another world possible? Playful and provocative, the booster protocol is part performance, part role playing adventure where time and space bend, blur and distort. Join pvi collective, creators of subversive performances and interventions, for some serious play in this street-based adventure through the Boorloo cityscape. Wearing an audio device and carrying a portable screen you’ll be guided by voices from around the world as you uncover what it takes to lean in and push back. The future is calling – will you answer?
Tue – Sat 7.20 – 9.30pm Guided journeys leave every 10mins Tickets $49
A Perth Festival commission
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Image: Taylah Chapman
Image: Edwin Sitt, Ben Hollingsworth and Hugo Spiers
re:group performance collective
Adam Kelly / Neuro Bureau Dragon I
POV
AUSTRALIA
WA WORLD PREMIERE
Two unrehearsed actors and one camera-wielding kid. A live docu-drama that crackles with wit and energy. Eleven-year-old Bub is obsessed with documentary filmmaking. In the aftermath of her family breakdown, she turns to dramatised re-enactments to get to the truth. Each night two unrehearsed actors play her parents while Bub directs the action. The script is playful, heartfelt and funny. But the picture shifts with the whims of human impulse as the two actors respond live and unprepared. Bub wants to get to the bottom of her mum’s erratic behaviour. Can these two adults really answer the tough questions of a child? POV by re:group is a daring and inventive piece of live theatre that turns the idea of storytelling on its head.
Adam Kelly likes dragons! He’s been writing, talking and performing about dragons for years. Now he’s noticed everyone seems to be talking about and using AI. Should he? What if he could use Dragon I … In this world premiere, created by Adam Kelly, James Berlyn and Ben Hollingsworth (aka Neuro Bureau), Adam uses his dragon world to debate: to AI or not to AI? Using theatre, animation and music, he explores the moral, artistic, neurodiverse and environmental implications of the AI juggernaut for a neurodivergent writer performer like himself.
10 – 15 Feb Subiaco Arts Centre Wandaraguttagurrup
26 Feb – 1 Mar Subiaco Arts Centre Wandaraguttagurrup
Duration 70mins Tue – Fri 7.30pm Sat 2 & 7.30pm Sun 6pm Post show Q&A Wed 11 Feb Tickets $49
Duration 60mins Thu & Fri 7.30pm Sat 2 & 7.30pm Sun 6pm Tickets $39
A Perth Festival commission
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Image: Stephanie Senior
WA Youth Theatre Company
ChitAmbara The BhuMeJha Project Escape into nature for an immersive evening of ceremony and culture, song and dance, storytelling, ritual and reflection. The BhuMeJha Project is an ongoing pursuit for connection between the ancient cultures of Gondwanaland. More than just a performance, it’s an experience, an expression that reflects upon a bond that transcends time and goes beyond land. Join us at The Art Sanctuary in the Perth Hills, a space of healing, peace and harmony. Share a meal, conversation and connection across lands. This special evening will see celebrated Wagilak Yolŋu songman and ceremonial leader Daniel Wilfred from Ngukurr (Arnhem Land) interact with dancers, musicians and elders from Noongar Boodjar, India and Malaysia in a performance experience that invokes the stories of rivers and the land, across generations.
Scenes from the Climate Era Sixty-six scenes. Countless futures. One moment in time. We’re living through the turning point of history. The planet’s changing. But are we? Scenes from the Climate Era is a play about now – about the choices we made yesterday and the difficult beauty of tomorrow. From the comic to the tragic and everything in between, each kaleidoscope scene is a striking snapshot of life on a planet in flux. It’s a fast-paced, truth-packed production that doesn’t lecture – it listens, reflects and looks forward. For the first time, David Finnigan’s globally-acclaimed climate work is being reimagined by the next generation. Invigoratingly honest and unexpectedly funny, WA Youth Theatre Company dive headfirst into the climate conversation with the creative spark only youth can bring to one of the most urgent conversations of our time.
WA
AUSTRALIA / INDIA / MALAYSIA
13 – 22 Feb Victoria Hall Walyalup/Fremantle
21 – 22 Feb The Art Sanctuary Goolamup/Kelmscott Sat & Sun 5 – 8.30pm Tickets $59 including light refreshments
Duration 70mins Fri & Sat 7.30pm Sun 6pm Tickets $45
Presented with Art Sanctuary Foundation
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Nothing is neutral, everything is political.
