The Adelaide Festival Centre last night unveiled the fourth annual OzAsia Festival 17 September – 2 October. The Festival presents the best of Asia’s arts and culture while celebrating Australia’s diverse multicultural society and its position within the Asia Pacific region. It is proudly supported by Major Festival Partner Santos.
Come join the celebrations in September, when once again the Adelaide Festival Centre will be transformed into a cultural melting pot. Experience this ground breaking festival that promotes cultural understanding and tolerance through creative collaboration. The Festival is now the nation’s pre-eminent platform for Australian/Asian dialogue and collaboration in the performing arts.
The 2010 program features 133 artists from Korea, Indonesia, Tibet, Malaysia, India, Vietnam, China, Hong Kong and the best from Australia. There will be 11 shows plus 6 special events, 3 food events, 8 forums, 19 films, 6 short films and 5 exhibitions. 11 Adelaide premieres, including 3 Australian premieres and 1 world premiere.
OzAsia Festival, Festival Director Jacinta Thompson says, “This year’s OzAsia Festival spotlights one of Asia’s creative leaders, Korea and once again the Festival brings a range of exciting events and performances highlighting the changing dynamics of the cultural and social fabric of our country and the cultures of our Asian neighbours. Whether you’ll be attending artist forums, enjoying a performance or dressing up in your anime best, come and celebrate the creative delights on offer by some of Australia and Asia’s most talented and contemporary artists”.
On the opening weekend the internationally acclaimed company that presented the fresh Korean interpretation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Adelaide Festival Centre in 2007, Yohangza Theatre Company will faithfully recreates the tragedy and drama of Shakespeare’s original Hamlet in contemporary Korean language. The staging, costumes and music integrate Korean tradition, shamanism and folklore. This is Hamlet like you have never seen it before. 15 – 18 September, Space Theatre.
To celebrate the opening of the Festival, this years’ program sees the unique inclusion of a Korean Shaman Opening Ritual, led by Kee Hae-Kyung the ritual will be filled with song and dance and bestow good luck to the Festival. Lee is a Shaman who uses the forms integrated into Yohangza’s Theatre Company’s Hamlet. 17 September, Artspace Gallery.
Headlining this year’s OzAsia Festival will be the only Australian performances of Dialogue in Skin, experience the exuberant and meditative beats of acclaimed Malaysian drum group Hands Percussion. Exploring the unique dialogue between drum and drummer Artistic Director Bernard Goh, and his young team of ten drummers present a program of energy, strength and heart. 17 – 18 September, Her Majesty’s Theatre.
Prominent International Sociologist and Political Scientist Dr Ashis Nandy, Fellow, Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, India will present the Keynote Lecture: Is it Necessary to Love Your Neighbours? Living with Radical Diversities and the Right to be Oneself. The lecture is presented in association with The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre and the School of Law at UniSA as part of The UniSA Nelson Mandela Lecture Series. 21 September, Her Majesty’s Theatre. Bookings are essential via Hawke Centre www.hawkecentre.unisa.edu.au or (08) 8302 0215.
What is sure to be one of the highlights of this year’s program is the Moon Lantern Festival on the 22 September, this wonderful free family event on the 15th day of the eight lunar month of the Chinese calendar has become one of South Australia’s favourite annual community gatherings. Local Asian community groups will perform traditional and contemporary music and dance. Festivities include a diverse selection of Asian food and market stalls, lanterns, crafts, workshops, horoscope readings and at twilight the Moon Lantern Parade will light up Elder Park followed by a spectacular fireworks display. ABC 891 Drive Presenter Sonya Feldhoff will broadcast live from Elder Park for the Moon Lantern Festival.
Continuing the Korean theme is Sadari Theatre Company. Awarded the 13th Seoul Children’s Theatre Planning and Arts Award of the Year by Arts Council Korea When His Watch Stopped, uses masked performance, striking visual art, mime and imagery, it tells the emotional tale of a newly married couple who are torn apart by war, and the feelings experienced when a loved one does not return. This show is compassionately confronting and explores the complex theme of war and its consequences. 20 – 21 September, Space Theatre.
