2020 ANNUAL REVIEW
Front cover: Aaron McGrath, photo by Richard Hedger Inside front cover, clockwise from left Betty Blokk-Buster Reimagined, photo by Victor Frankowski BLACK TIES, photo by Yaya Stempler Anthem, photo by Victor Frankowski Joan Didion's The White Album, photo by Yaya Stempler The Visitors, photo by Victor Frankowski Dodecalis Luminarium at Darling Harbour, photo by Victor Frankowski Colossus, photo by Yaya Stempler
Buŋgul, photo by Victor Frankowski Procession, photo by Yaya Stempler Crowd at Betty Blokk-Buster Reimagined photo by Victor Frankowski
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CONTENTS A MESSAGE FROM WESLEY ENOCH 7 SNAPSHOT 2020 8 ARTISTIC VISION 10 ACCESS & INCLUSION 32 MARKETING & PUBLICITY 36 PARTNERSHIPS 46 PHILANTHROPY 50 COMMUNITY 54 SUPPORTERS 56 SPECIAL THANKS 58
Dodecalis Luminarium at Darling Harbour, photo by Victor Frankowski
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“ENOCH’S PROGRAMMING FEELS DRIVEN BY A CONVICTION THAT FESTIVALS HAVE THE POWER TO REHEARSE NEW STORIES, RESURRECT LOST CLASSICS, AND RE-IMAGINE THE FUTURE” THE CONVERSATION
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“HERE WERE TENDER MOMENTS OF TOGETHERNESS FOR ALL RACES ON SACRED GADIGAL COUNTRY; A COMMUNAL REFLECTION ON THE EVE OF AUSTRALIA DAY” THE GUARDIAN ON
, PROCESSION AND THE VIGIL Procession, photo by Yaya Stempler
Betty Blokk-Buster Reimagined, photo by Victor Frankowski
All Auras Touch, photo by Yaya Stempler
Frontera, photo by Victor Frankowski
Sydney Symphony Under the Stars, photo by Victor Frankowski
“THIS YEAR'S MASSIVE PROGRAM ISN'T JUST ABOUT ARTS AND CULTURE ... A BUSHFIRE APPEAL FUNDRAISING CONCERT WILL TAKE OVER THE METRO THEATRE... AND IT HAS ONE HELLUVA LINEUP OF LIVE ACTS” CONCRETE PLAYGROUND
ALWAYS at Barangaroo Reserve, photo by Victor Frankowski Bushfire Concert, photo by Amy Bran NueAppeal Dae, photo by Prudence UptonHalpin
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Wesley Enoch photo by Yaya Stempler
Thanks for joining us at #sydfest 2020! This past January we were reminded of the changing world and the role artists play in telling the stories of our surroundings. The national and international attention garnered by the bushfires provided a lens through which we experienced Sydney Festival 2020. The sold out shows with Indigenous artists and content highlighted the acceptance of Indigenous knowledges of land management and connection, whilst projects like Proclamation, Procession and The Vigil shone a light on the debate surrounding our national day. From the intimate to the spectacular, Sydney Festival presented works from Blacktown to Campbelltown, Mosman to Parramatta and all throughout the Sydney CBD. With an array of outdoor parades, indoor magic, amazing installations and so much more, Sydney Festival brought audiences closer to artists, and also to each other. In 2020 Sydney Festival had 44 commissioned works in collaboration with partners from around the world and the nation. The list is huge and includes works across all artforms — Anthem, Betty BlokkBuster Reimagined, Two Crews, POOF! Secrets of a Magician, Double Delicious, ENCOUNTER, The Rivoli, Lady Tabouli, Night parade of one hundred goblins, Steve Kilbey’s Sydney Rococo, and visual art exhibitions like Vernon Ah Kee's The Island, Wansolwara: One Salt Water, Three Views, and Fiona Foley's Who are these strangers and where are they going?
Though some international artists chose not to attend, the overwhelming majority showed their support and helped bring the community together. From plays of big ideas like Joan Didion’s The White Album, Forget Me Not, I’m A Phoenix, Bitch!, Frontera, Romances inciertos, un autre Orlando through to the joys of Tenebrae, Triple Threat, Air Play and Dodecalis Luminarium, each visiting company expressed their sense of purpose and honour to be performing for Sydneysiders and in Australia. The Blak Out program showcased First Nations talents with works like BLACK TIES, The Visitors, Bu ŋgul, Black Drop Effect, Tell Me Why and Black Cockatoo (all world premieres) which were amongst the highest attended events in the program whilst 209,000 people tuned in on Facebook Live to see The Procession and The Vigil. The UTS Big Thinking forums were insightful and exciting, and did so much to position us in the centre of crucial cultural debates.
who turn up in their hundreds of thousands to partake in Sydney Festival – thank you. We couldn’t do this without the ongoing generous support and investment of our government partners – Create NSW, Destination NSW, Infrastructure NSW, City of Sydney and City of Parramatta, and a huge range of venue partners including Sydney Opera House, Carriageworks, Campbelltown Arts Centre, Bankstown Arts Centre, Sydney Town Hall, Hyde Park, and many, many more. Together with our Major Partner China Southern Airlines and our corporate partners and private donors, our supporters allow us to share the Festival with a broad range of people across the city. A huge thank you. We are thinking about the future and we will see you in 2021 for my final Sydney Festival. Love
We were heartened by the generosity of the Sydney Festival artists, workers, supporters and audiences who helped raise over $112,000 towards bushfire relief. From our amazingly dedicated volunteers who give their time and energy, to the many expert staff whose skills help realise one of the most complex cultural undertakings in the country, through to the 1,204 artists from around the world who share their artistry and vision with us, and of course the people of Sydney and our visitors SYDNEY FESTIVAL 2020 ANNUAL REVIEW
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111,169
145,102 1,058
TOTAL FREE 257,329
TOTAL ATTENDANCE
394,818 21%
30%
37%
27% LOCAL GOVERNMENT & OTHER INVESTMENT
STATE GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT
CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS & PHILANTHROPY
EVENTS
11%
8%
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
TOTAL TICKETED ATTENDANCE
109
CONTRA EXPENSES
INSTALLATIONS & VISUAL ARTS OUTDOOR CONCERTS & SPECIAL EVENTS TALKS & WORKSHOPS
OPERATING OPERATING COSTS COSTS INCLUDING STAFF INCLUDING STAFF
FREE EVENTS
INCLUDING BOX OFFICE, CATERING, VENUE HIRE & OTHER
FESTIVAL ATTENDANCE
OPERATING INCOME
DAYS
PROGRAMMING PROGRAMMING
19
52 VENUES
TURNOVER $18.1M REVENUE 15%
EXPENDITURE
51 %
137,489
PERFORMANCES
10% R
27
FREE EVENTS
3%
SEAS OVER E AT ST ER INT
4%
SNAPSHOT 2020
458
EG TE NISNWTEIORNSATLA
6%
NAL % 8 REGIO W NS
OR VISIT IN VISITOR ORIG ORIGIN
EY SYDNEY SYDN 8%
83%7
% EAS 8 OVERS
ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME UNDER $20,000
4%
$20,001–$40,000
3%
$40,001–$60,000
5%
$60,001–$80,000
5%
$80,001–$100,000 $100,001–$125,000
AGE BRACKET 15–17
11%
31%
35–44
13%
$150,001–$175,000
12%
MORE THAN $250,000
22%
25–34
12%
$200,001–$250,000
20%
18–24
$125,001–$150,000
$175,001–$200,000
2%
11% 10%
17%
45–54 55–64 65 +
5% 3%
14%
SYDNEY FESTIVAL 2020 ANNUAL REVIEW
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WE PRESENT BOLD AND MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES THAT EXCITE AND UNITE SYDNEY IN JANUARY
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SYDNEY FESTIVAL CO-COMMISSIONED WORKS
AUSTRALIAN EXCLUSIVES
AUSTRALIAN PREMIERES
1,204 ARTISTS FROM
10 COUNTRIES
167
AUSTRALIAN ARTISTS
INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS
AOTEAROA/ NEW ZEALAND, AUSTRALIA, AUTONOMOUS REGION OF BOUGAINVILLE, CANADA, FRANCE, INDONESIA, IRELAND, SINGAPORE, UK, USA
DANCE CIRCUS
1,037
FREE EVENTS
VISUAL ARTS
Copyright © Free Vector Maps.com
INSTALLATIONS
THEATRE MUSIC
TALKS & WORKSHOPS PHYSICAL THEATRE MAGIC CABARET OPERA & CLASSICAL 10
DODECALIS LUMINARIUM TEAM
“HOLLY’S SHOW WAS SO MAGICAL! THE BAND HAD A REALLY GREAT EXPERIENCE” HOLLY HERNDON'S TEAM
