Family friendly fun at Wynnum Fringe
I am looking forward to checking out an amazing new event, Wynnum Fringe Festival. However, I have a 14-year-old teenager and, in a turn of events that surprises no one, it is the very last thing he wants to do on a Saturday. “Do I have to come MUM???”. As parents of teen boys will tell you, they’re always tired, only manage to utter one syllable words, and lack serious motivation to do anything, even if you say, “It will be fun!”. They just groan and roll their eyes and are the hardest demographic to please.
We leave home with him in the foulest of moods, jump in an Uber and he spends the whole trip feeling carsick and holding back from vomiting all over himself. Still, I am determined to encourage my son to join me in reviewing the overall vibe and a couple of the free Wynnum Fringe Festival events and am so happy to be finally out of that car.
We arrive and walk along Edith Street. Ronan and I do a lap checking out the multicultural array of food trucks. We decide to grab a bite to eat and people watch and check out Manoeuvre, a stilt performance troupe walking amongst and interacting with a million kids. Ronan and I hear a 3-year-old say to his eldest sibling in their little gang "I want to pop a bubble" and like every kid ever, there is just no keeping them away. I see the little man do a flying air kick and nail it, followed by every other little kid, totes bubble mad.
Another group that we enjoy are Cocoloco. They look like two evil Alice in Wonderland twins who recite scary nursery rhymes in discordant unison which are unnerving, funny and creepy at the same time! I listen to a group of girls compare it to The Shining and a litany of horror films they have watched and freaked out about. Ronan said they were disturbing,: "Did you see their blacked-out teeth!?” and “That’s so weird!!! They’re adults reciting kid’s stories. Ugh”. I have a giggle; this day is getting better and he is way less grumpy.
Ronan and I watch Melon the Human hovering around the stage. I am thinking to myself; this guy is itching to go! He finds a mic, “The official program says 5pm, I will not be starting a minute earlier. The show can legally start in 4 minutes”. We chuckle. Yes! Great teenager content. Ronan spots the sample of Rick and Morty. Melon has a thing for drum and bass and juggling inanimate objects in patterns and movements you wouldn’t think are possible. He is a consummate performer, the whole street is packed, and everyone is glued to every word and random circus trick. This is Melon’s first gig since COVID, with his ‘normal’ job at Cirque Du Soleil and his return to his ‘back-up career’ of high school drama teacher. Ronan is grinning. Melon says the perfect school-hating teenage joke, “The performing world is bouncing back, the good news is I am quitting my job!”
Ronan: “I love everything he did, he was amazing! His humour is really funny”
Teen speak translation: “That was the best thing I have seen in my entire life!”
Harmonie: Melon the Human is an acrobatic whizz! Aside from his polished performance, the moment he asks the audience to yell out, “We're in year 7!" which he filmed to encourage his students to boost their confidence in performing, was a moment of realness and warmth as a parent. Can this guy get any better?
What did we think overall?
Ronan: “Great food choices, food is delicious. Interesting entertainment.”
Teen speak translation: “This is really awesome!”
Mum note: Aspects of Dance - their chair dance routine was awkward as for the level of sexy for male teens. Ronan sheepishly grinned when I mentioned the word sexy.
Harmonie: As a previous festival director, activation of space and place is essential to get the right fit. What strikes me is how great this spot is for a Festival and the audience diversity completely representative of the Wynnum community. The street is filled with lots of families, young and old, great access provision for the prams and wheelchair users. There is enough shade, an abundance of helpful, yet local community volunteers who are easily located wearing Wynnum Festival Fringe shirts. The COVID-19 event safe plan is well executed; they've mapped out crowd control flow at the gates and have sanitiser at each end, sign in sheets and QR code check in, pre-recorded COVID safety announcements on stage and the event programming matches the family filled afternoon vibe. Circus is easily the winner for teenager engagement. We left having enjoyed the day - this time we caught the bus home instead!
