CASTLEMAINE STATE FESTIVAL LAUNCHES
The journey to the future of things past
This year’s hugely anticipated Castlemaine State Festival—Victoria’s premiere regional arts festival—will blast off on Friday 17th of March. Departing from Castlemaine’s abandoned transport hub, the Castlemaine Goods Shed, festival-goers will journey to The Future of Things Past.
“We are the next stop for Australia’s regional creative industry and the world is travelling to us,” says Martin Paten, director of the 2017 Castlemaine State Festival. “The Journey is the theme for this year’s festival, reflecting the local and international works offered and the ongoing cultural evolution of this remarkable community.”
He describes the energy of the opening spectacular – The Future of Things Past – with more than 200 performers, many of them locals “…what an incredibly engulfing experience for a regional community, their young people and artists from around the globe, claiming their own journey—defying the technological world that demands them to view and consume.”
Opening night creative producer Sam Thomas, an international performer who like many artists, now calls Castlemaine home, says, “Here we are, connected to the rest of the world. Castlemaine is undergoing an artistic and economic transformation from loss of opportunity in industry, and now is laying the foundation for a strong creative industry with schools, artists and the festival.”
The Future of Things Past, as the name suggests, is a story that draws on the history of the town’s working and social life to envision a future explored through the imagination and aspirations of the young people in this town.
Acrobats, dancers, robots, beatboxers, brass bands and circus performers will give opening night audiences a taste of just some of the outstanding international artists who will perform at the Castlemaine Goods Shed over the next ten days, as part of “Circocentric,” the festival’s physical theatre and circus program.
Sam claims, “Like circus folk, the festival is the destination where artists work together, support each other, and take risks together… In circus, there are no losers. It’s all of us defying gravity. Defiance of gravity must equate to flight of some kind, perhaps a journey, or at least a departure from the norm. What better way to do this than accept the enticing invitation of the Castlemaine State Festival Chair Julie Millowick, to “journey to the Future of Things Past with us.”
THE FUTURE OF THINGS PAST – PUBLIC OPENING
Friday 17 March at 7.30pm – 10.00pm
Castlemaine Goods Shed, Kennedy Street, Castlemaine
The VIP night is on from 6pm with Federal Senator the Hon Mitch Fifield in attendance as well as Hon Martin Foley, the Victorian Minister for Creative Industries along with representatives from key arts and philanthropic organisations across Australia.
If you or an associate were interested in attending I could arrange interviews with numerous artists and performers from across Australia and from around the world and with notice many of the VIPs in attendance.
INTERVIEW TIMES
Creative team: 4:30-5.00pm
- Martin Paten – Festival Director
- Sam Thomas – Creative Producer
- Robby Graham – International choreographer (UK)
- David Thrussel – Musical Director
Artists who are performing on the evening: 5.00pm-5:30pm
Other interviews: 6.30pm- 10.00pm
Please Note:
Opening Night is not seated performance event
There will be a night food market and carnivalesque performances, with limited seating available.
Street fair in style, audiences are encouraged to move around the site and view multiple
performances.