“BRINGING COLOSSUS TO SYDNEY FESTIVAL HAS BEEN ONE OF THE GREAT HIGHS OF OUR COMPANY’S LIFE. IT WAS AN EXHILARATING AND DEEPLY MOVING EXPERIENCE FOR ALL INVOLVED… WE WERE THRILLED TO SHARE IT WITH SUCH BIG AUDIENCES AMONGST A BRILLIANT PROGRAM” STEPHANIE LAKE, COLOSSUS
ARTISTIC VISION
“SYDNEY FESTIVAL WAS ONE OF THE BEST FESTIVAL EXPERIENCES… WE THOROUGHLY ENJOYED WORKING WITH YOUR FESTIVAL TEAM [AND] APPRECIATED THE CONSIDERATION AND CARE PROVIDED WITH REGARDS TO CLEANING THE STRUCTURE IN THESE CRAZY WEATHER CONDITIONS”
“CONGRATULATIONS ON A BRILLIANT FESTIVAL! IT WAS SUCH A STELLAR LINE-UP AND BEAUTIFULLY MANAGED… (ALL IN A YEAR WITH THE HUGE ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES OF THE FIRES… AND RAIN)" ART GALLERY OF NSW, NIGHT PARADE OF ONE HUNDRED GOBLINS
“EVERYONE REALLY APPRECIATES BEING CARED FOR, AND I ALWAYS THINK THIS CARRIES THROUGH TO WHAT THE AUDIENCE EXPERIENCE DURING THE SHOW” ANTHEM TEAM
“WE’VE FELT SO VERY SUPPORTED BY THE FESTIVAL DURING OUR TIME HERE. COULDN’T BE HAPPIER WITH THE SEASON" LASER BEAK MAN TEAM
SYDNEY FESTIVAL 2020 ANNUAL REVIEW
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2020 PROGRAM
Photo by Victor Frankowski
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“IMPRESSIVE IN ITS ABILITY TO BALANCE SERIOUS WITH SILLY, FOR AN EXPERIENCE THAT IS AT ONCE POIGNANT AND HILARIOUS” SUZY GOES SEE
BLACK TIES, photo by Yaya Stempler
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“IT’S RARE TO SEE THESE KINDS OF CONVERSATIONS ONSTAGE, AND RARER STILL FOR A THEATRE PIECE TO DEFINE ITS INDIGENOUS CHARACTERS IN RELATION TO OTHER FIRST NATIONS PEOPLES, RATHER THAN IN CONTRAST WITH THEIR COLONISERS” LIMELIGHT
SYDNEY FESTIVAL 2020 ANNUAL REVIEW
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“WESLEY ENOCH... IS PUTTING SIGNIFICANT RUNS ON THE BOARD WITH HIS PROGRAM OF INDIGENOUS STORIES, PERFORMERS AND CEREMONIES” THE AUSTRALIAN
PROCESSION The 2020 Festival saw the creation of a powerful addition to the national discussion around 26 January – the Procession, a cleansing ceremony, song and dance led by Aboriginal Elders through the streets of Sydney. A positive walking experience of reflection, Procession brought together hundreds from Indigenous Australian and Torres Strait Islander communities to celebrate culture in the main street of Sydney, as well as thousands of general public, who accompanied Procession on its way to Barangaroo Reserve for The Vigil. Over 209,000 people from across Australia and the world (including the UK, Switzerland, Singapore, Germany and Nepal) tuned in to NITV’s live stream of Procession and The Vigil. The Facebook live stream has continued to collect viewers and appreciative comments since 25 January.. “If Sydney is ‘ground zero’ – the starting point of the colonial project – then Sydney and its landscape can act as a prototype of what we can do into the future,” Festival Director Wesley Enoch AM told NITV at Procession. “Talking to people from this mob here, talking to this landscape and the history of that harbour to say ‘what can we do at Sydney Festival to help bring those stories up to help the whole country go through a truth-telling and a healing process’.” 16
Procession, photo by Yaya Stempler
ARTISTIC VISION
THE VIGIL
AT BARANGAROO RESERVE In 2020 The Vigil cemented its place as an annual 25 January tradition – an overnight opportunity to gather together in reflection on the eve of Australia Day and consider all of the narratives that make up our national identity, from Australia’s Indigenous heritage to its colonial institutions and contemporary multicultural migration. Thousands came together at Barangaroo Reserve from dusk right through until dawn, enjoying dance, poetry and live music performances from artists such as Dan Sultan and guests, and experiencing the resilience, beauty and joy of First Nations cultures. The Vigil, photo by Yaya Stempler
Proclamation, photo by Yaya Stempler
PROCLAMATION What does it mean to plant a flag in the ground? 250 years ago Cook planted a British flag on this land and claimed ownership over it. In 2020, the large-scale outdoor art installation Proclamation at Barangaroo Reserve flew 250 flags designed by a broad range of Australians, exploring our diverse ideas about land and country, belonging and possession. On the eve of Australia Day, as thousands came into Barangaroo Reserve for an overnight gathering The Vigil, the flagpoles were switched to fly 250 Australian Aboriginal flags – a striking and beautiful visual statement.
Proclamation, photo by Victor Frankowski
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Triple Threat, photo by Yaya Stempler
Romances Inciertos, un autre Orlando, photo by Jose Caldiera
“THE SYNCHRONICITY OF THIS COLLABORATIVE PIECE IS REMARKABLE. ... A VISUAL SPECTACLE, A ROCK MUSIC ENGAGEMENT AND A DANCE FEAST” BROADWAY WORLD
Frontera, photo by Victor Frankowski
“DARK, DARING AND DEFIANT THEATRE” THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
Tenebrae, photo by Yaya Stempler
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I'm A Phoenix, Bitch!, photo by Victor Frankowski
STAGE NOISE
ARTISTIC VISION
“FESTIVALS ARE WHERE WE LOOK FOR THE RARE, THE UNLIKELY AND THE UNORTHODOX”
YOUR WINDOW TO THE WORLD The 2020 Festival brought a host of boundary-pushing, mind-blowing and crowd-pleasing artists to Australian shores. Performance artist Bryony Kimmings tore open audiences’ hearts at the Sydney Opera House with the stunning I’m A Phoenix, Bitch, a clever and devastating revisiting of the worst year of her life. Art and performance lab Early Morning Opera, director Lars Jan, and actor Mia Barron brought Joan Didion’s perfect prose to the Roslyn Packer Theatre with a staging of Joan Didion’s The White Album. The piece featured spectacular set design, a volunteer cast of 18 to 25-year-olds, and a nightly post-show dialogue between the performers and audience which uncovered the generational similarities and the challenges facing social cohesion in both the 1960s and 2020s. Avant-garde Canadian choreographer Dana Gingras brought her dystopian dance work Frontera to Carriageworks – a collaboration with art collective United Visual Artists and Montreal post-rock icons Fly Pan Am. And Fringe star Lucy McCormick gifted Carriageworks audiences some unforgettable tableaus with her extremely bawdy and blasphemous retelling of the New Testament, Triple Threat. Canadian marionette master Ronnie Burkett returned to the Festival with his spellbinding new work Forget Me Not, and choreographer-dancer-singer François Chaignaud impressed audiences with his blend of Baroque music, Spanish folktales, dance and gender-play, in Romances inciertos, un autre Orlando. Once again, international musicians premiered on Sydney Festival stages in the Spiegeltent and at City Recital Hall: choralelectronica composer and AI experimenter Holly Herndon; the spinetingling tenor of First Nations Canadian musician Jeremy Dutcher; Singaporean group SAtheCollective and their blend of Chinese traditional music and contemporary electronica; and zeitgeist-riding cowboy Orville Peck, who packed the house for two hoedowns in the Spiegeltent. Joan Didion's The White Album, photo by Yaya Stempler
SYDNEY FESTIVAL 2020 ANNUAL REVIEW
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AUSTRALIA’S BIGGEST COMMISSIONER OF NEW WORK In 2020, Sydney Festival was proud to be the single largest commissioner of new work in the country, assisting Australian artists to step up onto the world stage with confidence and reflect, to the whole country, a vision for the future. Sydney Festival commissions included the world premiere of rom-com theatre smash hit BLACK TIES, a hilarious wedding farce with a deft political punch from First Nations theatre companies ILBIJERRI Theatre Company (Australia) and Te Re-hia Theatre, (Aotearoa/New Zealand).