Image: Big hART with Ngarluma and Yindjibarndi people, Songs For Freedom 2022, photo: Linda Dunjey
Creative Melville
Nitja
Summit at Lawson Flats
WA
INTERNATIONAL
Bring a picnic and gather at sunset to experience the river’s edge as you’ve never seen it before – a living canvas where sound, image and movement intertwine to reveal the history and significance of a remarkable place. Nitja (Noongar for here) is a free outdoor event that invites us all to come together on the banks of the Derbarl Yerrigan at Dyoondalup/Point Walter. For one night only this iconic site is transformed into a place of celebration and connection, as Country and community are honoured through a tapestry of live music, storytelling, dance and projected animation. Led by visionary artist Ian Moopa Wilkes, Nitja brings together an extraordinary collective of First Nations artists and performers to share stories both contemporary and deeply rooted in tradition. This is a chance to be part of something rare and unforgettable, a cultural gathering that belongs to this place, to this community and to everyone who comes to sit here .
From whispered confessions to riotous jams, from film screenings to late-night debates, Summit at Lawson Flats is where ideas collide and nothing is off-limits. Artists, thinkers, rebels and everyday mischief makers remind us that nothing is neutral, everything is political. This isn’t polite chit-chat. It’s a series of raw encounters – films, listening sessions, improvised performances, urgent conversations – designed to spark, challenge and provoke. Summit is a place where culture and politics blur, where the future is questioned in real time and where you might leave with your worldview slightly scrambled. Across the Festival, Lawson Flats transforms into a buzzing hub of exchange. Drink, dine, listen, engage – whether you’re here for a night of reflecting or a burst of inspiration, Summit is where it all comes together.
14 Feb Point Walter Reserve Dyoondalup/Bicton Sat 7 – 8.30pm Gates open 5pm Free event
14 Jan – 26 Feb Lawson Flats Gumap/Perth CBD Visit perthfestival.com.au for details $15 – $25
Presented with City of Melville
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The Embassy Perth Town Hall
13 Feb – 1 Mar
Sophistication meets sass at Perth Festival’s CBD heartbeat.
The Embassy is back for 2026! We’re ready to swing open the doors of the beautiful old Perth Town Hall to welcome you back. Elegant, a little wild and unpredictable, The Embassy is the place for good times and great company. Inspired by Perth’s historic Embassy Ballroom, this is a space with history in its bones, elegance in its architecture and a playful spirit at its heart. Across three weeks The Embassy overflows with jazz, blues, soul, cabaret, contemporary crooners and a little indulgence, fuelled by our Embassy Bar and a crowd that knows how to make a night of it. This year’s program celebrates rhythm, glamour and surprise. Think big band swing, smoky blues, soulful voices and bold new sounds served with a side of cocktails and sophistication. Welcome to The Embassy, let us entertain you.
Under 18s must be accompanied by a responsible adult (such as a parent or legal guardian)
Here’s to your perfect night of glamour and glitz at The Embassy.
Drinks Come before the show and sip on a cocktail at the bar.
Show time Relax with friends around a table or delight in the dancefloor.
Up Late Join us every Fri & Sat night from 11pm for a nightcap and a little karaoke.
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Image: Aaron Claringbold
Image: Tatenda Chidora
Image: Matsuki Kohei
Ali Bodycoat & The Embassy Big Band Step back in time for a night of big band magic, where jazz, swing and romance reign. Perth’s celebrated chanteuse Ali Bodycoat returns with The Embassy Big Band – an electrifying ensemble guaranteed to keep the golden age of dance alive. Inspired by the legendary Embassy Ballroom, this is your invitation to dress to the nines and relive the glamour of the dance floor across four huge nights. With musical direction by Tom O’Halloran on the grand piano and the swinging sophistication of Ali Bodycoat’s voice beneath velvet drapes, backed by the lush sounds of a full big band, you’ll be swept away by the rhythm and charm of a bygone era. Expect a night of glamour, groove and sheer musical joy as the Embassy Ballroom is reborn.
