FUSE Festival brings spectacular large-scale puppet works to Northcote Town Hall Arts Centre this September.
For one weekend, Northcote Town Hall Arts Centre and Civic Square will be transformed into a vibrant festival hub showcasing some of Australia’s most celebrated puppet companies. FUSE Festival presents two major installations that promise to captivate audiences of all ages.
The centrepiece of FUSE Festival is Tarutharu – The Kaurna Skink, a magnificent 27-metre luminous skink that will illuminate Civic Square. This extraordinary creation comes from Elizabeth Close Arts, representing Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara cultures, and Jack Buckskin from Kaurna and Nurungga peoples, working alongside Darebin-based puppet company A Blanck Canvas. The installation serves as a powerful representation of the Kaurna Peoples and their connection to country.
FUSE Festival
- Where: Northcote Town Hall Arts Centre and Civic Square, 189 High Street, Northcote
- Cost: Free, no bookings required
- Opening night: Friday 5 September, 6pm-9pm with Welcome to Country and performances
- Saturday viewing: Tarutharu all day, Cochlea guided experiences 4pm-9pm
- Sunday viewing: Tarutharu all day, Cochlea guided experiences 1pm-4pm
Check out our gig guide here.
Inside the main hall, visitors can explore Cochlea, a giant inflatable installation celebrating voices from the transgender community. This 15-metre creation by OPAL features amorphous puppets that guide visitors through winding caverns of interlocking tubes and passages, culminating in a spiral vortex representing the inner ear. The immersive experience includes interviews with trans, non-binary and gender diverse locals, creating a world of soft-edged chambers and colour-saturated light.
The opening night on Friday 5 September begins with a Welcome to Country ceremony, followed by roving performances from celebrated local drag icons Cerulean and Stone Motherless Cold. The evening will be Auslan interpreted to ensure accessibility for all community members.
Families attending FUSE Festival can enjoy a special colouring sheet designed by visual artist Arkie Barton, representing Kalkadoon and Bidjara cultures, giving children an engaging activity while experiencing the installations.
The festival acknowledges the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people as Traditional Owners and custodians of the land, paying respects to Elders past and present while celebrating the continuing connection to land, water and culture.
For more information, head here.