Buŋgul at the Sydney Opera House was a transcendent, moving celebration of Yolŋgu songlines and Gurrumul Yunupiŋu’s music, featuring Yolŋgu dancers, songmen and the spectacular Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Betty Blokk-Buster Reimagined revivified Reg Livermore’s ground-breaking, taboo-busting 1975 cabaret hit with a 21st century update. Powered by an electric performance from star Josh Quong Tart, the show was praised by reviewers who hailed Quong Tart as “more rock star than cabaret artist” (The Australian) and “simply extraordinary… even his sweat is charismatic” (The Sydney Morning Herald).
Bu ŋgul, photo by Victor Frankowski
Anthem reunited the five canonical Australian playwrights behind 1990's masterwork Who’s Afraid of the Working Class? to take the pulse of Australian society in 2020 and ask whether we truly do 'sing with one voice' (spoiler alert: we don’t). Critics adored the work – The Guardian described it as “tough, funny theatre with an urgency to its purpose and no comfortable answers”. Audiences raved, praising Anthem as “one of the most enjoyable and thought-provoking things I’ve seen in the last few years” and “incredible – one of the best things I’ve seen in a long time.” Acclaimed artist Justene Williams brought visually spectacular performance art designed for access and inclusivity to Campbelltown Arts Centre with psychedelic journey She Conjured the Clouds. And Nick Power’s brand-new collaboration Two Crews brought together two leading hip hop dance crews – all-female Parisian act Lady Rocks and Sydney group Riddim Nation – for an exhilarating dance battle and immersion in global hip hop culture (awarded four stars by The Sydney Morning Herald ). She Conjured the Clouds, photo by Rafaela Pandolfini
“ANTHEM IS SPELLBINDING AND UNMISSABLE. IT’S HONEST, NOT POLITE, IT’S RAW AND IT’S FUNNY TOO WHEN NOT GRABBING YOUR HEART AND SQUEEZING HARD” STAGE NOISE
Anthem, photo by Victor Frankowski
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REVIEWSBYJUDITH
ARTISTIC VISION
“A BANQUET OF WIT, SATIRE, MUSIC AND SEX ON A STICK”
Betty Blokk-Buster Reimagined, photo by Victor Frankowski
BLACK TIES, photo by Yaya Stempler
Two Crews, photo by Victor Frankowski
SYDNEY FESTIVAL 2020 ANNUAL REVIEW
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“AS INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS FLY INTO OUR COUNTRY THROUGH THE GREAT PALL OF SMOKE... AN URGENT CALL TO LISTEN TO FIRST NATIONS AND TO EACH OTHER IN THIS TIME OF CRISIS” THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
Jeremy Dutcher, photo by Victor Frankowski
Bran Nue Dae, photo by Prudence Upton
Archie Roach, photo by Yaya Stempler Beyond 2020: My Australian Dream, photo by Yaya Stempler
Black Cockatoo, photo by Prudence Upton
“GILDED WITH STARS AND FILLED WITH ROACH'S ENORMOUS HEART” THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
Archie Roach, photo by Yaya Stempler
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ARTISTIC VISION
“SYDNEY FESTIVAL HAS REALLY OUTDONE THEMSELVES THIS SEASON WITH A SPECTACULAR LINE-UP OF INDIGENOUS SHOWS TO CHOOSE FROM, INCLUDING THE VISITORS” THE CONVERSATION The Visitors, photo by Victor Frankowski
2020 VISION: FIRST NATIONS STORIES First Nations voices and storytelling were the highlight of the 2020 program, with many of the Festival’s biggest critical and commercial successes included theatre performances BLACK TIES from ILBIJERRI Theatre Company and Te Re-hia Theatre, Opera Australia’s musical revival Bran Nue Dae, Nardi Simpson’s Black Drop Effect, Black Cockatoo directed by Wesley Enoch AM, Jane Harrison’s The Visitors, powerful Gurrumul Yunupiŋu tribute Buŋgul and Archie Roach’s career-spanning concert Tell Me Why. Fiona Foley: Who are these strangers and where are they going?, photo by Peter Morgan
First Nations Canadian musician Jeremy Dutcher revivified the music of his ancestors with a standing ovation performance at City Recital Hall and sold-out Salon Series show at the Harry and Penelope Seidler House, while didgeridoo maestro and composer William Barton packed the Sydney Town Hall Vestibule alongside ‘Dreamtime Opera Diva’ Auntie Delmae Barton and top violinist Veronique Serret. The Festival also showcased a wealth of First Nations visual art, from world-first career surveys and new work debuts by Fiona Foley, Vernon Ah Kee and Taloi Havini to Three Views’ subversion of colonial coastal defence bunkers, Reko Rennie’s monumental tribute to Indigenous sovereignty REMEMBER ME and Daniel Boyd’s stunning, 360-degree video projections VIDEO WORKS at Carriageworks, Indonesian artist Jumaadi’s exhibition and shadow play performance, and Pacific-spanning contemporary and traditional art exhibition Wansolwara.
Daniel Boyd: VIDEO WORKS, photo by Yaya Stempler
On the 250th anniversary of Cook’s landing, sovereignty and new concepts of nationalism were top of the agenda, with Sydney Festival leading the cultural conversation through Procession, The Vigil and Proclamation. To complement these works, the Festival also programmed Beyond 2020: My Australian Dream (presented in partnership with UTS), a panel discussion and oration by Professor Tom Calma AO, a screening of the Adam Goodes documentary My Australian Dream, and a series of storytelling and language events at the State Library of NSW. The Future is Floating and three UTS Big Thinking Forums examining new, inclusive ways to conceptualise Australian national identity, First Nations leadership in arts and culture, and what defines a project as First Nations, further allowed these concepts to be explored. SYDNEY FESTIVAL 2020 ANNUAL REVIEW
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INTIMATE EXPERIENCES WITH ARTISTS A key theme of the 2020 Festival was bringing artists and audiences closer together, with a series of small capacity, intimate events spanning music, theatre and experimental performance. The Salon Series returned with stand-out performances in the marble elegance of Sydney Town Hall's Vestibule, a beautiful dusk performance by Ensemble Offspring at Manly’s Quarantine Station, pianist Bernadette Harvey performing inside the Cornelia Parker installation War Room, neo-operatic tenor Jeremy Dutcher filling the Harry and Penelope Seidler House, and Nashville guitarist William Tyler playing three shows at the Seidler Penthouse. TRUTHMACHINE put audience’s honesty to the test with a cheeky and fun polygraph experiment at Carriageworks, while Hanna Cormick risked (and experienced) medical emergencies to perform her deeply affecting work The Mermaid. Ronnie Burkett’s fantastical love story Forget Me Not had the whole audience involved as puppeteers, mentalist Scott Silven blew minds over a three-course dinner with hit At The Illusionist’s Table, and audience-favourite Double Delicious saw five stellar storytellers and cooks share tales and tastes of their most treasured family recipes. The Mermaid, photo by Daniel Boud
At The the Illusionist's Illusionist's Table, Table, photo photo by by Yaya Yaya Stempler Stempler
Double Delicious, photo by Victor Frankowski
“DEEPLY MOVING AND GENTLY PROVOCATIVE” TIME OUT
Salon Series: Ode Piano Sonata, photo by Victor Frankowski
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ARTISTIC VISION
Orville Peck, photo by Yaya Stempler
Life – The Show, photo by Yaya Stempler
BIG NIGHTS OUT In the midst of an unfolding climate emergency, Sydney Festival also delivered audiences plenty of opportunities for revelry and escape, from clowning and cabaret spectacular LIFE – The Show and the simply astounding satire of Betty Blokk-Buster Reimagined in the Magic Mirrors Spiegeltent to the high-energy, 110 beats-per-minute big band vibes of 15-piece Colombian and Australian band Cumbiamuffin.
“EXTREMELY FUNNY, EXTREMELY CHARMING, EXTREMELY CLEVER”
Comedian and magician James Galea had audiences in hysterics at the Opera House with POOF! Secrets of a Magician; beloved musical revival Bran Nue Dae had critics proclaiming it “soulful”, “spritzy” and “vibrant”; thousands turned out at The Crescent in Parramatta Park – despite the threat of heavy rain – for the free outdoor concert Sydney Symphony Under the Stars.