Lovers of contemporary dance will not be disappointed as Indonesia’s Nan Jombang Dance Company take to the stage. Having performed to critical acclaim across Asia and Europe they are celebrated for their exquisite physical prowess SangHawa (Eve) & Rantau Berbisik (Whisperings of Exile) is no exception. Hands, bodies and costumes combine to create a percussion soundscape for this stunning show where they demonstrate their absolute mastery of Pencak Silat (Indonesian martial art), West Sumatran traditional dance and contemporary Western dance. 23 – 24 September, Space Theatre.
On 24 September, Space Theatre, Architect Forum: Rebuilding Communities will be held prior to the performance of SangHawa & Rantau Berbisik. Architects Benno Ramadian, Director BRd-design, Marco Kusumawijaya, Director of RUJAK Center for Urban Studies and Australian Producer Kate Ben-Tovim will explore the reconstruction process in Sumatra and Aceh. Having assisted in rebuilding 23 villages, Marco will discuss the people-driven reconstruction of post tsunami Aceh. Benno and Kate will present their work experiences with Nan Jombang Dance Company who lost their cultural centre in the 2009 Sumatran earthquake.
AFTERNOON absurdiTEA with Camellia Cha is a World Premiere, featuring the blissful interplay of Indian melody and rhythm by the celebrated duo of Josh Bennet (sitar) and Jay Dabgar (tabla); the haunting sounds of shakuhachi (Japanese bamboo flute) performed by Anne Norman; the virtuosic dexteri-tea of the Australian Chinese Music Ensemble led by Wang Zheng Ting; and the soulful voice and mesmeric Tibetan instruments of Tenzin Choegyal. 26 September, Space Theatre.
In an intimate evening of exquisite Chinese Music, Wang Zheng Ting an expert in Chinese music and an internationally respected performer on the sheng – a Chinese mouth organ will perform traditional and contemporary Chinese music with the Australian Chinese Music Ensemble. The performance will focus on experimentation and the fusion of Eastern and Western musical styles. 24 September, Artspace Gallery.
In another Australian Exclusive Korea’s Yegam Theatre Company presents irresistible martial arts comedy Jump. Performed by a sublime cast of gymnasts, acrobats and Tae Kwon Do masters with spot-on comic timing, expect an abundance of sight gags and pratfalls that will make the whole family laugh out loud. Proudly supported by ANZ program partner. 29 September – 1 October, Festival Theatre.
The film component of OzAsia continues to grow from strength to strength, OzAsia On Screen returns with a wide variety of feature films and documentaries encompassing films from India, Iran, Australia, China, Japan, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Korea and Thailand. This year the screen component grows with the inclusion of Hong Kong on Screen a retrospective showcase of 6 films from internationally acclaimed director Clara Law; Clara’s films blend poetic story-telling and stunning cinematic sequences to capture the richness of life in Hong Kong today. Film enthusiasts will have an opportunity to participate in a Q & A with Law after the screening of Like a Dream. Sweet and Short is a selection of 6 short films and Korea on Screen a selection of 4 films.
A smorgasbord of visual arts, this year’s program includes 6 different exhibitions, 7 artists, four of whom are South Australians. Animation from Iran’s Mashaallah Mohammadi 15 September – 17 October, Piano Bar; The Godavari River a moving image multimedia installation which focuses on encounters in and around the famous holy city of Nashik on the second largest river in India by Adelaide artist Stephen House, 15 September – 17 October, Space Theatre Foyer; another local Laura Wills presents work developed during her 2009 Indonesian residency in Bismania, 17 September – 17 October, Festival Theatre Foyer; Jason Wing will present A.B.C Aboriginal Born Chinese an installation of spirit figures in Adelaide Festival Centre grounds. Jason will be an Artist-in-Residence throughout the Festival painting a mural on the wall opposite the foyer café. And Esther Chew and Andrew Brackman will present The [3Rs] Architecture & Tourism an installation that presents travel experiences during a cultural study scholarship in India over three months 15 September – 17 October, Festival Theatre Foyer.
A highlight of the visual arts program is Korean Aehee Park exhibition’s Caring for Aehee Australia, an installation comprised of projection, moving image and photographs which have evolved from her experiences as Artist-in-Residence as the Cowwarr Art Space, Gippsland, in 2009. During the OzAsia Festival, Aehee will be working in residence at and around the Adelaide Festival Centre, developing new photo media work and interacting with the OzAsia ‘community’. 15 September – 17 October, Artspace Gallery.
