Judith Greenaway

SYDNEY FESTIVAL PROGRAM ANNOUNCED: TIME FOR CHOOSING.

This image: Biladurang. Credit Pippa Samaya                                                                                            Featured image: Apollo 11. Credit Tony (Li) Tang

Once again the announcement of  The Sydney Festival 2019 brings a pleasurable nightmare of choices.

Human history on display as the Festival swings from  the moon landing , through Mambo  music  of the 40s & 50s and  Shanghai in the 30’s,  on to Romanian Jews in 1908 Canada, back further to reflect on colonisation and then back, back, back to ancient inspiration from our platypus.

Jan 9-27 (Barangaroo South), Apollo 11, Sydney Festival; 11 artworks and participatory experiences commemorating the 1969 space flight that first landed people on the moon. 

Jan 15 & 16 (Magic Mirrors Spiegeltent, Festival Garden), Orquesta Akokán, Sydney Festival; this big band mambo collective comprised of Cuba’s finest musicians brings the party direct from Havana, celebrating music of the 1940s and 50s.

Orquesta Akokan. Credit Adrien H. Tillmann

Jan 10-20 (Riverside Theatre), Shànghǎi MiMi, Sydney Festival; this world premiere cabaret inspired by 1930s Shanghai is directed by the award-winning Moira Finucane and includes thrilling performances from an international cast of dancers, acrobats, aerialists and a live band playing long-lost vintage Chinese jazz and blues.

Shanghai Mimi. Credit Yang Xiaohuo

Jan 12-20 (Upstairs, Belvoir St Theatre), Old Stock: A Refugee Love Story, Sydney Festival; inspired by the real-life stories of two Romanian Jews seeking refuge in Canada in 1908, this is a dark, funny and high-energy hybrid of music and theatre starring acclaimed musician Ben Caplan. 

Old Stock. Artist Ben Caplan. Credit to Stoo Metz Photography

Jan 25 (Barangaroo Reserve), The Vigil, Sydney Festival; a  vigil will be held overnight  to reflect on the impact of colonisation  in Australia, the significance of the day before  the First Fleet arrived, and what happened after, with musical performances and stories of Country from current and future community Elders. 

Jan 11-20 (QT Sydney), Biladurang, Sydney Festival; A dark, sexy and  intimate solo work by Wiradjuri dancer  and choreographer Joel Bray, loosely echoing the story of the Biladurang – the platypus.

Starting this Sunday: The Guide's
SUNDAY QUEST FOR THE BEST OF THE FEST 
A Sunday spotlight with 
interviews, archival material, previews and giveaways.

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Sydney Festival 19 Teaser Video