THEATRE NOW
Poof! Secrets of a Magician, photo by Victor Frankowski
SYDNEY FESTIVAL 2020 ANNUAL REVIEW
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★★★★★ “UTTERLY STAGGERING IN ITS SCOPE
AND INVENTIVENESS… USING LITTLE MORE THAN 50 BODIES” TIME OUT
Colossus, photo by Yaya Stempler
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ARTISTIC VISION
“COLOSSUS: A PRODUCTION OF POWER AND PRECISION” THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
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FREE AND FAMILY Audience members with tiny humans to entertain had plenty to choose from in 2020, from big free outdoor activities like Sydney Symphony Under the Stars and joyful, site-specific music and dance work ENCOUNTER in Parramatta, to Ferrython on Sydney Harbour and the radiantly-lit inflatable labyrinth Dodecalis Luminarium at Darling Harbour – a huge hit with both kids and adults, as Instagram flooded with snaps from inside its brightly coloured domes. New York based clown duo Seth Bloom and Christina Gelsone brought their majestic gravity-defying show Air Play to Ros Packer Theatre, while Dead Puppet Society’s technical brilliance and eye-popping visuals brought to life award-winning artist Tim Sharp’s cult classic character Laser Beak Man. Australia’s legendary youth circus company The Flying Fruit Fly Circus celebrated its 40th anniversary with acrobatic spectacular Time Flies, and Regurgitator’s very fun and very silly POGOGO SHOW rocked the Magic Mirrors Spiegeltent. The MCA hosted a special edition of its Contemporary Kids program in collaboration with Fambo: a queer festival for all kinds of families, featuring a week of workshops for kids lead by top Sydney queer artists, including a voguing workshop by Sissy Ball founder Bhenji Ra. And internationally acclaimed artist Justene Williams premiered her first theatre work at Sydney Festival, She Conjured the Clouds, a glowing, vibrating, technicolour journey of the senses for both kids and adults.
Contemporary Kids x Fambo
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Dodecalis Luminarium at Darling Harbour, photo by Yaya Stempler
Sydney Symphony Under the Stars in Parramatta Park, photo by Victor Frankowski
ARTISTIC VISION
“A WONDERFUL PRODUCTION, FULL OF CREATIVE ACHIEVEMENT, PURE JOY AND LOVE” THEATRE TRAVELS
Laser Beak Man, photo by Victor Frankowski
Ferrython, photo by Victor Frankowski
Air Play, photo by Yaya Stempler
“VISUALLY STUNNING AND FULL OF WARMTH, JOY AND DELIGHT” SYDNEY ARTS GUIDE
SYDNEY FESTIVAL 2020 ANNUAL REVIEW
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WESTERN SYDNEY Bringing the very best of Sydney Festival to Parramatta, Bankstown and Campbelltown, Sydney Festival’s 2020 program for Western Sydney featured five world premieres. These included Nardi Simpson’s (Stiff Gins) sold-out play Black Drop Effect at Bankstown Arts Centre and acclaimed visual artist Justene Williams’ psychedelic theatre show for children and adults She Conjured the Clouds at Campbelltown Arts Centre. The debut of Opera Australia’s highlyanticipated revival of Bran Nue Dae starring the iconic Ernie Dingo also brought the crowds to Parramatta, and Festival favourite Sydney Symphony Under the Stars made a return to The Crescent in Parramatta Park despite the threat of heavy rain – with thousands contributing to donation buckets for WIRES and the Australian Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund.
Bran Nue Dae, photo by Prudence Upton
“A LEADING CONTENDER FOR THE COUNTRY’S GREAT MUSICAL” THE GUARDIAN
At Parramatta’s Prince Alfred Square, 16 young dancers from FORM Dance Projects and 48 musicians from the Western Sydney Youth Orchestra delivered three free performances of ENCOUNTER, a joyful, site-specific work celebrating the extraordinariness of growing up in Western Sydney and regional Australia. Riverside Theatres hosted the world premiere of award-winning director Dino Dimitriadis’s take on the James Elazzi-penned Lady Tabouli, a searing examination of culture clash and the weight of familial expectations. And Granville Town Hall hosted Dance Makers Collective’s The Rivoli, bringing to life the diverse stories of people who danced, socialised and loved at Parramatta’s Rivoli Dance Palace from the 1930s to 1960s, intertwined with the stories of people who gather in Parramatta to dance today. S. Shakthidharan – writer of 2019 Sydney Festival hit and multi-Helpmann Award-winner Counting and Cracking – gave a showing of new work-in-progress 宿 (stay), a theatrical collaboration with Singaporean performing arts company SAtheCollective. SAtheCollective also premiered their experimental new album, melding traditional Chinese instruments with contemporary electronics and new, forward-thinking compositions.
Black Drop Effect, photo by Christopher Woe
“DIRECTOR DINO DIMITRIADIS MAKES THIS FLY-ON-THE-WALL DRAMA FEEL DANGEROUS, FREQUENTLY VERY FUNNY, HEART-WRENCHING AND SOMETIMES UNCOMFORTABLY REAL.” TIME OUT
Lady Tabouli, photo by Robert Catto
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ARTISTIC VISION
Dan Sultan, photo by Amy Halpin
Neptune Power Federation, photo by Amy Halpin
Art vs Science, photo by Amy Halpin
BUSHFIRE APPEAL CONCERT & FUNDRAISING Sydney Festival focused its donation efforts in 2020 on raising funds for Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Appeal, WIRES (NSW Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service) and the Rural Fire Service, helping bushfire affected communities across Australia. Donation buckets and ‘tap points’ at Sydney Festival events – and the sold-out Bushfire Appeal Concert at the Metro Theatre featuring Dan Sultan, Polish Club, Custard, Art vs. Science, Regurgitator and Neptune Power Federation – all helped to raise a total of $112,868 for the Red Cross, WIRES and Rural Fire Service. Bushfire Relief Concert, photo by Amy Halpin
SYDNEY FESTIVAL 2020 ANNUAL REVIEW
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DISABILITY ACCESS Sydney Festival Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP) supports the Festival’s commitment to welcome everyone in Sydney, regardless of accessibility needs, and provides the organisation with strategic direction in addressing accessibility issues. In 2020, the disability programming initiative also brought to the Festival two high-acclaimed performances created by artists with disability. The Aspie Hour, an utterly charming tribute to the heart-warming power of musical theatre, was written and performed by Sophie Smyth and Ryan Smedley, theatre makers with Asperger’s Syndrome. The second production was The Mermaid by artist Hanna Cormick, who risked seizures caused by a cluster of rare genetic disorders, to evoke a powerful metaphor of her own body’s fragility and humanity’s place in our collapsing ecosystem. Sydney Festival 2020 offered Auslan interpreted and captioned performances, audio described performances and tactile tours, and relaxed performances. The program brochure was produced in a wide variety of formats including braille, audio CD and MP3, and event programs were available in both PDF and Word large format. The website included an ‘access’ filter, and videos were created in Auslan in Auslan to ensure people who are Deaf could find information in their own language.
The Aspie Hour, photo by Yaya Stempler
Advice from people with lived experience of disability, via the Access and Inclusion Advisory Panel, continued to enable the Festival to enhance inclusion and reduce barriers to access.
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WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE VENUES
CAPTIONED PERFORMANCES
TACTILE TOURS
AUSLAN INTERPRETED PERFORMANCES The Mermaid, photo by Daniel Boud
PERFORMANCES WITH AUDIO DESCRIPTION
6
RELAXED PERFORMANCES
RELAXED PERFORMANCES Auslan interpreted performance of Anthem, photo by Daniel Boud
32
1,150 UNDER 30S TICKETS SOLD
2,320
TIX FOR NEXT TO NIX TICKETS SOLD AT $26
574
ARTS CARD TICKETS SOLD
14
DISCOUNTED TICKET OFFERS
ENCOUNTER, photo by Victor Frankowski
257,329
ATTENDANCE AT FREE EVENTS
Procession and Proclamation, photo by Yaya Stempler
ACCESS & INCLUSION
27
FREE EVENTS
ACCESSIBLE PRICING A number of pricing initiatives were again implemented in 2020 to make Sydney Festival accessible to all. Along with free performances, workshops and experiences, our Tix for Next to Nix program went digital in collaboration with TodayTix. This partnership allowed audiences to purchase last minute $26 tickets to shows on the day from their phone (without the need to queue in person). To develop younger audiences, the Under 30s pricing program was implemented across 17 of our shows, and the Festival again partnered with Playwave to encourage young people to engage with the arts. The Festival also offered discounted tickets to the arts sector through Arts Pass – a program which continues to grow in participation each year. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities were also able to access discounted tickets to First Nations work such as BLACK TIES and Black Drop Effect. SYDNEY FESTIVAL 2020 ANNUAL REVIEW
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Bronze Lands, photo by Yaya Stempler
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“WHEN THE ORGAN SANG, SO DID OUR WHOLE BODIES.” THEATRE REVIEW
35
MARKETING Sydney Festival’s 2020 marketing campaign kicked off in October 2019 and ran through to February 2020, with an updated visual identity in the Festival’s primary colours and featuring the ‘Faces of Sydney Festival’ – working with artists such as Patricia Cornelius, to Festival volunteers and fans – the ‘faces’ posed in overlay to symbolise the varying emotions a Festival show can evoke, from joy to shock and beyond. From flags across the city and poster campaigns, to outdoor billboards and digital screens, Sydney was painted red, blue and gold and a successful and inescapable campaign across digital, TV, print, outdoor and cinemas. This campaign was nationally focused, with key inclusions in targeted international markets. The Festival’s media partners across print, outdoor, broadcast and digital helped to deliver an impactful campaign with exceptional results. Special thanks to Signwave Newtown, The Sydney Morning Herald, NITV, TorchMedia, Time Out, Concrete Playground, Limelight Magazine, AKA, Adflow, Zomato, 2RPH and 2ser 107.3.