AUSTRALIA
Makoto Ozone TRiNFiNiTY
Somi
Japanese pianist Makoto Ozone is a unique force in both jazz and classical music. A Grammy-nominated genius, he blends sound worlds and a host of influences into his virtuoso performances. With his trio TRiNFiNiTY he locks in drum and bass for one night of fearless improvisation and sheer musical chemistry. For lovers of the real thing – live jazz at its sharpest edge, a combination of glamour and cool – this is the gig for you. Sun 22 Feb doors 6pm, show 7pm JAPAN
Born between worlds and raised between the USA and Zambia, Somi is redefining jazz for a new generation. Celebrated as the first African woman recognised in any Grammy jazz category, she blends the soul of East African folk with the improvisational spirit of New York jazz. With lyrical storytelling and spirit stirring live performances Somi has carved out her own path as an artist, scholar and activist. Don’t miss this fearless voice in contemporary jazz. Fri 13 & Sat 14 Feb doors 9.30pm, show 10pm USA / RWANDA / UGANDA
13 Feb – 1 Mar Perth Town Hall Koorari/Perth CBD Duration 90mins Fri 13 & Sat 14 Feb doors 6pm, show 7pm Sat 28 Feb & Sun 1 Mar doors 6pm, show 7pm Tickets $59
Perth Town Hall Tickets $69
Perth Town Hall Tickets $69
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Mama Kin Spender Promises & Wild Beasts
A map of buried feelings, untended fires and an aching quest for redemption. Promises & Wild Beasts is Mama Kin Spender as you’ve never seen (or heard) them before. In an eerily relatable theatrical debut, they take you on a transformative story strung through a cycle of songs drawn from their recent ARIA-nominated concept album Promises . Backed by gospel harmonies they conjure the wild tidal nature of human desire, charting the domestication of romantic love and the inevitable rupturing of the illusions we project upon it. This show is a rally cry to the heart – don’t miss it. Wed 18 & Thu 19 Feb doors 7pm, show 8pm AUSTRALIA / WORLD PREMIERE Perth Town Hall Tickets $59
Image: Lee Faircloth
Le Gateau Chocolat Raw Cacao
UK
C.W. Stoneking
Step inside the time-warped world of C.W. Stoneking, the cult bluesman whose gravel rich voice, trademark banjo and National steel guitar conjure speakeasies, carnival sideshows and juke joints. Part Delta blues, part ragtime, part gothic storytelling, C.W. is a showman like no other. Equal parts grit, humour and dark charm and with a stage presence that feels out of another era, he delivers songs both hauntingly old and startlingly fresh. For anyone who craves music with a swagger, strangeness and soul, this is
‘There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.’ Zora Neale Hurston
26 – 27 Feb Perth Town Hall Koorari/Perth CBD Duration 70mins
The opera-occasional, black bearded, drag diva Le Gateau Chocolat invites you into the most hallowed of spaces – the chamber where one transitions from performer to person. Here this world-renowned artiste will serenade you with a specially curated song-cycle of the works that have made him who he is. Stories told through song reveal a portrait of the undressed artist as man, shaped by experience, made by art – intimate, inspired, human, exposed. Lurching from pop to opera via folk song, musical theatre, disco and more, this is a veritable mixtape of who Gateau was, who Gateau is and who Gateau hopes to become. This is Le Gateau Chocolat at his most delicious. This is Raw Cacao .
Thu doors 7pm, show 8pm Fri doors 6pm, show 7pm Tickets $59
a night at The Embassy you will not forget. Fri 20 & Sat 21 Feb doors 6pm, show 7pm AUSTRALIA Perth Town Hall Tickets $59
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What’s TINA Got to Do With It! From anthems that shook stadiums to soulful ballads that defined a generation, this cabaret spectacular brings the music of Tina Turner roaring back to life. Join the fabulous Miss TINA (the alter ego of Ben Graetz/Miss Ellaneous) as your glittering host and MC for a powerhouse evening celebrating the one and only Tina. A lineup of guest artists bring their own fire and flair to iconic hits – part tribute, part celebration and all heart. Expect bold vocals, sequins and plenty of cheek. We guarantee you a night of ‘simply the best’.
