Overview
For 19 days next January, a giant inflatable labyrinth will take over Darling Harbour's Tumbalong Park— and Sydneysiders can wander through it for free. Featuring towering domes and lengthy corridors, the hefty pop-up comes courtesy of Nottingham's Architects of Air, who are bringing their multi-coloured Dodecalis Luminarium to town for Sydney Festival. Heading our way after a recent visit to Melbourne, as well as an upcoming stop at Mona Foma, it's understandably one of the huge arts event's big highlights.
Unveiling its full lineup for 2020, Sydney Festival boasts plenty more standout shows, performances, installations and gigs on its bill, too. When you're not getting lost in a maze on purpose, you'll be spoiled for choice between Wednesday, January 8 and Sunday, January 26 — especially if you love inventive theatre, memorable music, eye-catching dance and top local and international talent.
Falling into the first category are two of the fest's must-sees: live stage versions of Joan Didion's The White Album and John Cassavetes' Opening Night. One takes the celebrated essayist's powerful 1979 piece of the same name and turns its views on 1960s-era American counter-culture into an experimental performance, complete with audience participation every evening. The other not only stars French acting superstar Isabelle Adjani, but tasks her with starring in a recreation of one of the great movies of the 1970s.
For those keen on treating their ears to Sydney Festival's program, you'll be able to hear masked cowboy Orville Peck croon his soulful country tunes, catch Berlin-based US musician Holly Herndon as she performs live with an AI baby, take actual babies to Regurgitator's kid-friendly show, and both watch and listen to a French opera-ballet. Or, maybe you'd like to lose yourself to dance thanks to Stephanie Lake's Colossus, which'll see 50 bodies move as one in quite the symmetrical performance. Also showcasing fancy footwork, large-scale Canadian work Frontera combines dance with an impressive light component.
Colossus by Mark Gambino
Putting a firm focus on Indigenous Australian stories, creators and artists, the festival's Blak Out program is particularly strong — featuring everything from Opera Australia's new production of Bran Nue Dae to Archie Roach bringing his life story to the stage and a massive tribute performance to Gurrumul Yunupingu with Yolngu dancers, songmen and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. In its world premiere season, Black Ties sees Maori and Aboriginal Australian cultures join forces for a wedding, with the production marking a collaboration between two First Nations theatre companies. And, in the art realm, Kudjala/Gangalu artist Daniel Boyd explores the infinite nature of time via an otherworldly and colourful video installation, while a large-scale piece at Barangaroo Reserve will fly 250 flags to examine Australians' different views on this country of ours.
Elsewhere, Sydney Festival favourites Strut & Fret return with their latest show, which is called Life – The Show; long-demolished dance hall The Rivoli gets an immersive dance tribute; and the outside of Carriageworks will be engulfed in a kaleidoscopic array of colour and light. The UK's Bryony Kimmings will perform her acclaimed musical I'm a Phoenix, Bitch, a Parisian hip hop dance crew will join forces with their Sydney counterparts for a rhythmic display, and festival-goers can eat a candle-lit dinner with mentalist Scott Silven. Plus, as part of family-oriented circus piece Air Play, there'll also be a giant snow globe.
Over at the Sydney Opera House, West End hit Six the musical will reimagine the story of Henry VIII's six wives, pulling inspiration from today's pop queens: Ariana Grande, Beyoncé, Adele and Rihanna. And, as always, opera lovers can head along to a free outdoor performance in The Domain, while classical music fans can hear the SSO unleash their best at a free gig in Parramatta Park. Love watching ferries zoom to Shark Island and back? You can do just that, too, because Ferrython is back as well.
Sydney Festival 2020 runs from January 8–26 at venues across the city. For further details and to buy tickets, visit the Sydney Festival website. Tickets go on sale at 9am on Thursday, October 31.
Top image: Dodecalis Luminarium by Architects of Air, image by Alan Parkinson; Air Play by Florence Montmare.