JCDECAUX
Parramatta Road - Sydney
OUTDOOR
36
nography:
★★
17%
PRESS
SOCIAL DIGITAL
18%
15%18%
DIGITAL
25%
SOCIAL PUBLISHERS MEDIA
8% 63% 3% 1%
PROGRAMMATIC
PROGRAMMATIC
11%
SOCIAL MEDIA
OUTDOOR
TV
25%
6%
EMAIL SEARCH
5%
3%
SEARCH
PROGROMMATIC
CINEMA
PIECES OF COLLATERAL DISTRIBUTED
236,000
10,000 COASTERS
136,000
49,500
33,000
MINI GUIDES
FESTIVAL BROCHURES
2,500
EVENT PROGRAMS
POSTCARDS & FLYERS
5,000
WESTERN SYDNEY BROCHURES
CINEMAS
PEER TO PEER
DIRECT MAIL
FESTIVAL VENUES
UNIVERSITIES
DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS
SHOPS
ANTHEM
ROSLYN PACKER THEATRE WALSH BAY 15–19 JANUARY FROM $50 + BOOKING FEE
Gam
HOTELS
NINO LAISNÉ AND FRANÇOIS CHAIGNAUD | FRANCE AUSTRALIAN EXCLUSIVE
★★★★
"TOUGH, FUNNY THEATRE WITH AN URGENCY TO ITS PURPOSE AND NO COMFORTABLE ANSWERS" THE AGE
Dancer-singer François Chaignaud stars in a joyous cocktail of Baroque music, flamenco and gender play. DANCE
WORLD PREMIERE SEASON
CARRIAGEWORKS 21–26 JANUARY FROM $60 + BOOKING
FEE
MUSIC
CANADA
Hera and Kane are getting married and you’re invited to the party – but so are their chaotic relatives.
Canadian First Nations tenor Jeremy Dutcher delivers soaring, contemporary arias and pop-operatic ballads in Wolastoqey language.
er rd Hedg
8–26 JAN
HIGHLIGHTS
CAFES RESTAURANTS
!4
Richa Photo:
CITY RECITAL HALL 17 JANUARY FROM $40 + BOOKING FEE
Aaron
THEATRE
SUPERMARKETS
& W ESTE RN S YDN EY
JEREMY DUTCHER
ILBIJERRI THEATRE COMPANY TE RĒHIA THEATRE | AUSTRALIAND A AND AOTEAROA/NEW ZEALAND
FEE
LIBRARIES LIBRARIES
COMMUTER HUBS
UN AUTRE ORLANDO
BLACK TIES
SYDNEY TOWN HALL 10–18 JANUARY FROM $60 + BOOKING
bino
ROMANCES INCIERTOS,
THEATRE
os: Mark
ARTS CENTRE MELBOUR NE AND PERFORMING LINES | AUSTRALI A WORLD PREMIERE SEASON
Five of Australia’s finest playwrights reunite to ask if Australia really does sing with one voice.
COL OSSU S
STEP HANI E LA KE CO MPAN Y | AU STRA LIA
Model:
NCE
33 MILLION
DIGITAL
PAR RAM ATT A
FEE
DIGITAL CAMPAIGN IMPRESSIONS
Phot
her Dana s push and
MARKETING
MALS OF
MEDIA INVESTMENT BY CHANNEL
8–2
6 JA
N
SYDNEY FESTIVAL 2020 ANNUAL REVIEW
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WEBSITE Testing was conducted on the 2019 Sydney Festival website to improve usability and functionality. Updates were implemented on the 2020 website to streamline information on the homepage, improve discoverability using filters on the Explore page, introduce structured data for SEO and optimise the ticket purchase journey in the checkout cart. TOP 5 WEBSITE USERS WORLDWIDE
WEBSITE ACCESS
1% UK
34%
636K
0.3% SOUTH KOREA
4%
VISITS TO THE WEBSITE
89%
USA
AUSTRALIA
58%
8%
5.2% OTHER
0.5%
AOETEAROA/ NEW ZEALAND VIA MOBILE
38
VIA TABLET
VIA DESKTOP
MARKETING
EMAIL ENGAGEMENT
91k
PRE-SHOW REMINDERS
79
ENEWS SUBSCRIBERS
PRE-SHOW REMINDERS SENT
20.7%
ENEWS OPEN RATE
66.3%
61.1%
CLICK TO OPEN RATE
OPEN RATE
7.4%
CLICK TO OPEN RATE
SYDNEY FESTIVAL SOCIAL MEDIA
146,000
159,800
47,300
1,399,898
111
73
DURING JANUARY 2020
AVERAGE IN JANUARY 2019
98,111
FACEBOOK FANS
TOTAL REACH
TWITTER FOLLOWERS
INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS STORIES
ENGAGEMENTS PER DAY
VIEWS (STORIES)
PAID SOCIAL DEMOGRAPHICS PAID SOCIAL RESULTS
AGE
GENDER
2% NOT DISCLOSED
63
CAMPAIGNS
31%
52% FEMALE
46% MALE
25%
14.7M
18%
IMPRESSIONS
12%
8%
18–24 25–34 35–44 45–54 55–64
6%
10%
INCREASE IN ROAS YEAR-ON-YEAR
65+ SYDNEY FESTIVAL 2020 ANNUAL REVIEW
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SYDNEY FESTIVAL SOCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
AUDIENCE TWEETS
Black Ties at the @sydney_festival was one of AT THE exceptionally structured and theILLUSIONIST’S most enriching,TABLE: heartwarming, and well hilarious flawlessly performed; both surprising and inevitable show I’ve seen in years. It was a privilege to be in retrospect, like all mysteries. A fascinating that in well-constructed the audience. Thank you, @ILBIJERRI andexperience Te appealed in many of the same ways as my forever #sydfest fave, Rēhia Theatre! BULLET CATCH (2014). @thejoshuamaxwell @sjhfletcher Wow. Opening night of ‘Anthem’ as part of @ THE VISITORS: Brilliant. sydney_festival GetStanding a ticket ifovation you stillfrom can.me. ThisClever, snappy script, wonderfully engaging performances. play made me sad. It made me see. It made It took me an embarrassingly to better recognise the source me think oflong howtime much we must all be. material, but that opened up a splendid irony when compared to themy original. #SydFest Brilliant writing, cast and performance. Gets @jezfletcher vote for pick of #sydfest 40
Mr6yo didn’t move for the whole performance-not even sure he drew breath @fruitflycircus #sydfest spellbinding work @InnessDaniel Saw James Galea’s Poof! Secrets of a Magician last night. Very gay and laugh-out-loud hilarious. Such a fun night (Trigger warning: some outrageous language) Till Jan 26 @sydney_festival #magic #comedy @miriamcosic Haven’t been able to stop thinking about @BryonyKimmings’ show @sydney_festival last week. Mind-blowingly honest, tender and artful re-telling of the year everything fell apart for her. I’m in awe and so grateful to have seen it. What a creative force. @scottspark
@demas This is what it feels like to be inside a giant balloon! Such a cool inflatable installation by @ architectsofair_ where you explore different geometric rooms connected by a web of tunnels!
@prodigyeveryday First Nations dancers light the embers for a smoking ceremony and procession down George St as part of Sydney Festival.
@bri.e.lee This dramatisation was phenomenal...Somehow it was able to be both 1969 and right now. I am so glad I got to see it. Great art. Much to chew on.
