Burlesque. Improv. Fracking. These are the cornerstones of Australian culture…
In On Fringe writer, comedian and journalist Patrick Marlborough examines the ethically dubious intersection of the Australian arts and mining sectors while benefiting from it.
Through a combination of stand-up, lecture, PowerPoint, animation, and a rudimentary understanding of libel law, On Fringe asks whether the artist can truly share a stage with a mining giant without seriously compromising the integrity of their art.
The answer may surprise you!
Woodside has been an established partner of Fringe World Festival since 2012. In 2020, artists and protestors petitioned Fringe to sever their ties with the mining company.
In 2021 Fringe added a clause to their artist’s contract which reads:
If you have an objection to a FRINGE WORLD sponsor, we ask that you consider whether participation in the Festival is the right platform for your presentation.
…and
The PRESENTER and the VENUE OPERATOR must use its best endeavours to not disparage nor bring into disrepute ARTRAGE, FRINGE WORLD or the FRINGE WORLD Festival, this includes its board members, employees, contractors, volunteers, sponsors, funding bodies and affiliated organisations.
With On Fringe, Patrick Marlborough aims to do anything but disparage or disrepute the good executives of Woodside or the benevolent lawyers of Fringe World.
Instead, On Fringe is a celebration of beloved Australian pastimes like cabaret, mime, and exploratory coal seam fracking ventures adjacent to protected maritime sanctuaries.
“I am a child of Perth,” says Patrick, “and as such, I’ve been raised to believe in the harmonious synergy between mining and the arts, mining and good government, mining and urban development, mining and the meth epidemic, and, most importantly, mining and the environment.
I have been a working artist for over ten years. In some ways, I have more in common with someone working in the mines than I do with someone working in an office (specifically, those Tasmanian blokes from the Beaconsfield Mine collapse in 2006).”
On Fringe
15-16 Jan & 12-13 Feb, 9.45pm
Rubix Bar, Perth CBD
Tickets $15-$20 at fringeworld.com.au
Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/2738080086466828/
Biography
Patrick Marlborough is a nonbinary writer, comedian, journalist, critic and musician based in Fremantle, WA. They have words in VICE, Rolling Stone, The Guardian, Junkee, Noisey,
Meanjin, Crikey, The Lifted Brow, Cordite, Going Down Swinging, The Betoota Advocate, and “beloved other.” They are a mental health and disability advocate, writing about their experiences with depression, suicide, bipolar, high functioning autism, and OCD.
https://www.patrickmarlborough.com/
https://patrickmarlborough.bandcamp.com/album/barely-bombings
https://bangbangbart.bandcamp.com/
@cormac_mccafe twitter/instagram
