25 Years and Still Blowing Strong - Fremantle International Street Arts Festival

And we’re off!

The Fremantle Street Arts Festival launched last night, proudly announced as its 25th year of operating in Australia (just like yours truly!).

FSN writers who aren’t currently traipsing around overseas were kindly granted top seats and canapes amongst the other VIPs. Yummo!

We heard from many prominent speakers, including Hon Simone McGurk, Minister for Creative Industries; Heritage; Industrial Relations; Aged Care and Seniors; Women, but the speeches were kept to a minimum in the spirit of the festival.

Launch night included a sneak preview of a performance: Amor.

“Internationally renowned French company Compagnie Bilbobasso present Amor: a mesmerising performance combining Argentinian Tango with impressive large-scale pyrotechnics.

Through dance, fire and explosions, two performers act at the centre of a whimsical, domestic bullfight and tell the tale of a love story gone wrong. Launching a new evening location in Walyalup Koort, Amor will kick off the After Dark schedule in spectacular fashion.”

The show got off to a gusty start, in fact so powerful that they had to nix the pyrotechnics aspect of the performance.

That was absolutely fine, as we were treated to a very moving tango instead, backlit at the conclusion by such a vivid hue of red cast amongst the airborne sand that we did briefly fear that perhaps the Freo Doctor had gotten vengeful and elected to set fire to the church (thank goodness not, couldn’t be a good omen for Easter).