@demas
MARKETING
AUDIENCE SOCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
8,593 Likes
256 Likes
@sarahlaidlaw sooo loved thissss! #puredelight 167 Likes
Anthem @sydney_festival had some awesome scenes. Love the concept of a shared piece. Beautiful set and lighting and some great performances and cool ensemble scenes. @tamatthetheatre So, Betty Blokkbuster Reimagined @sydney_festival was brilliant! The lead was so raw and engaging and the backup singers were just as energetic and flawless. Loved the costumes, musicians and song choices, too. I want to go again!! @MarloPerry Wow. @jdutchermusic was absolutely extraordinary tonight. ‘Transcendent’ is a word used a trifle too easily with art, but I confess it’s the first word that came to mind. My spirit was
@mcpepub After their first piece the orchestra gave us a round of applause because we turned up to watch them in the rain and they’re all performing for free – donating their pay to the fire relief. And they have cannons on stage for the 1812. I’m so happy I might cry.
transported. I don’t even know what to say except thank you. #SydneyFestival @OmarjSakr Far out, BLACK TIES. Way to make me leak out my eye holes then beam out of my skin. Devastating questions. Raucous joy. Also all the vocals were fire. If anyone needs a singer for a wedding band, please hire me. I am inspired. @JulesOrcullo Wow. Opening night of ‘Anthem’ as part of @sydney_festival Get a ticket if you still can. This play made me sad. It made me see. It made me think of how much better we must all be. Brilliant writing, cast and performance. Gets my vote for pick of #sydfest SYDNEY FESTIVAL 2020 ANNUAL REVIEW
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Media call for Black Ties, photo by Yaya Stempler
PUBLICITY The results of this year’s PR campaign, in terms of coverage and reach, were highly successful. Coverage was published in over 480 print, online and broadcast media outlets globally – reaching audiences in the UK, USA, Aotearoea/New Zealand, Canada, Singapore and South Africa. Australian media coverage was split 61% nationally and 39% in NSW. Overall, the campaign saw a 34% increase on total coverage, resulting in 6,349 media pieces mentioning Sydney Festival. This coverage was included in major Australian print outlets such as the The Sydney Morning Herald, Daily Telegraph, The Australian, The Age, Herald Sun, Brisbane Courier Mail, GQ, Elle Australia; online publications The Guardian, The Conversation, Junkee, ABC Online, News.com.au, Broadsheet, ArtsHub, TimeOut, and Concrete Playground; radio stations including: ABC Radio National, ABC Sydney, ABC Local stations Australia-wide, ABC Radio Australia, Triple J, Double J, Radio SBS, 2GB, Triple M; and TV coverage across the ABC, Network Ten, Network Nine, Network Seven, SBS and NITV.
Media call for Airplay, photo by Yaya Stempler
Highlights of the 2020 campaign included: nine cover features; 41 interviews with Festival Director Wesley Enoch AM; 46 TV interviews with artists; and more than 160 pieces of coverage in The Sydney Morning Herald across print and online. Sydfest 2020 Festival Launch, photo by Yaya Stempler Red carpet event for Bran Nue Dae, photo by Yaya Stempler
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5
MEDIA COVERAGE IN AUSTRALIA NATIONAL 61% NSW 39%
MARKETING
TOP REFERRING ONLINE PUBLICATIONS WROTE
47 PIECES
WHICH DROVE
23,905
UNIQUE VISITORS TO THE WEBSITE
8% 20%
9 4 3 , 6
40%
MEDIA COVERAGE
AUDIENCE REACH 73,064,094
32%
ONLINE
RADIO
TELEVISION
PRESS
CANADA
UK
FESTIVAL MENTIONS IN THE MEDIA 34% INCREASE
480 OUTLETS GLOBALLY
IRELAND
USA
AUDIENCE SHARES OF MEDIA PIECES ON SOCIAL PLATFORMS
81,245
FRANCE PHILLIPINES
11,810
MALAYSIA
OTHER 358 SOUTH AFRICA NEW ZEALAND
TOTAL 93,413
$30,976,397 VALUE IN AD SPACE Copyright © Free Vector Maps.com
SYDNEY FESTIVAL 2020 ANNUAL REVIEW
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IN THE MEDIA ★★★★★ “A MESMERISING, EMOTIONALLY AFFECTING SENSATION.” LIMELIGHT ON BU GUL
★★★★
“THE ASPIE HOUR IS A CHARMING, WITTY, GORGEOUSLY IRREVERENT INSIGHT
INTO THE EVERYDAY TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF TWO PEOPLE DIAGNOSED WITH ASPERGER’S – WHO ALSO HAPPEN TO SHARE AN UNBRIDLED PASSION FOR MUSICAL THEATRE”
THEATRE NOW ON THE ASPIE HOUR
“THE HIGHLIGHT WAS THE INFECTIOUS ENERGY OF BOTH CREWS AND ROWDY UNFILTERED AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT” DANCEMAGAZINE.COM.AU ON TWO CREWS
★★★★★ “THEATRICALLY EPIC... SIMULTANEOUSLY HEART SHATTERING AND HOPEFUL” THEATRE NOW ON I’M A PHOENIX, BITCH
★★★★★ “TENEBRAE DREW OUT RESONANCE AND DISSONANCE TO CREATE A VOCAL BLEND OF SMOOTH BEAUTY, INCANDESCENTLY EDGED WITH THE KEENNESS OF BALANCE AND PITCH” THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD ON TENEBRAE: MASTERWORKS OF THE RENAISSANCE
★★★★ “REGURGITATOR’S POGOGO SHOW IS AS MANIC AS THEIR REGULAR GIGS, EXCEPT THEY’RE SWAPPING SWEARING FOR SUGARY HIGHS” THE AU REVIEW ON REGURGITATOR’S POGOGO SHOW 44
STAGE NOISE ON BETTY BLOKK-BUSTER REIMAGINED
MARKETING
“THIS BETTY BLOKK-BUSTER FOR THE NEW(ISH) CENTURY IS THE REMEDY FOR BAD TIMES WE NEED RIGHT NOW”
“INVENTIVELY STRETCHING THE LANGUAGE OF HIP HOP” DAILY REVIEW ON TWO CREWS
“A PERFORMANCE OF THE FULL TEXT OF THE ESSAY, DONE WITH SUCH CLARITY AND BRILLIANCE BY MIA BARRON THAT IT’S BETTER THAN READING IT” THE AUSTRALIAN ON JOAN DIDION’S THE WHITE ALBUM
“MY FAVOURITE PART OF THE SYDNEY FESTIVAL IS DISCOVERING THE NEW ARTISTS THAT ARE PART OF THE DIVERSE LINEUP, BUT NOTHING COULD HAVE PREPARED ME FOR JEREMY DUTCHER” THE PLUS ONES ON JEREMY DUTCHER
★★★★★
“SATIRE THAT IS AT ONCE HILARIOUS AND ACCUSATORY... AS BETTY, JOSH QUONG TART IS SIMPLY EXTRAORDINARY”
SYDNEY MORNING HERALD ON BETTY BLOKK-BUSTER REIMAGINED
★★★★ “THE AUDIENCE IS, QUITE LITERALLY, THRUST INTO THE THICK OF THE ACTION, AND IT’S SIMPLY DELIGHTFUL. AN UNMISSABLE EXPERIENCE” LIMELIGHT ON BLACK TIES
★★★★★
“AH KEE GIVES US A HARD HITTING EXHIBITION. IT IS AN INCREDIBLE BODY OF WORK – SUPERBLY CONSIDERED IN THE GALLERY SPACE – AND LEAVES US CARRYING SOMETHING AWAY WITH US THAT IS LASTING” ARTS HUB ON VERNON AH KEE: THE ISLAND SYDNEY FESTIVAL 2020 ANNUAL REVIEW
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Sydney Festival is not possible without the incredible support of our government, corporate and media partners, and their commitment to help us deliver one of Australia’s largest annual arts and culture events for Sydney and its visitors.
GOVERNMENT & COMMUNITY PARTNERS Special thanks to Create NSW for their continued investment in Sydney Festival and commitment to ensuring a diverse and high calibre program is delivered every year. Along with Create NSW, the City of Sydney has been a founding partner of the Festival since 1977 and provides access to many city venues. Destination NSW has been a long-term investor, promoting Sydney Festival via their extensive marketing channels to drive interstate and international visitors. Transdev supported our much loved Ferrython event on Sydney Harbour, and Infrastructure NSW supported the major art installation Proclamation at Barangaroo Reserve, the cleansing ceremony Procession, and The Vigil, a night of reflection and performance held on 25 January. The Festival partnered with Place Management to present Dodecalis Luminarium at Darling Harbour — a technicoloured, immersive installation that brought crowds out in the summer to experience sensory art. UTS continued as our ‘Knowledge Partner’ for the fifth year, co-producing topical forums, content, workshops and debates to prototype and bring about meaningful change.
