Clockwise from left: What’s Next, Mario, Queen of the Circus, The Chipolatas.
Camera IconClockwise from left: What’s Next, Mario, Queen of the Circus, The Chipolatas. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Fremantle International Street Arts Festival boss has hopes of being best in world

Jessica NicoFremantle Gazette

Kathryn Taylor took over from Alex Marshall as the festival director late last year and has had a trial by fire ever since, working hard to get one of Fremantle’s most popular annual festivals ready to go by this weekend.

“I was drawn to this role because of Fremantle’s reputation as an arts and cultural hub and I think the Fremantle International Street Arts Festival (FISAF) exemplifies this,” she said.

“I had been to previous FISAF’s and love being a part of the audience; it is Australia’s largest street arts festival and is globally recognised as one of the best.

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“As with previous FISAF’s one of our main aims is to deliver a fresh and exciting experience to our audience and we’ve programmed Good Friday for the first time this year to meet ever-increasing demand.”

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A fresh and exciting experience it will be, with 34 international performers from 11 different countries joining a raft of local talent for the long weekend celebration.

While this year’s program incorporates more street theatre, the line-up also includes traditional buskers, toe-tapping music, roving comedic acts and dangerous acrobatics.

Ms Taylor said she was not being biased when she said the line-up this year was incredible.

“It’s hard to pick the must-sees because the whole program delivers such a vast range of quality acts,” she said.

“However, I’m personally looking forward to taking Romantic Botanic’s hilarious tour through Fremantle exploring the sexuality of plants, having a piece of clothing upcycled by The Sewing Company from the Netherlands and enjoying the cabaret on Sunday night.

“Fremantle becomes a pedestrian-friendly open-air stage showcasing the world’s best street performers, restaurants and bars spill on to the streets and High Street is host to an Easter market.

“It’s an opportunity for all ages to enjoy the unique free entertainment.”

The Fremantle International Street Arts Festival is on from April 13 to 17.

Visit www.streetarts festival.com.au.