Despite the Red restrictions, festival organisers are preparing to go ahead on March 17-27, providing a programme packed with premieres which offer audiences the chance to be the first in the world to see new work from established and emerging artists.
Festival director Gareth McMillan said it was important in the face of yet another year of disruptions that the Fringe could offer support to smaller events with a lower risk profile to go ahead, and offer a platform to artists to continue to share their work and make an income.
"We are fortunate to be in a position to proceed with our Fringe events under the Red light restrictions and are taking extra precautions to make sure that this undertaking is as safe as possible.
"We hope that people will continue to support our artists as best they can, whether that be through coming along to an event if they feel comfortable, buying a ticket for someone else or enjoying some of the online shows that are part of this year’s programme."
Highlights of the 2022 festival include Te Radar delivering an illustrated lecture titled Intoxicana, which reveals the untold stories of intoxicating substances from New Zealand’s past.
The programme also offers the opportunity to explore art in different spaces.
Local artists will take small audiences on a ferry across Otago Harbour while sharing stories and shanties about Dunedin’s marine history.
And there will also be an opportunity to watch Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream in some Dunedin gardens, complete with folk-like renditions of popular music ranging from Billie Eilish to Wham.
The festival contains many premieres and debuts, including Silence Is, an opera inspired by the values of a kaupapa Māori framework; theatre show The World’s First Lovers; and a fashion show highlighting diverse, thoughtful and challenging fashions by students, graduates and lecturers from the Otago Polytechnic School of Design.
This year’s online offering includes theatre pieces Rough Night and Shattered; dance pieces Promenade and Inherent Awkwardness; comedy from Rob McLennan; and Maggie Cocco’s performance art show Science for Sociopaths.