Buŋgul in Sydney Opera House, photo by Victor Frankowski
City of Parramatta remains committed to the development and presentation of arts and cultural events in Western Sydney. Through this partnership the Festival has delivered engaging and successful programming with stand out productions including the musical Bran Nue Dae and the free outdoor dance and orchestra performance ENCOUNTER in Prince Alfred Square. Parramatta Park supported Sydney Symphony Under the Stars at the Crescent, with a free outdoor concert for all to enjoy. Ferrython, photo by Victor Frankowski
46
Sydney Symphony Under The Stars in Parramatta Park, photo by Victor Frankowski
PARTNERSHIPS
ICC in Darling Harbour, photo by Victor Frankowski
Dodecalis Luminarium at Darling Harbour, photo by Yaya Stempler
UTS Big Thinking Forum: Rethinking Nationalism, photo by Victor Frankowski
SYDNEY FESTIVAL 2020 ANNUAL REVIEW
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Festival Garden, photo by Victor Frankowski
CORPORATE PARTNERS China Southern Airlines celebrated its ninth year as the ‘Exclusive International Airline Partner’ and major supporter of the Festival. China Southern Airlines continue to support the Sydney Festival program of free events. QT Sydney returned as a partner, hosting the much-anticipated production At The Illusionist’s Table with mentalist Scott Silven, featuring a three-course meal provided by Gowings Bar and Grill. Accor was welcomed as an accommodation partner, with many of our interstate and international artists staying at their properties across Sydney. TodayTix, the premier digital gateway to arts and cultural experiences, joined Sydney Festival as the ‘Digital Ticketing Technology Partner’ and was the official platform for the ‘Tix for Next to Nix’ program. This program offered accessibly priced alternatives and was a huge success. ICC Sydney continued as a partner, offering digital promotional support in the Darling Harbour precinct and their exceptional event space.
Four Pillars cocktail bar, photo by Yaya Stempler
Guests attending Sydney Festival VIP events and Magic Mirrors Spiegeltent shows in Hyde Park were able to enjoy beverages provided by gin partner Four Pillars, wine partner Alpha Box & Dice, and beer partner Batch Brewing Co. Media partners provide vital promotional support and coverage, with special thanks to The Sydney Morning Herald, NITV, Torch Media, Time Out, 2RPH, AKA, 2SER, Adflow, Concrete Playground and Limelight. The Festival also works with a variety of production partners that play a critical role in staging Sydney Festival – special thanks to TDC, Chameleon, Hapag-Lloyd and EPS.
Torch Media advertising on Sydney trains
China Southern Airlines activation at Sydney Symphony Under the Stars, photo by Victor Frankowski
Staff utilising Glow Worm Bicycles e-bikes
48
PARTNERSHIPS
Wesley Enoch AM is interviewed by NITV at Procession
TodayTix promotion featuring Betty Block-Buster
Ferrython, photo by Victor Frankowski
Feasts and feats of magic Where to dine out during Sydney Festival
Beverage partners showcased at Partner Networking event at The Gantry Festival Feasts liftout in SMH Good Food
FESTIVAL FEASTS The restaurant program, Festival Feasts, provides audiences with unique dining offers during the month of January. This year, 20 restaurants across the Sydney CBD, Inner West and Parramatta were part of the program and offered audiences the chance to extend their Festival experience with a delicious meal. To learn more about Sydney Festival and partnership opportunities, please contact Brooke Ravens, Senior Corporate Partnerships Manager on 02 8248 6565 or brooke.ravens@sydneyfestival.org.au SYDNEY FESTIVAL 2020 ANNUAL REVIEW
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YOU MAKE IT POSSIBLE “SUPPORTING THE FESTIVAL HAS, AND CONTINUES TO BE, AN INSPIRATION AND A DEEPLY SATISFYING EXPERIENCE”
Our sincere thanks to Principal Philanthropic Partner Peter Freedman AM and all our private donors for their commitment to the Festival. Their support enables The Festival to share artists’ unique and invaluable perspectives, challenging audiences to see the world in a new light. Donors are offered exclusive experiences to enhance their Festival experience which this year included the fundraising event RONA Unlocked. Hosted by Jacqui Scheinberg and Richard Scheinberg AM guests enjoyed unprecedented access to one of Sydney’s grandest estates and were entertained by special guest artist Elena KatsChernin AO.
PETER FREEDMAN AM
ARTISTS’ PARTY AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE
David Kirk MBE, Vivia Hickman, Prof. Larissa Behrendt AO, Andrew Cameron AM, photo by Yaya Stempler
David Kirk MBE, Dennis Wilson, Her Excellency The Honourable Margaret Beazley, Wesley Enoch AM, Christopher Tooher, photo by Yaya Stempler
Prof. Larissa Behrendt AO, Scott Silven, Penelope Seidler AM, photo by Yaya Stempler
James Galea, Julianne Maxwell, Wayne Harrison, Andrew Henry, photo by Yaya Stempler
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RONA UNLOCKED
PHILANTHROPY
Penelope Seidler AM, Wesley Enoch AM, Elizabeth Laverty, photo by Clare Hawley
Alison Meades, Cathy Cameron, Rhae Shaw, photo by Clare Hawley
“THANKS SO MUCH FOR A FANTASTIC NIGHT – REALLY GREAT EVENING – GREAT FOOD, WINE, MUSIC, ART AND COMPANY – I JUST LOVE ELENA AND IN A BEAUTIFUL SETTING WAS SUPERB” CAMILLA DROVER
Jacqui Scheinberg and Richard Scheinberg AM, photo by Clare Hawley
Dr. Kathryn Lovric and Richard Scheinberg AM, photo by Clare Hawley
Jacqui Scheinberg and Christine Manfield, photo by Clare Hawley
David Kirk MBE, Fiona Martin-Weber, Tom Hayward, photo by Clare Hawley
Elena Kats-Chernin AO, Wesley Enoch AM with The Dollar Bin Darlings, photo by Clare Hawley SYDNEY FESTIVAL 2020 ANNUAL REVIEW
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OPENING NIGHTS
David Kirk MBE, Camilla Drover, David Mathlin, photo by Yaya Stempler
John Barrer, Elizabeth Laverty, photo by Yaya Stempler
Chris Shaw, Jerry and Alison Meades, Rhae Shaw, photo by Yaya Stempler
Eduardo and Maria Villa, photo by Yaya Stempler
Lucy Turnbull AO and The Hon. Malcolm Turnbull, photo by Yaya Stempler 52
DIRECTOR’S DINNER AT BOTANIC HOUSE
PHILANTHROPY
Wesley Enoch AM
“THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LAST NIGHT. IT WAS FANTASTIC WITH GREAT FOOD AND SO GOOD TO SEE MANY ‘FAMILY’ THERE AND MEET NEW ONES... A TOP NIGHT PLEASE PASS ON OUR THANKS”. JO MILLYARD
SYDNEY FESTIVAL BUSHFIRE APPEAL Thank you to all those who gave so generously to the Sydney Festival Bushfire Appeal while attending major events including Symphony Under the Stars at The Crescent in Parramatta Park and Dodecalis Luminarium at Darling Harbour – as well as after performances at multiple venues throughout the Festival.
Photo by Victor Frankowski
GET INVOLVED IN 2021 “I HAVE ENJOYED THE AMAZING EVENTS AND EXPERIENCES THE FESTIVAL HAS BROUGHT TO OUR CITY OVER THE YEARS AND IT’S MY GREAT PLEASURE TO BE ABLE TO SHOW MY APPRECIATION AND SUPPORT THE FESTIVAL.” KIONG LEE Visit sydneyfestival.org.au/support or contact Sydney Festival Philanthropy on 02 8248 6502 or philanthropy@sydneyfestival.org.au
Julianne Maxwell and Wesley Enoch AM, photo by Yaya Stempler SYDNEY FESTIVAL 2020 ANNUAL REVIEW
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The Vigil at Barangaroo Reserve, photo by Yaya Stempler
RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN Sydney Festival is now seven years into its Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) journey. We remain committed to working towards improving outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians by creating and fostering an organisational environment that cherishes respect, creates opportunity and builds cultural awareness. This year, Sydney Festival raised cultural awareness in our organisation through training and facilitated workshops with the Centre for Cultural Competence Australia (CCCA). Over 30 Sydney Festival staff completed the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Competency Course to help develop and maintain a culturally appropriate workplace. Sydney Festival has strong governance and leadership teams with two Aboriginal board members and the organisation’s first Aboriginal artist in the role of Festival Director. The Festival continues to explore opportunities to improve access and support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and arts workers, and we thank all the Elders, artists and advisors that have helped guide us on this journey.
ARTS INDUSTRY As a cultural leader, Sydney Festival is committed to fostering a strong and vibrant arts sector. 2020 is the seventh year that the arts industry program, Arts Pass, has been offered. Australian artists and arts workers were invited to apply, and 547 joined the program. Arts Pass holders could access reduced price tickets and attend special events to connect with fellow artists and arts practitioners.
