THE South Side Festival will return to Frankston this year after its 2022 debut.
The second edition of the festival will run from 5-14 May. The festival program was launched at an event this month and features light shows alongside other sensory experiences.
Three immersive exhibitions will be installed at the festival’s “LuminoCity”. A visual arts series from Academy Award winner Shaun Tan will be displayed. Performer JOF will also stage dance parties.
One of the highlights of the schedule is SILENCE, a First Nations dance performance. Choreographer Thomas Kelly said, “abounding in our struggle for land back and Treaty, SILENCE breaks the silence both literally and symbolically using dynamic live percussion from composer Jhindu-Pedro Lawrie whose rich drumbeats drive the dancers in their exploration of past, present, alternate realities and dreamscapes of Country, the milky way and Murun, the emu in the sky.”
The Melbourne International Comedy Festival Road Show will also visit the Frankston Arts Centre for the festival.
South Side Festival producer Freyja Macfarlane said she hoped to build on the festival’s debut last year. “We were so thrilled with the success of South Side’s first outing last year. The super positive responses from audiences and the creatives involved gave us great inspiration and drive to continue to support the awesome local scene and bring innovative programming to Frankston,” she said.
“The 2023 program is jam packed with such a diverse range of events. You could be watching Roller Derby one night then submerging yourself in a surrealist interactive performance inside a light show the next.”
For event tickets visit southsidefestival.com.au