Joondalup Festival Brings The Weird, Wild And Wonderful This March

March is about to get weird, wild and wonderfully creative up north. With a colossal floating whale, an army of glowing crystal figures, and a flaming water spectacle, it can only mean one thing… Joondalup Festival is back, baby!

For three gloriously chaotic weeks from March 7-22, the northern suburb will burst to life with immersive theatre, interactive art and spectacular performances that need to be seen to be believed. Here’s our pick from the jam-packed line-up. 

Mamma Mia! Immersive

Image credit: Mamma Mia! Immersive | Supplied

Here we go again, but this time, you’re not watching quietly from your seat. Mamma Mia! Immersive is the ultimate night of glitter, glamour and Greek Island chaos, where grooving around the deck chairs and unstrained singing at the top of your lungs is not only acceptable, but highly encouraged. 

While Meryl and Amanda light up the colossal outdoor cinema, it’s the stage in front of the screen that’ll be stealing the attention. Drag queens, conga lines, shadow dancers, and full-on musical theatre mayhem. My my, how can you resist that?! 

The Whale

Image credit: The Whale | Supplied

Look up—waaay up—because there’s a gigantic whale floating overhead and you’re invited to help steer it. Created by the talented folk from Spare Parts Puppet Theatre, this larger-than-life marionette turns spectators into co-pilots as you work with the pros to bring this soaring whale to life. 

As it glides above Tom Simpson Park, you’ll almost be swept away yourself with  music composed specifically for the show, with poems woven into the score and cheeky sea creatures peeking out from unexpected plates. Every movement helps animate this majestic ocean giant, leaving memories as massive as the whale itself. 

Crystal People

Image credit: Crystal People | Supplied

Silent, swaying and totally mesmerising, 52 life-size human-shaped crystal sculptures have taken over the lakes at Sir James McCusker Park. Brought to life by the French theatre wizards Ilotopie, these glowing figures shape-shift and shimmer with every change of light, responding to wind, sun and the movement of the water beneath them. 

By day, the fascinating figures catch the sunshine and twinkle in the water, and by dusk, they soak up the solar energy and ignite into a soft glow that makes them look straight out of a dream. Swing by morning, afternoon, or twilight—every visit offers a fresh perspective to be mesmerised.

Acqua Forte Parade

Image credit: Acqua Forte Parade | Supplied

This is Hilary’s Boat Harbour, but not as you know it. Instead of the usual calm waters, Acqua Forte Parade transforms the harbour into a floating fantasy. A tiny car packed with tourists skims across the water, a dreamer rows aimlessly in a giant floating bed, and a dozen other curious characters drift along the 200-metre route. Fire-bearing scouts, dragons, a king and his fool, and a few inevitable crashes turn the once-peaceful harbour into pure entertainment. 

Grab a spot on the waterfront, soak in the spectacle, and let yourself be swept into this world of water, fire and fun. 

Confetti & Chaos

Image credit: Confestti & Chaos | Supplied

Something old, something new, something borrowed, and something utterly off the rails. Confetti & Chaos invites you along to the wedding of the year, where the vows are shaky, the speeches are unpredictable, and the family drama is relentless. It’s all improvised by the funny folk from Interactive Theatre International, from the loose-lipped relatives to wildly inappropriate best-man behavior and a mother-in-law that would make Vicky B look like a saint. 

You’re not just here to witness the wedding, either. You’re in it: eating (three courses, no less), dancing, and dodging the emotional curveballs between mouthfuls. Wedding bells, whistles, bouquets and breakdowns—Confetti & Chaos has it all, and then some.