The Sydney Fringe Festival is a month-long marathon of theatre, music, comedy, visual art, film, cabaret, dance, circus, literature and poetry.

It is a super charged showcase of a more alternative side to Sydney, and an opportunity to embark on an expedition of discovery into our vast but veiled independent art scene. Don’t expect to find polished and perfected – the Fringe asks that you enter with an open mind, and to expand on your understanding of all things creative in Sydney.

There are more than 300 ticketed productions, set over more than 50 partner venues – astonishing in itself because who knew Sydney had as many arts venues? Now in its sixth year running, the festival is the largest independent arts festival in NSW. With all events beginning this week, there’s no need to feel overwhelmed by the 30-day program. Here is our selection of the best of an odd bunch:

Festival Ignite – Festival Launch Party

Shops along Erskineville Road will play host to a banquet of live music from new emerging and more established local bands. Bands have been hand picked by Thirsty Merc front man Rai Thistlewayte, and include the likes of Nacho Pop and Stale Biskitz Crew, Woodes, On the Stoop, Betty and Oswald and Morgan Evans.

Along Erskineville Road, Saturday 5 September 3 – 7pm, free.

Peter Beaker Living in Broadway

Berlin based performance artist Peter Beacker will live in three different locations for the duration of the festival. The artist merges dance, performance art, vox-pop and multimedia with DJing, a silver suit and a spectacular Mohawk.

Level 2 Broadway Sydney, from Monday 7 September, free.

– – 

Winter is Coming

A play involving ‘dragons, walls, beards, incest, interpretive dance, great accents, awesome wigs, a throne, wine and plastic swords’ – and performed at a theatre called Giant Dwarf, run by The Chaser crew.

Giant Dwarf Theatre, 9 – 11 September, 9.30pm, from $15.

– –

Silent Dinner Party

As its title suggests, Honi Ryan’s international performance art piece involves eating – but not talking or making any noise, no reading or writing, no interaction with technology and a minimum 2-hour stay. So the question is, how will communication in our communication-heavy society prevail? With a three-course meal designed by the very talented and ever inventive chefs at Studio Neon, this is one not to miss out on.

Marrickville Town Hall, Saturday 26 September, 7.30pm, expressions of interest to hq@sydneyfringe.com.

Small World Festival

A celebration of all things best about the inner west presented by us in collaboration with Young Henry’s, Sydney Fringe, Umbrella and Time Out. Eat things from Porteno, Mary’s and Cornersmith while listening to PVT, The Church, DZ Deathrays, Palms, Jack Ladder and The Dreamlanders and more.

Sydney Park, Saturday 19 September, from 12pm, tickets $64.50 + BF.

Check out the full program of events here.