Throughout the Festival, there will be an opportunity to get up close and personal with the performing and visual artists in a number of workshops, forums and artist Q & As.
The Adelaide Festival Centre last night unveiled the fourth annual OzAsia Festival 17 September – 2 October. The Festival presents the best of Asia’s arts and culture while celebrating Australia’s diverse multicultural society and its position within the Asia Pacific region. It is proudly supported by Major Festival Partner Santos.
Come join the celebrations in September, when once again the Adelaide Festival Centre will be transformed into a cultural melting pot. Experience this ground breaking festival that promotes cultural understanding and tolerance through creative collaboration. The Festival is now the nation’s pre-eminent platform for Australian/Asian dialogue and collaboration in the performing arts.
The 2010 program features 133 artists from Korea, Indonesia, Tibet, Malaysia, India, Vietnam, China, Hong Kong and the best from Australia. There will be 11 shows plus 6 special events, 3 food events, 8 forums, 19 films, 6 short films and 5 exhibitions. 11 Adelaide premieres, including 3 Australian premieres and 1 world premiere.
OzAsia Festival, Festival Director Jacinta Thompson says, “This year’s OzAsia Festival spotlights one of Asia’s creative leaders, Korea and once again the Festival brings a range of exciting events and performances highlighting the changing dynamics of the cultural and social fabric of our country and the cultures of our Asian neighbours. Whether you’ll be attending artist forums, enjoying a performance or dressing up in your anime best, come and celebrate the creative delights on offer by some of Australia and Asia’s most talented and contemporary artists”.
On the opening weekend the internationally acclaimed company that presented the fresh Korean interpretation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Adelaide Festival Centre in 2007, Yohangza Theatre Company will faithfully recreates the tragedy and drama of Shakespeare’s original Hamlet in contemporary Korean language. The staging, costumes and music integrate Korean tradition, shamanism and folklore. This is Hamlet like you have never seen it before. 15 – 18 September, Space Theatre.
To celebrate the opening of the Festival, this years’ program sees the unique inclusion of a Korean Shaman Opening Ritual, led by Kee Hae-Kyung the ritual will be filled with song and dance and bestow good luck to the Festival. Lee is a Shaman who uses the forms integrated into Yohangza’s Theatre Company’s Hamlet. 17 September, Artspace Gallery.
Headlining this year’s OzAsia Festival will be the only Australian performances of Dialogue in Skin, experience the exuberant and meditative beats of acclaimed Malaysian drum group Hands Percussion. Exploring the unique dialogue between drum and drummer Artistic Director Bernard Goh, and his young team of ten drummers present a program of energy, strength and heart. 17 – 18 September, Her Majesty’s Theatre.
Prominent International Sociologist and Political Scientist Dr Ashis Nandy, Fellow, Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, India will present the Keynote Lecture: Is it Necessary to Love Your Neighbours? Living with Radical Diversities and the Right to be Oneself. The lecture is presented in association with The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre and the School of Law at UniSA as part of The UniSA Nelson Mandela Lecture Series. 21 September, Her Majesty’s Theatre. Bookings are essential via Hawke Centre www.hawkecentre.unisa.edu.au or (08) 8302 0215.
What is sure to be one of the highlights of this year’s program is the Moon Lantern Festival on the 22 September, this wonderful free family event on the 15th day of the eight lunar month of the Chinese calendar has become one of South Australia’s favourite annual community gatherings. Local Asian community groups will perform traditional and contemporary music and dance. Festivities include a diverse selection of Asian food and market stalls, lanterns, crafts, workshops, horoscope readings and at twilight the Moon Lantern Parade will light up Elder Park followed by a spectacular fireworks display. ABC 891 Drive Presenter Sonya Feldhoff will broadcast live from Elder Park for the Moon Lantern Festival.
Continuing the Korean theme is Sadari Theatre Company. Awarded the 13th Seoul Children’s Theatre Planning and Arts Award of the Year by Arts Council Korea When His Watch Stopped, uses masked performance, striking visual art, mime and imagery, it tells the emotional tale of a newly married couple who are torn apart by war, and the feelings experienced when a loved one does not return. This show is compassionately confronting and explores the complex theme of war and its consequences. 20 – 21 September, Space Theatre.
