National and local stars are set to take over Brisbane’s Bayside from 15 November to 3 December, as the 4th Wynnum Fringe returns in spectacular style.
The 2023 festival program will include the legendary Daryl Braithwaite, the incomparable Marcia Hines, and the electrifying Diesel. Then there’s Robert Forster from The Go-Betweens, Wil Anderson, and Chocolate Starfish performing Meatloaf’s full Bat Out of Hell album in their only Queensland date.
Also on offer, performers Sarah McLeod, Rai Thistlethwayte, The Bamboos, comedians Dave Thornton and Geraldine Hickey, the internationally acclaimed Irish master of comedy, Jimeoin, Bachelor Girl’s Tania Doko performing songs from her upcoming EP The Beauty’s In The Broken, and the multi-award winning Head First Acrobats in GODZ.
Australia’s most famous legs, Rhonda Burchmore will make her Wynnum debut with the premiere of the new Australian Spiegeltent show, Rhonda’s After Party with some of the best circus performers in the world including Mario Queen of The Circus, Helen Cassidy, Pricasso, ‘Bath Boy’ Stephen Williams and co.
The beloved and world famous Bluey and her friend Bingo, will make an appearance, Rock the Bay returns to close the festival, get ready to paint the town with love and pride as Wynnum Fringe hosts the first pride event in Brisbane’s Bayside, and with nods to ABBA, take part in a community choir event singing, THE WYNNUM TAKES IT ALL.
Up close, unplugged, by the Bay; this is the Wynnum Fringe, where legendary performers share stages with huge Bush Turkey puppets and, burlesque dancers, and late night shows entertain the adults, where comedy, drama, cabaret and circus share the spotlight and internationally famed children’s characters bring the joy for families, while a world famous song will be sung in perfect (!) harmony and respect is celebrated with Traditional Owners.
This is the vision Wynnum Fringe founder Tom Oliver had four years ago when the world was in the grip of Covid. Rather than wait it out, Tom created a major festival. He’s already won a prestigious Matilda Award, cementing its reputation as a top-tier event on the Australian arts calendar, and last year welcomed a staggering 36,000 people to the Bayside. This year, Tom’s planned more!
“This year Wynnum Fringe is bigger, there’s more performers plus we are calling on people from everywhere to join us on Saturday 18 November at 10am and help us make history with the largest community choir,” said Tom.
“We are taking on ABBA’s The Winner Takes It All – or is it The Wynnum Takes It All? We should check if Benny & Bjorn didn’t accidentally misspell the lyrics when writing it! We do a love a pun at the Fringe, last year it was You Can’t Wynnum All But You Can Wynnum Fringe, and this year we’ve been inspired by ABBA, and are proudly putting Wynnum on the map!”
Tom Oliver, a quadruple threat talent as a singer, performer, producer, director and much more, has written new lyrics, and reimagined the song, and will lead the choir on the first Saturday. “I can’t believe this idea started in the spare room of my parents place while I was freeloading there during Covid,” he said.
“Now look at it, people are travelling from interstate to check it out, and Aussie entertainment royalty are keen to put on a show here. Wynnum Fringe has gone from three days to three weeks in three years. We’ve employed over 1,000 artists, injected millions into the Bayside economy and won the most prestigious award in the Queensland Industry Awards. Crazy proud!”
“There is something special about Brisbane’s Bayside and the community living around Wynnum and Manly. They get around stuff. They have embraced this festival with open arms. We wouldn’t be here without our community. This includes the artists, our sponsors, the QLD Government and Brisbane City Council,” said Tom.
Australian music royalty, Marcia Hines, perhaps sums it up best saying, “this festival started from my friend Tom’s imagination and is now one of the most exciting events in Queensland.”
The 4th Wynnum Fringe runs 15 November to 3 December 2023. Tickets now on sale. For more information and full program, visit: www.wynnumfringe.com for details.
Image: Wynnum Fringe (supplied)