Fear less, live more, because we’re all going to die anyway, right?
Founded by artist and director Stefan Hunt, We’re All Going To Die (WAGTD) is a creative community that uses death to empower people to fear less and live more.
Over three big nights from Tuesday 26 through to Thursday 28 March, the festival will bring its unique interactive experiences to the iconic Hotel Esplanade, St Kilda.
Following the success of Sydney and Byron’s sold-out festivals, this edition will see WAGTD collaborate with some of Australia’s most ground-breaking artists, performers, psychologists and organisations. Through the use of interactive, boundary pushing live art, the events will explore the notion of dying, death the terrifying thoughts that surround existentialism.
Fears & Beers, 8 – 9 March
Using art installations and custom beer coasters we aim to spark conversations throughout the pub that connect audiences and promote positive mental health. Patrons of the pub will be able to submit their fears by writing them on a coaster and go in the draw to win a Stone & Wood beer prize pack
Film Screening + Q & A with founder Stefan Hunt, 26 – 28 March
Following Welcome to Country we will kick the night off with a screening of We’re All Going To Die. An adaption from the original book of the same name, WAGTD is a story that explores the meaning of life. Through colour, imagination and humour Director Stefan Hunt asks you to look at the what ifs, the why nots and the oh wells that might flash before your eyes when paid a surprise visit by Death. Internal monologue played by Jared Jekyll and Death played by Hugo Weaving. From a simple poem during a dark chapter of anxiety to an international festival Stefan will share the wild journey that is WAGTD.
Bedroom Grooves by Groove Therapy, 26 – 28 March
The Bedroom Grooves performance work expands on a line from the WAGTD illustrated book by Stefan Hunt ‘So why not proudly bedroom dance and show the world you’re outrageous? Your electric moves just might become irresistibly contagious’. The Groove Therapists will recreate the feeling of dancing in your bedroom, unashamed and safe from the judgement of outsiders. This performance recreates the blurry middle ground between your imagination and your reality when you bedroom dance, with performers charging amongst furniture, clothes and cosmetics as their fantasies turn these ordinary objects into an auditorium filled with thousands of adoring fans cheering them on.
Life Drawing with Kat Bak, 26 – 28 March
We believe everyone is an artist at heart, it’s just the fear of judgement that holds us back. Teaming up with Melbourne artist Kat Bak we will invite the audience to participate in a life drawing class. As our model strikes one-minute poses based on emotions relevant to the night’s festivities – fear, failure, freedom, judgement, life, death. This adrenaline filled experience is used to distract us from our fear based internal monologue and make us completely present with our creative self.
Death Mediation by Indigo Project, 26 – 28 March
What do we do when we think the end is coming? It’s not as apocalyptic as you might think. The truth is, when people know they are going to die, they often spend their last year in the most loving, conscious and caring way. The Death Meditation poses the question ‘do we need to wait until near death to begin living this way?’ Created by The Indigo Project psychologist Mary Hoang and musician Phondupe, this work premiered at WAGTD Sydney to a sell-out crowd.
We Are All Going To Die Melbourne is part of Espy Arts and is one of a myriad of other exciting arts experiences lined up. Keep an eye out for when more is announced.
Stefan Hunt and Janenne Willis Artistic Director Espy Arts and the artists are available for interview.
We Are All Going To Die Melbourne, Tuesday 26 – Thursday 28 March 2019, Hotel Esplanade, 11 The Esplanade, St Kilda www.hotelesplanade.com.au/arts-program