Lovers of contemporary dance will not be disappointed as Indonesia’s Nan Jombang Dance Company take to the stage. Having performed to critical acclaim across Asia and Europe they are celebrated for their exquisite physical prowess SangHawa (Eve) & Rantau Berbisik (Whisperings of Exile) is no exception. Hands, bodies and costumes combine to create a percussion soundscape for this stunning show where they demonstrate their absolute mastery of Pencak Silat (Indonesian martial art), West Sumatran traditional dance and contemporary Western dance. 23 – 24 September, Space Theatre.
On 24 September, Space Theatre, Architect Forum: Rebuilding Communities will be held prior to the performance of SangHawa & Rantau Berbisik. Architects Benno Ramadian, Director BRd-design, Marco Kusumawijaya, Director of RUJAK Center for Urban Studies and Australian Producer Kate Ben-Tovim will explore the reconstruction process in Sumatra and Aceh. Having assisted in rebuilding 23 villages, Marco will discuss the people-driven reconstruction of post tsunami Aceh. Benno and Kate will present their work experiences with Nan Jombang Dance Company who lost their cultural centre in the 2009 Sumatran earthquake.
AFTERNOON absurdiTEA with Camellia Cha is a World Premiere, featuring the blissful interplay of Indian melody and rhythm by the celebrated duo of Josh Bennet (sitar) and Jay Dabgar (tabla); the haunting sounds of shakuhachi (Japanese bamboo flute) performed by Anne Norman; the virtuosic dexteri-tea of the Australian Chinese Music Ensemble led by Wang Zheng Ting; and the soulful voice and mesmeric Tibetan instruments of Tenzin Choegyal. 26 September, Space Theatre.
In an intimate evening of exquisite Chinese Music, Wang Zheng Ting an expert in Chinese music and an internationally respected performer on the sheng – a Chinese mouth organ will perform traditional and contemporary Chinese music with the Australian Chinese Music Ensemble. The performance will focus on experimentation and the fusion of Eastern and Western musical styles. 24 September, Artspace Gallery.
In another Australian Exclusive Korea’s Yegam Theatre Company presents irresistible martial arts comedy Jump. Performed by a sublime cast of gymnasts, acrobats and Tae Kwon Do masters with spot-on comic timing, expect an abundance of sight gags and pratfalls that will make the whole family laugh out loud. Proudly supported by ANZ program partner. 29 September – 1 October, Festival Theatre.
The film component of OzAsia continues to grow from strength to strength, OzAsia On Screen returns with a wide variety of feature films and documentaries encompassing films from India, Iran, Australia, China, Japan, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Korea and Thailand. This year the screen component grows with the inclusion of Hong Kong on Screen a retrospective showcase of 6 films from internationally acclaimed director Clara Law; Clara’s films blend poetic story-telling and stunning cinematic sequences to capture the richness of life in Hong Kong today. Film enthusiasts will have an opportunity to participate in a Q & A with Law after the screening of Like a Dream. Sweet and Short is a selection of 6 short films and Korea on Screen a selection of 4 films.
A smorgasbord of visual arts, this year’s program includes 6 different exhibitions, 7 artists, four of whom are South Australians. Animation from Iran’s Mashaallah Mohammadi 15 September – 17 October, Piano Bar; The Godavari River a moving image multimedia installation which focuses on encounters in and around the famous holy city of Nashik on the second largest river in India by Adelaide artist Stephen House, 15 September – 17 October, Space Theatre Foyer; another local Laura Wills presents work developed during her 2009 Indonesian residency in Bismania, 17 September – 17 October, Festival Theatre Foyer; Jason Wing will present A.B.C Aboriginal Born Chinese an installation of spirit figures in Adelaide Festival Centre grounds. Jason will be an Artist-in-Residence throughout the Festival painting a mural on the wall opposite the foyer café. And Esther Chew and Andrew Brackman will present The [3Rs] Architecture & Tourism an installation that presents travel experiences during a cultural study scholarship in India over three months 15 September – 17 October, Festival Theatre Foyer.
A highlight of the visual arts program is Korean Aehee Park exhibition’s Caring for Aehee Australia, an installation comprised of projection, moving image and photographs which have evolved from her experiences as Artist-in-Residence as the Cowwarr Art Space, Gippsland, in 2009. During the OzAsia Festival, Aehee will be working in residence at and around the Adelaide Festival Centre, developing new photo media work and interacting with the OzAsia ‘community’. 15 September – 17 October, Artspace Gallery.
