With summer just down the track, why not prepare yourself for one of the best Arts festivals to hit WA shores. Running from the February 8th to March 3rd, Perth Festival has cultivated the growth and exploration of some of the greatest Australian and International acts and is one of Australia’s premier Arts events. Here are our top picks to enjoy during the glorious creative event like no other.

Gatz

March 1-3rd / Octagon Theatre

Littering sold out shows around the world, gaining strong critical praise and scoring countless awards, this utterly impeccable dramatisation of F. Scott Fitzgerald‘s The Great Gatsby is coming to Perth. A masterful piece that follows an office employee who picks up the novel, Gatz explores how the employees life suddenly begins to revolve around the dramatic story. Dancing word for word through the incredible story, this production is the perfect theatrical dosage of entertaining, absorbing drama by one of America’s most brilliantly talented and spell-binding theatre companies.

For more information and to grab yourself tickets, head on over to the website HERE.

Swan Lake

February 14-17th / Heath Ledger Theatre

Deconstructing one of the most well-known classical ballet pieces in history, mythology and modern life collide in this gripping, contemporary exploration of Swan Lake. Drawn from the imagination of one of the world’s greatest dance and theatre creators Michael Keegan-Dolan (Fabulous Beasts), the stunning dance and inventive, other-worldly story telling creates a brilliant and creative presentation that leans away from the traditional narrative. With a haunting, nordic score and enthralling tale, this is an incredible must-see piece.

For more information and tickets to this show, head on over the website HERE.

Le Nor

February 13-24th / PICA Performance Space

With a combination of cinematic mastery and incredible theatrics, Perth theatre-makers The Last Great Hunt present a faux foreign film live. Different, contemporary and magical, this show begins somewhere in the northern sea where a small nation by the name of Solset lies. After a decades long drought, the once thriving metropolis is now home to only a hopeful few. A deeply romantic tale interwoven between stories of love in a world that’s falling apart, this theatrical, visual extravaganza will reignite your love for humanity.

For more information on the show and to grab your tickets, head on over to the website HERE.

Re-Member Me

February 27th – March 3rd / Studio Underground, State Theatre Centre of WA

Remembering the ghosts of Hamlets past, lip-synch maestro Dickie Beau channels audio recordings of great historical performances in one of theatre’s most famed roles. A humorous and haunting solo show, Beau follows the unforgettable story of a masterful Hamlet who has no audio recordings, yet was one of the greatest Hamlet almost never seen. Featuring interviews with well-known theatre legends Sir Ian McKellen and Sir John Gielgud, Re-Member is the documentary/theatre production is one of the most authentic and unique shows about one of theatre’s greatest.

For more information about this show and tickets, head on over to the website HERE.

Ned Kelly

February 15-19th / No 1 Mill, Jarrahdale

Inviting audience members into an old mill, the world premiere of Ned Kelly offers up a very different side to a story we all know, in what is set to be a brilliant and revealing representation of Opera as we have never seen it before. Weaving together the common myth with the lesser known facts, composer Luke Styles and librettist Peter Goldsworthy provide the perfect exploration of the politics, loves and quirks of Australia’s favourite bush rangers. With incredible baritone Samuel Dundas taking on the title role, the notorious Kelly gang is shown in new light this February in Perth.

For more information and to grab yourself a ticket, head on over to the website HERE.

Julia Jacklin & Julien Baker

February 21st / Chevron Festival Gardens

Two of our favourite indie-folk charmers are back with beautiful, melodic ballads and silken voices. Memphis’ Julien Baker presents intricate, meditative and introspective songs, whilst Julia Jacklin delivers her incredible alt-country cross indie pop. Bound to provide a night in the gardens filled with sophisticated song-craft, the unfurling of breathtaking vulnerability and heaven-sent musical explorations, the pair are not to be missed.

For more information and tickets, head on over to the website HERE.

An Evening with Ben Okri

February 23rd / Winthrop Hall, UWA

A night of politics, life, art and his latest novel, join Booker Prize winning novelist Ben Okri for an unforgettable evening. One of the most significant literary voices of the current age, Okri’s work has been published in more than twenty languages and he has been awarded numerous prizes for his work such as the Commonwealth Writer’s Prize for Africa, the Aga Khan Prize for Fiction and the Chianti Rufino-Antico Fattore. With writing that is filled with incredible realism, this night is bound to be incredibly noteworthy.

For more information and to grab yourself a ticket, head on over to the website HERE.

The Big Crazy Bookclub

February 24th, Octagon Theatre

With Perth Festival’s Writer’s Week coming to a close, media sensation Benjamin Law will be asking the real questions. What’s the best book ever written? What’s the worst? Teaming up with writers such as The Chaser’s Andrew Hansen, indie-pop star (and novelist) Sally Seltmann, novelist Monica McInerney and ‘fabulousness expert’ madison moore, this show is an unashamed exploration discussing literary prejudices and great stories told by great people.

For more information and to grab yourself a ticket, head on over the website HERE.

Zeal & Ardor

February 22nd, Chevron Festival Gardens

One of the most exciting and original names in heavy music right now – merging chaingang blues with heavy metal in a way unlike you’ve ever heard. This is the Swiss-American group’s first trip down under and they’ll be playing within Deafhaven.