Olivia Ansell says the 2023 festival,from January 5 to 29,has a distinctly international flavour.Credit:Peter Rae
2023 Sydney Festival Director Olivia Ansell provides her hand-chosen top picks.
Afrique en Cirque (Australian Exclusive),January 6-15
Welcome the new year with the joy ofAfrique en Cirque;an exhilarating Montreal-based circus company from Guinea in West Africa whose traditional music and daring acrobatics will make you feel alive. The pulsating rhythm of the Guinean djembes and energetic choreography make this a fantastic show for families.
Tickets range form $39 - $79. Riverside Theatre,Parramatta.
ROOM (Australian Exclusive),January 11-25
Swiss-born auteur James Thierrée (star of previous Sydney Festival hits Raoul and Tabac Rouge) makes a thrilling return with Compagnie du Hanneton. James’ most ambitious show to date conveys the chaos of everything and nothing that can happen in a room. Co-commissioned by Sydney Festival,this Australian exclusive is a magical collision of dance,mime,music and illusion.
Tickets range $79 - $129. Rosyln Packer Theatre,Walsh Bay.
Free events at Parramatta Park
Greater Sydney is the place to be with some amazing free programming. The belovedSydney Symphony Under the Stars returns,whilst Brenda L. Croft will transform Old Government House with her powerful projected portraitures accompanied by the music of Emma Donovan inDyin Nura (Women’s Place).
Free. Parramatta Park.
Frida Kahlo:The Life of an Icon (Australian Exclusive),January 4-31
A fabulous,expansive and colourful exploration of the life and work of the iconic Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. Fantastic for families,there’s live music,interactive creative play and groundbreaking technologies that will literally transport you into Frida’s world. An immersive exhibition of blockbuster proportions – and it’s exclusive to Sydney!
Tickets range from $35 - $45. The Cutaway,Barangaroo Reserve.
Tracker,January 10-14
A remarkable Wiradjuri work making its world premiere in this year’s Blak Out program.Tracker brings together some of the country’s most outstanding performing talents – Australian Dance Theatre’s Daniel Riley,Ursula Yovich,Jonathan Jones and Rachael Maza,to name a few – to tell the story of Daniel’s Great Great Uncle Alec Riley,a bush tracker with the NSW Police Force in the early 20th century.
Tickets $59. Carriageworks,Eveleigh.