A guerrilla opera cruise, a scandalous all-girl Sherlock Holmes cabaret and performances at the Franco Cozzo furniture store will all feature as part of the west’s newest arts festival.
Due West: Immersive Arts Festival, from August 10-27, will include a series of interactive performances, exhibitions and installations across a range of familiar and surprising Maribyrnong locations.
The annual arts festival has been created to fill the void left by the sudden end of the Big West Festival after 20 years.
Maribyrnong council has allocated $85,000 to the new festival, matched by the state government via Creative Victoria.
Due West will open with a weekend triple-bill of music at Footscray Community Arts Centre.
The program includes a night of Asian- and African-tinged jazz when Seddon trumpeter and composer Peter Knight (pictured) leads the band Way Out West at Braybrook Hub.
In Moore Sweet Dreams, artists The Indirect Object will transform a home to explore the link between street noise and life in Footscray.
Other events include a 1930s Berlin Kabarett take on A Scandal in the Weimar by local theatre company Wit Incorporated, a series of guerrilla opera cruises by BK Opera along the Maribyrnong River and The Right Side of the Tracks at the iconic Franco Cozzo furniture store.
Creative director Zoe Beyer said the festival hoped to encourage people to explore the west.
“We’ve worked closely with the local arts community to develop a program which is indicative of the vast talent in the west.
Maribyrnong mayor Catherine Cumming said she hopes Due West grows to become a permanent fixture on the annual Festival City calendar.
Further details: www.duewestfestival.com.au