Qendresa Northwest London’s Qendresa is a singer, songwriter, producer and NTS Resident DJ whose velvet rich vocals and electronic-tinged soul sound pays homage to the pulse of R&B and the golden era of grime. Drawing inspiration from Sade to Mariah Carey, she embodies the rich melting pot of London’s music scene, slipping seamlessly between 808-driven beats and smooth ’80s-inspired grooves. Fri 27 Feb doors 9pm, show 10pm UK Perth Town Hall Tickets $59 Limited seating event
Presented with BRG Productions
Sat 28 Feb doors 9.30pm, show 10pm AUSTRALIA Perth Town Hall Tickets $49
Marney McQueen Songs About Boats! Cabaret diva Marney McQueen dazzles The Embassy stage fresh from her starring role as Celine Dion in the hit musical Titanique in Sydney. Her new show is a showcase of Marney’s beloved comedic cabaret style. With her three-piece band and stellar vocals, this is your invitation to a night of Broadway classics, pop hits, a bit of yacht rock and some Songs About Boats! (also some songs not about boats). Fri 20 Feb doors 9pm, show 10pm AUSTRALIA Perth Town Hall Tickets $49
Annahstasia With a voice that seems carved from soul and smoke, Annahstasia is fast becoming one of the most compelling new artists in contemporary folk and blues. First discovered as a 17-year-old, her rose-coloured perspective is brought to life by her enchantingly acrobatic voice, developed through a lasting appreciation for complex vocalists like Bill Withers, Nina Simone and Janis Joplin. For those who crave authenticity, emotional fire and songs that feel lived in, Annahstasia is an artist you’ll want to get to know. Sat 21 Feb doors 9pm, show 10pm USA / NIGERIA Perth Town Hall Tickets $59
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Emily Lubitz Two Black Horses
Meow Meow Post-post-modern diva Meow Meow has hypnotised, inspired and terrified audiences globally with unique creations and sell-out seasons from Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Centre and Hollywood Bowl to London’s West End and the Sydney Opera House. Now this ‘diva of the highest order’ ( New York Post ) invites you to an intimate evening of sublime music (and some ridiculousness) with her long-time friend and artistic collaborator Iain Grandage on keys. This is a one-night only show of everything Meow Meow, before she wows us with her anarchic new theatrical fairytale spectacular Meow Meow’s The Red Shoes . Sun 15 Feb doors 6pm, show 7pm AUSTRALIA Perth Town Hall Tickets $79 After more than a decade releasing albums and touring with indie-folk pioneers Tinpan Orange, captivating alt-country star Emily Lubitz has stepped out on her own. And she’s bringing her velvet-smooth vocals, hot band and ARIA Australian Country Albums Chart topping album Two Black Horses to The Embassy. Two Black Horses plays like an old Hollywood movie starring Dolly Parton, Patsy Cline and Phoebe Bridgers, on holidays together, swapping stories and secrets. It’s a deeply personal collection filled with heartache, heritage and hope. Hearing it live will stir the soul. Wed 25 Feb doors 7pm, show 8pm AUSTRALIA Perth Town Hall Tickets $49
Image: Franz Bato
Image: Lincoln Mackinnon
Hugo Flavelle
Astral Weeks Sessions
Let Me In, Let Me Out
Tucked away in an unassuming alley in Northbridge’s Chinatown precinct, Astral Weeks transports you to the famed listening bars of Japan. Throughout the Festival this Perth gem opens its doors for intimate performances that feel less like a gig and more like being let in on a secret. Step inside and share in something rare – world-class artists playing stripped-back sets, up close and personal. The twist? The lineup is kept under wraps, so you won’t know who you’re seeing until you walk through the door. 6 Feb – 1 Mar visit perthfestival.com.au INTERNATIONAL Astral Weeks Tickets $49
Just before sunset, multidisciplinary artist Hugo Flavelle sets out in his Wonder Chair. As he travels through our city, he quite literally shines a light on venues and spaces that remain inaccessible. At each location he highlights personal experiences of inequality with striking projections, inviting the public to reckon with the visible – and invisible – barriers faced by many. Let Me In, Let Me Out explores urgent political themes of access, equity and inclusion. Discover Hugo and his Wonder Chair in locations around Perth.
A Perth Festival commission Supported by My Place Tue 24 – Sat 28 Feb 8 – 10pm WA
Various Perth CBD locations Free event
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