Backyard

It’s overgrown, the elements are stirring. With grass staining her knees she plays make believe…this is her tryst, her backyard. Backyard is a dreamlike movement exploration involving a collection of moments of both the personal and common relationships with this universal space we call ‘backyard’.

This evocative new collaborative dance work is choreographed and performed by Megan Inglese, Justine Crandles and Melanie Trojkovic, with additional performer Sarah Cooper.

Paper on Water

Paper on Water is the result of an extended collaboration between choreographer Neil Adams and performer Delia Silvan. Memories of place, imagined environments and the textures of natural elements filter through this subtle and evocative solo performance.

The performances celebrate Silvan's 20 years as an award-winning performer with Australia's leading contemporary dance companies and showcase her continued artistic growth. For Adams, the work presents the distillation of more than 25 years of reflective choreographic practice.

This project is supported by the City of Port Phillip Cultural Development Fund, and the Gasworks Foundation Patrons' Fund.

Cheap and nasty. Be warned there is material that will offend.

Welcome to my world. Laugh? I wet my pants. It’s a jungle out there but you'll be safe in here with me...

Secrets and lies, facts ’n fiction, everybody wins a prize - though not perhaps this lifetime - it’s a goddamn fucking circus.

Lewdy Lush is a raconteur unleashed, giving it all up for you in a no-holes-barred variety special. Live dangerously and join her at Studio 41. Did we mention the live studio audience, and that you should bring smelling salts as someone might faint? Iced Vo Vo anyone?

Life can be a rollercoaster, a game of snakes and ladders, of swings and roundabouts, soaring from severe depths to wondrous heights. From cool chorale to raucous rap, raw emoting to staged theatrics, a soft shoe shuffle to brilliant basic beats, a voyage both heart breaking and life affirming.

City of Voices is ‘Socially Inclusive Performing Arts’, a community theatre group that welcomes people of any age, background, experience or ability. Victoria University Performance Studies promotes the development of innovative and contemporary performance makers.

This intergenerational partnership follows the success of their first Fringe collaboration, The Reflections Project, which received an Honorary Mention for VicHealth’s Community Cultural Development Award in 2007.

Raunchy, Glamorous, Hairy, Bent and Beautiful. The best of Melbourne’s drag artists mingle with our slick interstate guests. Featuring Lewdy Lush MC, Rocco d'Amore, Crystal Love (Tiwi Islands), Koko Mas$, Brothers Bust & Bang Herr, Dancin Dudes, DJ Pansy Pantz & Much More!

In conjunction with her up and coming book titled Punk a Photographic Journey: The History of the Melbourne Punk Scene (1977 onwards), Melbourne based photographer Melynda has been capturing all of the style and attitude of the contemporary Melbourne Punk scene since 2004. See Mohawks, studs and an up yours attitude at this exhibition.

Tidal explores the fragility of human relations within shared quarters. The exhibition brings together the works of artists Kylie Forbes, David Wlazlo and Justine Khamara in an installation of interconnected relationships.

Curated by Erena Norgard.

Delightful, the latest exhibition by local artist, Soula Mantalvanos is a series of evocative and quirky portraits of an eccentric Melbourne-based author in the cafes of inner city Melbourne.

For general information about The Age Melbourne Fringe Festival 2008,

visit www.melbournefringe.com.au