In 2018, ARTRAGE joined forces with innovative Perth developers; ADC, to breathe new life into the heritage listed Old Perth Girls School in stage one of a plan to transform the space into a thriving creative precinct. 

With the building now ready to enter stage two of this project, we want to have a look back at all the fun we’ve had! 
 

Image by Hannah Sorrell
 

Girls School Cinema (2018 – 2021)

From 2018 – 2021 ARTARGE has hosted a cosy winter cinema inside the stunning main hall. Featuring colourful beanbags, a retro bar, toasted marshmallows over firepits, hot salty popcorn, snug blankets and mulled wine, Girls School Cinema has been a hidden winter gem to Perth’s cultural scene. 

The cinema experience was something truly special, with 99% of surveyed audiences in 2020 stating they thought the experience was totally unique. Audiences were treated not just to their favourite flicks, but also epic movie marathons, immersive cinema experiences and wildly fun movie quiz nights. 

Image by Emma Fishwick

In SITU & SymbioticA (2018) 

ARTRAGE collaborated on two innovative performance works in 2018, introducing artists and audiences to the space in a whole new way. 

In SITU is an annual season of original site-specific works from WA independent dance artists. Initiated in 2014, In SITU is a unique opportunity for choreographers and composers to collaborate and create in enticing and unexpected locations throughout Perth. In SITU 2018 was a collaboration with STRUT Dance, Tura New Music and ARTRAGE to create a memorable blend of sound, dance and architecture in the historic site. 

Also in 2018, ARTAGE housed What if this was the only world she knew? by SymbioticA. SymbioticA is an artistic laboratory dedicated to the research, learning, critique and hands-on engagement with the life sciences. Featuring internationally acclaimed performance artist Kira O’Reilly What if this was the only world she knew? was a three hour long performance taking over the main hall space and the dressing rooms and resulted in the creation of the mysterious fume cupboard that has had people talking ever since.

Image by Rebecca Stone 

Open House Perth (2018-2019) & Heritage Perth Weekend Boorloo Kwedjang Bardip Yanginy (2021)

Girls School also took part in Open House Perth and Heritage Perth Weekend Boorloo Kwedjang Bardip Yanginy.

Open House Perth is a free, two-day festival that celebrates the best of architecture, design and the built environment in Perth and its surrounds. Heritage Perth Weekend is an event that celebrates Perth City’s natural, cultural and built heritage.

Lucky patrons to these events got to explore all the hidden corners of the beautiful building enjoying the stunning architecture and rich history.

A Midnight Visit. Photo by Ian Gillespie
 

A Midnight Visit (2019) 

In the summer of 2019, Girls School transformed again into a fully immersive theatrical playground with the smash-hit performance; A Midnight Visit. 

Part choose-your-own-adventure, part theatre, part film-set, part playground, many will remember exploring the halls of the incredible art-deco building in the mind-blowing FRINGE WORLD event that will stay in audiences minds forever.

Image by Miles Noel

Girls School as a FRINGE WORLD Hub (2020 – 2022)

In 2020, Girls School returned to Fringe as a massive hub and has since hosted hundreds of shows within its classrooms, hall and courtyard. This included some of FRINGE WORLD’s most iconic Fringe events like; By A Thread (2020), Tony Galati the Musical (2020), ORPHEUS (2020), Split Lip (2020-21) Comedy Hypnotist: Matt Hale (2021), GODZ (2022) and Dizney in Drag: Once Upon a Parody (2022) plus a ball-pit in our basement bar! 

I’m Chilling at Home. Exhibition by Ellen Broadhurst & Tom Rogers. Image by Jim Bob
 

Girls School Gallery (2020 – 2021)

Alongside Girls School Cinema in the winter months, the building also housed art exhibitions in classrooms, spotlighting visual art, sculptures, installations and multi-media projects from local Perth artist collective known as ‘Private Island’.

The free exhibitions allowed Girls School visitors to enjoy the incredible work of the local artists before or after their movie.

Burlesque Cinema Presents: Burlesque. Image by John Leonard.

Burlesque Cinema (2021) 

In 2021, Girls School Cinema teamed up with Tease Industries to present a series of immersive screenings with live burlesque performances creating a unique cinema experience to Perth. Burlesque Cinema presented screenings of Burlesque and Chicago at Girls School, complete with a glamourous transformation of the building, interactive scavenger hunts and themed food and drink. 

Audiences dressed to the nines for the events and enjoyed the brilliant burlesque performances to their favourite musical numbers from hit flicks. 

Nightmare. Image by Matt Gedling.

Girls School Workshops and Nightmare (2021)

2021 saw an expansion of winter activities in the building including the addition of creative workshops and an immersive 90s boardgame experience. 

Alongside movies and the gallery, visitors could now attend creative workshops like; life-drawing, flower arrangement, sip and paint classes and arts and craft classes.

Even more interactive fun was had with the introduction of the Nightmare VHS immersive boardgame experience. Where small groups were treated to a private session to play the 90’s hit game; Nightmare, in an atmospheric and frightening space.  

Briefs’ Dirty Laundry. Image by Naomi Reed.
 

Briefs’ Dirty Laundry (2021)

In collaboration with long-time FRINGE WORLD presenters; Briefs Factory International, Girls School launched the ARTRAGE collaboration; Briefs Dirty Laundry. The brand new show from the internationally renowned boylesque troupe filled the main hall for two weeks, delighting Perth audiences with their spectacular talents across circus, comedy, cabaret and dance.   


The Rocky Horror Picture Show Immersive Halloween Spectacular. Image by Matt Gedling.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show Immersive Halloween Spectacular 2021

In a ground-breaking first, ARTRAGE produced an immersive cinema meets live performance meets dining experience in a Halloween Spectacular for the cult classic; The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

The dazzling project saw audiences take part an interactive screening of the film with live performances from a shadow-cast of some of Perth’s hottest circus, burlesque and cabaret performers. VIP audiences were treated to a three-course themed dining experience before the movie.

We’ve had such a blast at Girls School and, while we’re sad to go, we can’t wait to see what’s in store for the iconic landmark from our brilliant friends at ADC and we hope to return in the near future.

A massive thanks to ADC for their continued support over the last four years.