Sydney Festival: 24 days of art, music, and performance 

By JASMINE SIMMONS

Sydney Festival is now officially open with a city-wide celebration of arts events. Hundreds of talented international and local artists are lined up to perform across 24 action-packed days in over 50 venues. This year’s events are catered to creative and culturally curious audiences and will run from Parramatta to Bondi Beach.

Director of Sydney Festival, Olivia Ansell, stated that the program “revels in the unique talents, cultural precincts and attitudes of our city whilst also delivering some of the world’s brightest stars to Sydney’s doorstep”. Ansell encourages audiences to indulge in the Festival all summer long and take in everything on offer.

To kick off the festival, Lisa Reihana’s Te Wheke-a-Muturangi: The Adversary was launched, literally, into Watermans Cove. The giant, luminous octopus installation will float around Barrangaroo throughout most of January.

One of the many Australian exclusive events of the Festival is the dance work Encantado, showing at the Sydney Opera House. Directed by Rio de Janeiro-based choreographer Lia Rodrigues, the production celebrates nature and our connection to it. Eleven dancers will transform 140 colourful blankets into shape-shifting costumes, taking inspiration from real environmental and spiritual struggles in Brazil. 

Sydney’s new after-hours night district, The Thirsty Mile, will be home to a range of live music and dance shows. Located at the Walsh Bay Arts Precinct, the city’s most beloved DJs, circus acts, drag stars, and cabaret shows will entertain audiences almost every night of the Festival. A pool of Australia’s most loved performers, such as Kween Kong from Drag Race Down Under, comedy cabaret icon Hans, and global drag legend Courtney Act will be making appearances along with other surprise guests. 

Curated nights of eclectic live music, including electronic gigs, rock ‘n’ roll shows, and jazz performances, will cater to all audiences. Stage shows and operas such as Kate Miller Heidke’s new musical hit comedy BANANALAND, an outdoor staging of Il Tabarro, and the baroque music series, Temperament will be showing in the Festival’s various locations. 

Sydney Festival 2024 will ensure that all city locals and international visitors stay busy this summer. 

sydneyfestival.org.au