Adelaide Festival Centre and the riverbank precinct are set to light up with giant lanterns, delicious food, spellbinding performances and so much more as OzAsia Festival 2024 springs to life with an action-packed program of events from October 24 to November 10.
Family favourite free event Moon Lantern Trail returns to light up Tarntanya Wama/Pinky Flat from tonight until Sunday October 27. Take a selfie with the spectacular new Hong Kong Dragon lantern and marvel at over a dozen more giant lanterns, enjoy roving performances, puppetry, and live music. Visitors can enjoy delectable food offerings and interactive workshops held over the opening weekend. Experience a taste of OzAsia Festival’s full program as ABC Adelaide Nights hosted by Jason Chong welcomes festival artists to talk and perform, including Taylor Sheesh to their outside studio based at Moon Lantern Trail, for one special night only on October 24.
Ticketed shows in the first week include the fearless Taylor Sheesh who brings her Errors Tour to Dunstan Playhouse. Premiering on opening night at Space Theatre, the powerful Scored in Silence unveils the hidden perspectives of deaf survivors of the 1945 atomic bombings in Japan. South Australian hip-hop artist Kultar Ahluwalia will perform the first of two multidisciplinary performances at Nexus Arts of The Mixed-Race Tape which blends hip hop with old recordings, family interviews, and spoken word. Experience the ultimate Japanese pop culture festival when AnimeGo! takes over Adelaide Festival Centre on Sunday October 27.
OzAsia Festival Artistic Director& and Executive Producer Joon-Yee Kwok: “I am so excited that OzAsia Festival 2024 is finally here. Having worked on the program over the past year it is wonderful to now share it with everyone and see it come to life. There are many local, national and international artists and stories to discover and a wide variety of performances and experiences on offer. I invite you all to come together to celebrate community and culture. We can't wait to welcome you to the festival!”
Second week ticketed highlights include drummer Chloe Kim who presents a masterful performance of solo drumkit at Nexus Arts and families can meet Chi and her dragon friend Mizu in the world premiere of the magical coming of age tale The Story of Chi with three performances at Space Theatre. A Passage to Bollywood journeys to Adelaide from India to present the ultimate Bollywood film live on stage, featuring singing, dancing, romance and drama over two spectacular nights at Dunstan Playhouse.
Adelaide Festival Centre CEO & Artistic Director Douglas Gautier AM: “In this the seventeenth year of OzAsia Festival, I congratulate Joon-Yee Kwok and the team for putting together a wonderful program of engaging works and events that showcase contemporary Asian and Asian Australian performances at their finest. I look forward to welcoming everyone to discover and connect with the exceptional OzAsia Festival program over the next three weeks.”
In the third and final week of OzAsia Festival, we host the ultimate destination wedding when Por Por’s Big Fat Surprise Wedding comes to Adelaide Festival Centre for a series of performances from November 6 to 10. Starring Crazy Rich Asians’ Koh Chieng Mun as the spirited, 70-year-old bride Por Por. We have the perfect wedding venue, but will the wedding go smoothly when the groom is a mystery to everyone including Por Por’s family? After an extended sold-out season in Singapore, it’s Adelaide’s turn to revel in all the fun and surprises as we meet Por Por and her hilarious family and friends. Don’t miss this unforgettable theatre performance which includes a gourmet specially curated four-course culinary experience featuring the finest South Australian produce and a glass of sparkling wine on arrival.
Expect plenty of laughs in the final week of OzAsia Festival with festival favourite The Special Comedy Comedy Special at Dunstan Playhouse and Anh Do’s The Happiest Refugee Live! at Festival Theatre on November 7.
Music fans will love award-winning master of the Afghan rabab Qais Essar performing in Adelaide as part of a national tour and electronic musician, singer and cabaret artist Dyan Tai and his live music and performance project Permaisuri at Space Theatre. Plus, Punjabi-Australian vocalist Parvyn from The Bombay Royale will launch her second album Maujuda in an OzAsia Festival exclusive at Nexus Arts on November 8.
The Honourable Andrea Michaels MP, Minister for Arts: “With spring in the air, that means only one thing, OzAsia Festival is back for another fantastic year of festivities. This year, the festival welcomes more than 300 local, national and international artists from 12 countries to Adelaide and promises the very best in contemporary cuisine, arts and culture. I encourage everyone to come out and enjoy the family friendly Moon Lantern Trail, the delicious Lucky Dumpling Market and to visit the theatres and foyers of Adelaide Festival Centre for an amazing line-up of free and ticketed highlights.”
From October 24, OzAsia Festival favourite, Lucky Dumpling Market, returns to Elder Park serving up a delicious range of cuisine accompanied by a stellar line up of free live entertainment on the OzAsia Festival Stage. From K Pop to Hip Hop and cultural performances by community groups, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Check the OzAsia Festival website for the full line up of performers.
On the final weekend, November 8 to 10, celebrate writing, culture and creativity with a series of thought-provoking panels, dynamic discussions and captivating performances at OzAsia Festival’s Weekend of Words. Featuring an extraordinary lineup of novelists, journalists, poets, playwrights, performers and screenwriters from across Australia and Asia and curated by multi-award-winning writer and comedian Sami Shah, visitors are welcome to the theatres and foyers of Dunstan Playhouse to engage, reflect and be inspired. All sessions at OzAsia Festival’s Weekend of Words are free and some sessions require registrations via the OzAsia Festival website.
Throughout OzAsia Festival, visitors can enjoy a vast array of visual art on display at Adelaide Festival Centre and Nexus Arts Gallery. These free exhibitions highlight artists from Asia and Australia include Jessie Hui this year’s OzAsia Festival’s program cover artist with her exhibition Hello, how am I ?. Plus Vivian Ho who in addition to her solo exhibition Wish You Were Here worked with OzAsia Festival in designing the spectacular new Hong Kong Dragon lantern which lights up the path to Moon Lantern Trail for the first four days of the festival. For further information and opening hours for all exhibitions visit ozasiafestival.com.au. Film buffs are catered for too with the best of contemporary Asian cinema showcased at Adelaide Film Festival.
OzAsia Festival 2024 runs from October 24 to November 10.
Media kit with high-resolution imagery can be found here.
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