Overview
First, Vivid made its big comeback after a couple of years on hiatus due to the pandemic. Soon, Sydney Film Festival will return to its usual wintry slot following a chaotic period for the same reason, too. Then, come mid-August, Sydney Fringe Festival will also hit the city in-person — and, for its first physical fest since 2019, this celebration of independent arts has huge plans.
Get ready for six hefty weeks of performances, exhibitions, music, theatre, comedy, visual arts, film, dance, circus, literature and poetry, with Sydney Fringe beginning two weeks earlier than normal because its 2022 event will be that big. Running from Tuesday, August 16–Friday, September 30, it'll feature more than 500 shows. No, you won't be lacking things to see to wrap up winter and kick off spring.
The reason that this year's Sydney Fringe will be so enormous: all those shows that've been gestating while theatres were shut. So, the 2022 lineup will be the fest's longest and biggest ever — with its full lineup set to drop on Monday, August 1.
A few highlights have been announced already, though, so you can start getting excited. They include the return of Bernie Dieter's Club Kabarett after a run earlier this year — and the return of the Runaway Gardens and Spiegeltent as well. That means more circus, cabaret, aerial feats and fire-breathing, plus food and drink pop-ups.
Also on the list: cabaret company YUMMY teaming up with the Darlinghurst Theatre Company on a new show; micro-festival Limitless, which is all about celebrating performance and visual artists with disability; and an inflatable artwork by Goldberg Aberline Studio that'll take over World Square. Or, there's Babylon, which'll take over Chippendale's Kensington Street and Spice Alley with light installations, tunes, dancing, soundscapes, food, booze and performances; three days of eats and live entertainment in Marrickville's Smidmore Street; and plenty of free events, street parties and activations around town.
Love hitting up festival hubs? Sydney Fringe loves hosting them, and will also include a bigger touring hub at The Seymour Centre that'll showcase award-winners from Adelaide Fringe, Perth Fringe, Melbourne Fringe, New Zealand Fringe and other fests. And, you'll be able to check out the emerging artists sharehouse at Erskineville Town Hall, too, plus the massive 100-plus comedy lineup at the Factory Theatre — while the musical theatre hub will sit at City Tattersalls and the cabaret hub at The Castlereagh.
Seiya Taguchi
Announcing Sydney Fringe's 2022 plans, CEO and Festival Director Kerri Glasscock said that the fest has "had an overwhelming response to our artist call out this year and are shaping up to be bigger than ever. This is really an incredible testament to the resilience and passion of the indie arts sector in Sydney, they are chomping at the bit to have their return moment and present all the work that has been bubbling away under the surface during the past two years."
"There has never been a better time to get out and explore Sydney Fringe — this is our city's festival and a celebration of all we stand for," Glasscock continued.
Sydney Fringe Festival 2022 will take place between Tuesday, August 16–Friday, September 30, with the event's full program set to be announced on Monday, August 1. For further information in the interim, head to the fest's website.