Anywhere Festival facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Anywhere Festival |
|
|---|---|
| Frequency | Annually |
| Location(s) | initially Brisbane, now all over the country |
| Country | Australia |
| Inaugurated | 2011 |
The Anywhere Festival is an exciting yearly event. It brings performances to places you wouldn't expect. Instead of traditional theatres, you might see a show in a park, a cafe, or even a backyard!
This festival started in Brisbane, Australia, in 2011. It was created by Paul Osuch and Ally McTavish. Their big idea was to bring storytelling back into everyday life. They wanted to show that amazing performances can happen anywhere.
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What is the Anywhere Festival?
The Anywhere Festival is all about breaking the rules of traditional theatre. It believes that art shouldn't be limited. You don't need a fancy building or a long show to enjoy a performance.
The festival lets artists be super creative. They can perform in all sorts of cool spots. Imagine seeing a play in a lift, a train, or even on social media! This makes theatre more fun and surprising.
Why is it Different?
Paul Osuch, the festival's founder, explains why he started it. He noticed that many people wanted exciting shows. But they didn't always want to go to a traditional theatre. He also saw that famous actors sometimes struggled to find theatre spaces.
Paul felt that regular theatres could be a bit boring. Parking might be hard, and drinks could be expensive. He also found the seating uncomfortable. He wanted to make theatre easy and fun for everyone. He wanted it to feel like something you could just "pop along to" in your own neighbourhood.
The festival also helps local businesses. It encourages them to connect with their community in new ways. Co-founder Alex McTavish says it's not just about art. It's about bringing people together.
Where Does it Happen?
The Anywhere Festival started in Brisbane. But it has grown a lot since then! Now, you can find performances in many other places. These include Mackay, Frankston, and Parramatta. It even reaches towns like Toowoomba and Yandina.
How the Festival Started
The festival began in 2011. Back then, it was called the Anywhere Festival, Brisbane. In 2014, it changed its name to just "Anywhere Festival." This was to show that it was growing beyond traditional theatre. Paul Osuch and Alex McTavish created and directed it.
In 2014, the festival expanded to Frankston. By 2015, it included many more locations. These were Brisbane, Mackay, Dysart, Middlemount, Moranbah, Parramatta, and Frankston.
In 2017, the festival grew even more. It added Noosa and the Sunshine Coast. Toni Wills and Nycole Prowse joined the team.
Festival Highlights Over the Years
The Anywhere Festival has featured many different types of performances. These include:
- Cabaret
- Circus
- Comedy
- Drama
- Dance
- Poetry
- Music
- Site specific theatre (shows made for a special location)
- Kids theatre
In 2014, the festival had 420 performances. These were from 67 different shows. They took place in 27 suburbs of Brisbane. Pubs, hotels, shops, cafes, parks, churches, and even garages became venues!
By 2019, the festival was huge. It had over 500 performances. These were from 96 shows in 101 different towns and suburbs.
2020: A Unique Year
The 2020 Anywhere Festival was planned for May. However, it had to be cancelled because of COVID-19. But the festival found a creative way to keep going!
From June to September, they ran a special "out of festival" season. They had 21 productions in 32 towns and suburbs. Some shows were online using Zoom. Others were performed in driveways! This helped meet social distancing rules. This idea even inspired the Brisbane Festival's Street Serenade program.
See also
