The Edinburgh Festival welcomes House of Oz for a month-long run at the King’s Hall. The venue is transformed into an immersive, engaging “home hub” for Australia on the Fringe.
BACKGROUND
This all-Australian showcase for the creative arts in all forms is part of the important UK/Australia Season 2021-22, the largest ever cultural exchange between the UK and Australia.
"House of Oz will be a special place to see the diverse and vibrant talent Australia has to offer during this year's Edinburgh International and Fringe Festivals. Featuring the incredible Circa, family favourite The Listies and Australian living treasure John Bell AO OBE, the House of Oz line-up joins the largest ever Australian contingent to perform at Edinburgh.”
MICHAEL NAPTHALI – DIRECTOR, AUSTRALIA IN THE UK PROGRAMME, UK/AUSTRALIA SEASON 2021-22
OVERVIEW
Featured genres include drama, circus, film, poetry, comedy, cabaret and tons of music, all authentically and unmistakably Australian with a fun tone of voice.
House of Oz welcomes artists and audience alike, promoting entertainment, dialogue, learning and of course an intense desire to visit Australia.
HIGHLIGHTS
The many highlights include 81-year-old living legend actor John Bell AO OBE, founder of Bell Shakespeare, rummaging through his swag of favourite things, fishing out poems, stories and backstage gossip.
Cabaret queen and mega-voice Geraldine Quinn makes a triumphant return to Edinburgh after an long absence of 10 years with her show Broad, a runaway hit at Melbourne Comedy Festival 2022.
Fresh talent, brand new to Edinburgh but already huge on social media including TikTok, includes Gabbi Bolt (pictured) and Leonardo Sunshine of house band The Tin Knees.
First Nations artists presenting new shows and material for the first time in Edinburgh include Dane Simpson, Elaine Crombie, Mitch Tambo and Sean Choolburra.
FAMILY SERIES
The daily arts and culture programme kicks off with family entertainment: storytelling, children’s circus workshops, face painting and crafting activities feature alongside the two main family shows.
Hamlet: Prince of Skidmark presented at 1pm by kidult comedy favourites The Listies is “Hamlet. For Kids. In an Hour” and an Edinburgh premiere. Spoiler alert: everyone dies at the end – including the audience! Ticket price includes a free crown for kids; please arrive early to decorate your crown.
Similarly Carnival of the Animals by Circa, set to the enchanting music of Saint-Saens, will see its 300th performance at House of Oz and again is an Edinburgh first from the world-famous, award winning physical theatre company.
DRAMA
Elaine Crombie, appearing elsewhere on the Fringe as a stand-up, brings her serious solo drama Janet’s Vagrant Love to House of Oz in another Edinburgh premiere.
EGG is the first of two shows from from Australian performer Erin Fowler Movement. The show combines dance, clowning, bagpipes and a cheeky life-sized egg costume! EGG questions all things fertility, motherhood and big life decisions.
Erin also brings her award winning critically acclaimed show FEMME to House of Oz, that explores the stereotypes of femininity through movement, dance and storytelling. Erin will also lead QOYA, a series of morning movement workshops for women.
COMEDY / CABARET
After sold-out seasons in Australia, rising star Gabbi Bolt (Ratatouille: TheTikTok Musical) brings her zeitgeisty musical comedy to the stage in her first solo UK show. Armed with a keyboard, microphone and an intense fear of disappointing people, this songstress puts the sing in chasing validation. No topic is off limits!
The infamous Haus Party – a huge cult hit on the Aussie festival circuit - is back with Otto & Astrid (from Die Roten Punkte), the prince and princess of art rock and Europop host a raucous evening of the very best musical comedy, circus and variety acts.
Drag Queen Dolly Diamond presents a teatime garden show entitled Queen of the Dessert in the garden and a late night chat show, Dolly Diamond’s Bosom Buddies, as well as entertaining children with her unique brand of storytelling.
Expect the unexpected at OZmosis, the main evening line-up show, featuring comedy, cabaret and circus acts, or cult clown-actor Garry Starr’s Loose Units.
MUSIC, OTHER
Acclaimed guitarists Slava and Leonard Grigoryan – aka The Grigoryan Brothers - present This Is Us: A Musical Reflection of Australia to mark the 20th anniversary of the National Museum of Australia. The brothers composed a suite of 18 original works, inspired by historical objects, tracing Australia’s diverse and complex history. Each composition focuses on a particular object, an image of which is projected during the performance to enhance the audience experience.
Joseph Tawadros, oud virtuoso, mega-personality and the perfect embodiment of the Season theme, “Who Are We Now?” brings his show, combining music and storytelling, to House of Oz at both ends of the run.
The Tin Knees are a popping candy-indie-sugar-pop-rock band from the Illawarra, with razor sharp guitar licks, twinkling keys and a mysterious brass element. Their shows combine deep musical know-how with droll creative chaos. Lead singer Leonardo Sunshine has amassed over 270k followers on TikTok with his comedy shorts and 6.5m views for the song Will To Live. Emerging NSW talent including Butter Bath and Birdee also feature.
FILMS
Featured screen content includes Herbarium Tales, a series of exquisite Indigenous poetry pieces shot in nature and Come to Where I Am, video postcards by Chris Bendall of Critical Stages
FOOD & DRINKS
Culinary arts and fine Australian produce are presented by guest chef David Lee from Sydney. Guests are welcome from 10am til late to dine “beyond the barbie” in Outback, a garden bar and kitchen. Add a glass of wine, a cocktail or a craft beer and you've got yourself a proper Taste of Australia (coincidentally the title of an occasional tasting menu series by David Lee, with live entertainment at The Great Indoors (main auditorium).
Meanwhile, London’s top Aussie café chain Daisy Green is purveying coffee and Lamingtons in the side terrace and Freedom Brewing of Staffordshire has developed a low-miles House of Oz IPA using Australian hops to serve alongside showcased imports.
TICKETS & PROGRAMME LINK HERE
