February 21st, 2022Stories of Us – coming to CresFest 2022
QUESTION: What do poet Banjo Paterson, singer Simon McDonald of Springmount, photographer Daisy Harriett Llewelyn and the people of Creswick have in common?
Answer: They are all the subject of shows being presented at the inaugural CresFest, running across the first weekend of April, and bringing a new theatrical element to the music and dance festival that has been in the planning for over a year.
These shows are presented by actor Marg Dobson, poet Megan J Riedl, Creswick local Neil Adam and Celtic music legend Felix Meagher.
Poet Riedl will present her show I Know What Creswick Did Last Lockdown – a participatory pandemic poetry project created especially for CresFest 2022. Riedl said that the project “invites people who have experienced lockdowns due to Covid-19 in Creswick, Victoria to share their experiences – positive, negative and neutral – by way of an anonymous confession – a kind of creative therapy, if you will”.
Showing their confidence in the town of Creswick to pull off a great event, the Commonwealth Government (through Festivals Australia) has not only funded Stories of Us but two other projects as well. Creswick Sings will bring choir director Stella Savy to town to run both the Creswick Kids Choir and the Creswick Chorus.
And to close out the festival, Sapphire Bollywood Ensemble will join with Creswick Brass Band in a mash- up of historic proportions, to present the Brass and Bollywood Extravaganza.
“Unbelievably, we have over 350 musicians coming to the festival, each with their own unique talent and passion for performance,” festival convenor Judy Turner said.
As well as music, dance styles – ranging from flamenco to Bulgarian, from honky tonk to classical ballet – will be showcased and taught.
“We wanted to make as many opportunities for local artists to be involved as we could, so we put out a call. Over 100 expressions of interest came back, and we have proudly programmed them across the festival.”
The Shire Showcase will feature bands and soloists from Newlyn, Newbury, Creswick, Hepburn, Daylesford, Trentham, Lyonville, Kingston, Wheatsheaf and Smeaton. The YouThrive stage will feature young players from across the region strutting their stuff at the Old Post Office Stage.
The organisers hope for a massive turnout over the weekend of April 1 to 3 and are still keen to hear from people who would like to volunteer either as helpers over the weekend or as hosts for their out-of-town artists. All volunteers receive a weekend pass to the festival.
Link: www.cresfest.com.au/get-involved
Jade Moran and Lulu Gersbeck outside the Havilah Masonic Lodge in Creswick. As Primo Primates they will perform on the YouThrive Stage and in the IGA Busking competition
Image: Terry Hope | Words: Contributed