Throughout the Festival, there will be an opportunity to get up close and personal with the performing and visual artists in a number of workshops, forums and artist Q & As.
Food lovers will unite as the OzAsia Festivals food component continues to attract Australia’s leading chefs, this time Adelaide’s own Cheong Liew returns with acclaimed chef Luke Nguyen , co-owner of Red Lantern, Sydney. The duo will present a gastronomic evening Street Food Feast from the Far East, Luke and Cheong will create an authentic Hawker-style three-course banquet focusing on fresh Malay and Vietnamese flavours, paired with wines by O’Leary Walker Winery. Charismatic host Annette Shun Wah (food writer and broadcaster) leading a casual discussion about their personal cultural culinary journeys. 23 September, Bistro by the food business.
Get up close and personal with the Red Lantern’s Luke Nguyen, Luke Nguyen’s Cooking Demonstrations. These intimate cooking demonstrations and samplings (maximum 25 people) will take you through three exquisite recipes: Mud crab in saigon XO sauce; Green mango & mangosteen salad with Vietnamese herbs and rice flour & Turmeric crepe filled with mung beans, prawns and pork. Luke will also share the herbs used in Vietnamese cookery and their medicinal properties. 21 September. Bistro by the food business.
Australia’s foremost anime and manga event returns to Adelaide Animania Festival, celebrating everything about the Japanese art forms anime and manga, the day will include stalls, karaoke, art displays and more. One of the highlights will be the Cosplay (costume play competition) where fans are encouraged to dress up as their favourite Japanese pop culture character for the chance to compete in the international finals! 2 October, Banquet Room, Lyrics, Piano Bar.
From the maker of Chika (OzAsia Festival 2008) comes In Repose, an artistic homage to Japanese migrants who lived and died in Australia since the late 1800s and have been buried here. In Repose, merges story-telling, photography, soundscape, koto, music and dance inspired by old Japanese cemeteries in Australia. A Kuyo – a Japanese term describing an act of ceremonial offering to respect, honour and calm the spirits of the deceased – In Repose also honours the local Australian Indigenous communities who to this day are looking after the graves of these Japanese migrants, buried far away from their native land. 1 – 2 October, Space Theatre.
The Festival will close when the mighty Dhol Foundation opens the floodgates on a torrent of percussive grooves. Known for their energetic live performances throughout Europe and Australia (WOMADelaide 2006, Festival Melbourne 2006). The Dhol Foundation has become an influential world fusion ensemble, don’t miss your chance to be elevated by high-powered, live Punjabi beats that will turn the Festival Theatre into one big dance party! 2 October, Festival Theatre.
Adelaide Festival Centre CEO & Artistic Director, Douglas Gautier says, “I am very proud of the fourth OzAsia Festival and how it has won the hearts of South Australians and is gathering ongoing respect around the country and overseas. This year’s Festival is energetic, fun and physical, it is for families, communities and anyone curious about the contemporary Asian aesthetic. I invite you to explore the diverse world of OzAsia”.
Early Bird Offer: Thanks to Asia Specialists Travel Indochina and Singapore Airlines book your tickets before 16 August and you will automatically go into the draw to Win a trip for two to Vietnam for 8 nights valued at $5000.
Asia Specialists Travel Indochina and Singapore Airlines are giving you the chance to experience the boisterous energy of Saigon, the antiquated streets and beautiful beaches of Hoi An on this 8 night package to Vietnam that includes 4 nights in Saigon and 4 nights in Hoi An with half day touring in each city.
Major Prize Package for 2 people includes:
• Return Economy Class tickets to Vietnam with Singapore Airlines for 2 people
• 4 nights hotel accommodation at the 4 star Duxton Hotel, Saigon
• Saigon city half day tour
• Domestic flights from Saigon to Danang return
• 4 nights hotel accommodation at the 4 star Hoi An Trails Resort & Spa
• Hoi An town half day tour
• Breakfast Daily
• Transfers
Terms and conditions apply: Prize is valid for 2 people twin share and for travel until 30th March 2011 and is subject to availability. The prize is not transferable or redeemable for cash. Airfare taxes (approximately $250per person as at 24 May 2010), visas and Government levies are not included. High season blackout periods may apply. Total prize package is worth AU$5,000. Travel Indochina’s regular terms and conditions apply.
