Nine Must-See World Premieres at Sydney Festival 2017

This deeply moving exhibition presents the portraits painted by Myuran Sukumaran — the Australian executed in Indonesia in 2015—during his incarceration in Bali’s Kerobokan jail. The powerful paintings, exhibited for the first time since Sukumaran’s death, explore themes of compassion, forgiveness, and freedom. Curated by Sukumaran’s friend and mentor Ben Quilty, and Michael Dagostino, the exhibit also features works on the death penalty and human rights by leading local artists.

You can see it at Campbelltown Arts Centre from January 13 to 26. Entry is free.

This stirring piece by famed Indonesian choreographer Eko Supriyanto explores the diverse roles women play in the country’s society. With choreography inspired by traditional Indonesian martial arts, and performed by five young female dancers from the remote coastal town of Jailolo, Balabala will pull at your heartstrings and challenge your perceptions.

Balabala will be performed at Carriageworks from January 7-10.

Sixteenth-century polymath Geromalo Cardano was a man of many talents. The inventor of algebra (can you imagine having that on your resume?) was also a renowned philosopher, doctor, astrologer, and gambler. Biographica, a stunning contemporary opera by composer Mary Finsterer and librettist Tom Wright, brings Cardano’s (played by Mitchell Butel) fascinating life soaring vividly into the twenty-first-century.

Visit any museum and it is immediately clear what a central role the human body, especially in nude form, plays in both historical and modern art. Nude Live, a collaboration between the Sydney Dance Company and the Art Gallery of NSW, features dancers responding to the imagery of works from London’s Tate collection. They will be dancing, and they will be naked. Choreographed by the infinitely creative SDC’s Artistic Director, Rafael Bonachela, this intimate journey will leave you feeling inspired by the miracle of the human form.

Nude Live will be on at the Art Gallery of NSW on January 7–10, 15–17, 22 & 23. Performances start at 6pm and 7.30pm. Tickets are standing only, and you have to be at least 16-years-old to get inside (there’s nudity). 

From the perfume that reminds you of a particular person to the scent of freshly-baked cookies that brings you back to your childhood kitchen, our noses play a key role in our most treasured (and not so treasured) recollections. In her innovative installation Scent of Sydney, Cat Jones encourages us to use our olfactory system to gain a new understanding of our city. Exploring themes like democracy and resistance, this immersive piece will give you a fresh perspective on the metropolis we call home.

You can see the installation from January 7 to 29, but it’s closed on Mondays. Talks by Cat Jones are on January 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, and 25. It’s all free to attend. 

This beautiful piece by Aboriginal playwright Nathan Maynard — his first full-length play— will move you to both tears and laughter. Performed by an all-Indigenous cast, the play takes us into the lives of the Duncan family on Dog Island in the Bass Strait.

Set during the six-week muttonbird harvest season, the play deftly explores the enduring themes of family and belonging. The Season will be performed seven times at the Sydney Opera House, taking place from January 10 to 15.

To understand why Brisbane-based, extreme acrobatics circus troupe Circa has gained such a dedicated global following, look no further than their new show Humans. In this world premiere, Circa’s award-winning director Yaron Lifschitz fuses jaw-dropping acrobatics with contemporary dance and theatre in a joyous celebration of what it means to be human. See amazing poses like the one above, as performers explore the physical limits of their bodies and push themselves to the extreme, as they question how much we can take as humans.

Champions, the latest work by critically-acclaimed choreographer Martin del Amo, merges contemporary dance and—get ready for this—soccer. The show features a stellar cast of eleven female contemporary dancers playing out a choreographed soccer match, from warm-up drills to celebratory dances.

Developed in collaboration with the Western Sydney Wanderers Women’s League and featuring fun commentary by Channel Seven sports presenter Mel McLaughlin, this unique show is an exuberant display of athletic prowess and creativity.