Free spirits and fugitive folk! BY LLOYD GORMAN
FENIAN FEVER WILL RUN RIOT AT THE START OF THE PERTH FESTIVAL IN FEBRUARY – AND THERE IS AN OPEN INVITATION TO JOIN IN THE FRANTIC FUN! “The opening event ‘Escape’ is a massive, madcap, free, multi-site family adventure through the streets of Fremantle, inspired by the Catalpa convict escape,” David Templeman, Minister for Culture and the Arts told state parliament in late November. Around the same time, Perth festival artistic director Ian Grandage expanded a little on 6PR. “We open dockside in Fremantle with Escape, a massive free event that tells stories of arrivals and departures across the waves and of one of the greatest escapes of all – the Fenian convicts on the ship Catalpa,” Mr Grandage said. “Music, projections and a vast array of performers are sown into a glorious anarchic carnival by the team who brought you Home and Boorna Waanginy. It is part of our remit in putting on a festival for many people that we put on this large free event (opening or 22 | THE IRISH SCENE
closing event) Highway to hell, Home, or the Giants, they are some things the Festival is well known for and it is beautiful to be able to celebrate it again in 2022.” The Perth Festival is almost 70 years old now and still going strong, and last year was one of the few events of its kind in the world that was able to be staged. Due to start on February 11 – just days after WA’s hard border is due to come down on February 5 – and run until March 6, the resilience of the festival could be put to the test but organisers will no doubt have made every preparation possible to help make it a success. The official programme describes Escape as celebrating the ocean and diverse voyages, cultures and experiences that help define Western Australia. “From the Noongar stories that enter from the western horizon to the waves of subsequent migration, from sail to steam, from convicts to Irish revolutionaries, from the flowering of Mediterranean cultures to the contributions of the African diaspora, to the greatest escape of them all – the Catalpa rescue. Escape is a feast for the eyes, ears and heart. Be part of this free, action-packed experience built by the extraordinary team that brought you Boorna Waanginy.” Further details about Escape are due to be announced on January 27, too late for this edition of Irish Scene. But we did hear whispers about a huge ceilidh (group Irish dance) being staged, in which large numbers of people will be able to take part and have a crack! Bathers Beach and Kidogo Arthouse too will no doubt feature large. The scale of the festivities sound impressive and it will be quite a sight to see throngs of people – who for many this will be their first encounter
