The 2024 OzAsia Festival program officially launches on 1 August, and once again it is packed full of amazing performances, events and installations that cater for just about everyone. Tickets for this year’s program go on sale at 10am, Thursday 1 August.
Artistic and Executive Producer Joon-Yee Kwok has a diverse program that brings together brilliant musicians, engaging conversations, hilarious comedians, delicious cuisine and astounding visual arts. OzAsia Festival is Australia’s leading contemporary arts festival engaging with Asia and will run from October 24 through to November 10.
Joon-Yee spoke to Glam Adelaide ahead of the program launch and shared with us her thought process when curating the program for this year.
“When curating the program I start by looking at how I can bring people together. So when I was thinking about what shows, performances and artists to showcase, I was thinking about how this artist helps me bring lots of different people together. I also wanted to make sure the program was inclusive for people from all walks of life. OzAsia provides opportunities for artists that may not have platforms in other festivals.”
On OzAsia Festival’s opening weekend, more than a dozen giant lanterns will light up Tarntanya Wama/Pinky Flat for the beloved Moon Lantern Trail. This free, family-friendly event, running from Thursday 24 October to Sunday 27 October, features roving performances, giant puppets, interactive workshops and delectable food. Another fan favourite returning for the opening weekend is AnimeGO!, a celebration of Japanese pop culture taking over the Festival Theatre foyer for one day only on Sunday 27 October.
With so much in the program, it’s hard to highlight them all, but one performance that jumped out was the one and only Taylor Sheesh.
After captivating Swifties across the globe, Tik Tok superstar Taylor Sheesh brings The Errors Tour to Dunstan Playhouse for two nights only. With stunning choreography, dazzling outfit reveals, and a meet & greet after each show, Taylor Swift fans won’t want to miss this!
We asked Joon-Yee what drew her to Taylor Sheesh.
“When I saw the news articles that were coming out about Taylor Sheesh, my interest piqued. I was very curious about who this Taylor Swift impersonator was, and I just really, really loved Taylor Sheesh’s story as well. Taylor Sheesh was all about bringing the Taylor Swift love to Filipino fans who weren’t going to get to see Taylor Swift in the Philippines. It was just such a generous idea that I found really appealing. I knew I wanted to have that love here in Adelaide for those Adelaidians who didn’t get to Sydney or Melbourne to see Taylor Swift as well. I think it’s a really fantastic combination of opportunity and someone who’s being really generous with their art.”
Another standout performance in this year’s program is Por Por’s Big Fat Surprise Wedding.
After an extended sold-out season in Singapore, it’s Adelaide’s turn to celebrate Por Por’s Big Fat Surprise Wedding. The show stars Crazy Rich Asians’ Koh Chieng Mun as the spirited, 70-year-old Por Por (whose groom is a mystery to everyone including her own family). Revel in the surprises of this unforgettable and hilarious dinner theatre performance which includes a glass of sparkling wine on arrival and a four-course Indian meal.
“I think it’s time for another food show at the OzAsia Festival. I know that OzAsia Festival audiences love that opportunity to experience food together with their art. That was one of the really big draw cards for me with this show. This show is also pure joy. It’s a wonderful production, with a sensational cast and an amazing meal to go with it.”
For families, The Story of Chi is a captivating, coming-of-age tale that explores the bonds uniting us across generations through a combination of theatre, puppets and shadow puppetry. In a hands-on, art adventure perfect for families, interactive installation Tanabata: Star Village, invites audiences to make origami and contribute wishes to an evolving galaxy of wishes in Dunstan Playhouse foyer, inspired by the vibrant Japanese star festival.
On the final weekend, audiences can enjoy thought-provoking panels and inspiring conversations at OzAsia Festival’s Weekend of Words, Australia’s largest gathering of Asian and Asian Australian writers and thinkers. Curated by multi-award-winning writer and comedian Sami Shah, this year’s stellar lineup includes Benjamin Law, Vajra Chandrasekera, Shelley Parker-Chan, Sara M. Saleh, Lawrence Leung, Louisa Lim, Qin Qin and many more.
“Weekend Of Words is a literary event unlike any other in Australia. It’s the largest gathering of Asian and Asian Australian writers and thinkers, and it’s an opportunity for people to hear things from many different perspectives. Asia isn’t one homogeneous culture. There are many, many different cultures and many, many different communities, and they’re all very diverse. So in one place we get so much diversity, so many different perspectives on the big topics that we’re all thinking about right now. The opening night gala of the Weekend Of Words features eight amazing writers from our lineup over the weekend, and it just gives everybody a little bit of a sense of what they can expect. Then there is also our closing night debate, which is a really funny night out. We usually try to come up with a topic that’s controversial – you might even try and debate yourself around the dinner table. And that’s what we really love about our debate topics.”
Tickets go on sale at 10am, Thursday 1 August. Early bird ticket specials available until Sunday 4 August. Check ozasiafestival.com.au for the full program and further details.
OzAsia Festival 2024 runs from October 24 to November 10.
Image credit: ‘Pink Skies and Magical Feelings’ by local artist Jessie Hui
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