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COMMUNITY Sydney Festival volunteers, photo by Victor Frankowski
VOLUNTEERS
INTERNS
Sydney Festival would not be possible without the dedicated volunteers who contribute their time and energy to engage with our patrons and help create better Festival experiences. Volunteers supported the program in both ambassador and operational roles, helping with meeting and greeting patrons, answering public queries, creating conversations with audiences, as well as providing operational support at the major Sydney Festival installations and venues.
Sydney Festival hosted four internship placements in 2020 for students attending New South Wales universities. These interns worked across the marketing and production teams, studying at institutions such as the National Institute of Dramatic Arts, University of Technology Sydney and Charles Sturt University.
The 2020 volunteer program involved over 285 volunteers working more than an astounding 5,000 hours. The volunteer program also involved 15 volunteer team leaders who supervised and lead volunteers across various Festival venues. The volunteer team leader role provides a great opportunity for individuals to build their leadership, communication and organisational skills, all while being a part of a world-class festival. For the eighth year running, Eventeamwork skilfully managed the Sydney Festival volunteer program.
The Festival was also thrilled to have a number of 2019 interns return in paid roles in 2020, highlighting the Festival’s commitment to nurturing talent. A huge thanks to the 2020 interns, and look forward to seeing them continue to develop their skills over the coming years.
A massive thanks to all the volunteers, volunteer team leaders and the team at Eventeamwork for all their hard work and dedication throughout the Festival.
SYDNEY FESTIVAL 2020 ANNUAL REVIEW
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辅助标志2-四色版
SUPPORTERS
沉稳蓝
CORPORATE PARTNERS MAJOR PARTNER
木棉红
SPECIAL DISTINGUISHED PARTNERS
天空蓝
DISTINGUISHED PARTNER
FESTIVAL LAWYERS
STAR PARTNERS
MEDIA PARTNERS SPECIAL DISTINGUISHED PARTNERS
DISTINGUISHED PARTNERS
STAR PARTNERS
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BUSINESS SUPPORTERS
CONTRIBUTORS
RESTAURANT PARTNERS
Hapag-Lloyd Staging Rentals & Construction
Artbank Australia Catering Project CloudWave RDA Research Safety Culture Serenova
Babylon Rooftop Restaurant & Bar Botanic House Cafe Sydney Chefs Gallery Town Hall Chefs Gallery Parramatta Chophouse Parramatta Duck & Rice
Esquire Drink + Dine Gowings Bar & Grill INDU Kittyhawk La Rosa The Strand Madame Shanghai Misfits Rubyos Restaurant
Terrace on the Domain The Dining Room at Park Hyatt Sydney The Gantry Restaurant The Gardens by Lotus The Squire’s Landing
GOVERNMENT & COMMUNITY PARTNERS PRINCIPAL PARTNERS
PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT PARTNER
STRATEGIC PARTNERS
STRATEGIC SPONSOR
SPECIAL DISTINGUISHED PARTNERS
DISTINGUISHED PARTNERS
STAR PARTNERS S OF AME ATE RI ST
TE GEN ULA ER NS
THE UNITE OF D AL
SYDNEY ●
CA
CO
●
WITH SINCERE THANKS TO OUR PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORTERS
Sydney Festival wishes to thank the following individuals, Foundations and organisations for their generous donations.
SYDNEY FESTIVAL BOARD
PRINCIPAL PHILANTHROPIC PARTNER Peter Freedman AM
PATRON Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AO QC, Governor of New South Wales
MAJOR DONORS Hooper Shaw Foundation Anthony and Suzanne Maple-Brown Neilson Foundation Roslyn Packer AC Scully Fund Turnbull Foundation DIRECTOR’S CIRCLE Anonymous Antoinette Albert John Barrer Andrew Cameron AM and Cathy Cameron Fiona Martin-Weber and Tom Hayward Penelope Seidler AM
FESTIVAL HEROES Robert Albert AO and Libby Albert Altaire Productions & Publications Prof. Larissa Behrendt AO and Michael Lavarch AO Elizabeth Laverty Dr Kathryn Lovric and Dr Roger Allan David Mathlin and Camilla Drover Julianne Maxwell Seaborn, Broughton & Walford Foundation ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS The Arcadia Syndicate Carol Crawford Roslyn and Alex Hunyor Adam and Vicki Liberman
Carolyn Lowry OAM and Peter Lowry OAM Robyn Martin-Weber John and Jo Millyard Villa & Villa P/L Kim Williams AM and Catherine Dovey Ray Wilson OAM FESTIVAL PATRON John and Helen Barclay Dianne and Terry Finnegan James Kirby and Claire Wivell Plater Linda Herd Lisa Jackson Pulver Jennifer Dowling and James Hill Lyndall and Trevor McNally Ezekiel Solomon AM
FESTIVAL LOVERS Paddy Carney David and Anne Craig Barry Fitzgibbon Christina Green Lizanne and Julian Knights AO Kiong Lee Cheryl Lo Fiona Long Amanda Love Ann McFarlane Dawn McGuire Mary Read Jillian Segal AO Christopher Tooher
OUR THANKS TO THE SUPPORTERS OF RONA Unlocked
Antoinette Albert, Prof. Larissa Behrendt AO and Michael Lavarch AO, Andrew Cameron AM and Cathy Cameron, Carol and Andrew Crawford, Julie and Gavin Dennis, Camilla Drover, Fiona Martin-Weber and Tom Hayward, Robyn Martin-Weber, Linda Herd, Chris and Rhae Shaw, David Kirk MBE and Brigit Kirk, Julian and Lizanne Knights, Elizabeth Laverty, Anthony and Sharon Lee, Dr Kathryn Lovric and Dr Roger Allan, Anthony and Suzanne Maple-Brown, Julianne Maxwell, Jerry and Ali Meades, John and Sandra Pope, Mary Read, Penelope Seidler AM, Michelle and Jonathan Shein, Mark Stapleton and Leanne Hillman, Victoria Taylor, Monika Tu and Jad Khattar, Maria and Eduardo Villa.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chair – David Kirk MBE Prof. Larissa Behrendt AO Andrew Cameron AM Paddy Carney Angela Clark Darren Dale Kate Dundas (incoming) Diana Eilert (outgoing) Dr Robert Lang (incoming) Benjamin Law (incoming) Catriona Noble GAICD (incoming)
SYDNEY FESTIVAL PHILANTHROPY COMMITTEE Chair - Andrew Cameron AM Prof. Larissa Behrendt AO David Mathlin Jacqui Scheinberg Rhae Shaw Maria Villa
YOU MAKE IT POSSIBLE
As a private supporter of Sydney Festival, you play a key role in the Festival’s success and make a direct contribution to our artistic productions. Your support offers a variety of benefits including priority booking, VIP access and exclusive event invitations. Learn about the various giving levels and the difference you can make. Visit sydneyfestival.org.au/support or contact philanthropy@sydneyfestival.org.au for further details.
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SPECIAL THANKS
THE FOLLOWING COMPANIES AND PRODUCTIONS ACKNOWLEDGE THE SUPPORT OF: The Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body.
Atlas of the Sky, Black Cockatoo, Black Ties, Double Delicious, Laser Beak Man, Metro Arts, Ensemble Offspring: Birdsong at Dusk, She Conjured the Clouds, Taloi Havini: Reclamation, Time Flies, The Rivoli, TRUTHMACHINE, Two Crews, Intimate Spectacle.
Black Cockatoo, Black Drop Effect, Double Delicious, ENCOUNTER, Island of Shadow, My Love is in an Island Far Away, Ensemble Offspring: Birdsong at Dusk, She Conjured the Clouds, Time Flies, The Rivoli, Three Views.
family and Skinnyfish Music. Produced by Perth Festival and Skinnyfish Music. Djarimirri (Child of the Rainbow) Produced by Michael Hohnen and Skinnyfish Music with musical orchestrations by Erkki Veltheim. Supported by Buku-Larrŋgay Mulka Centre – Yirrkala Arts Centre The Mulka Project.Supported by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.
NIGHT PARADE OF ONE HUNDRED GOBLINS Carole Lamerton, Kiera Grant and Robyn Martin-Weber.
COLOSSUS This project was originally commissioned by Arts Centre Melbourne and Melbourne Fringe as part of the Take Over Program.
SYDNEY SYMPHONY UNDER THE STARS Parramatta Council and Sydney Symphony Orchestra.
Thanks to Sydney Dance Company’s Pre-Professional Year, Ev & Bow, New Zealand School of Dance, NAISDA and to Aurora Nova, Australian Cultural Fund and donors Linda Herd, Michael and Silvia Kantor, and Barry and Deborah Conyngham.
TALOI HAVINI: RECLAMATION Commissioned by Artspace.
CONTEMPORARY KIDS X FAMBO: A QUEER PROGRAM FOR ALL KINDS OF FAMILIES Developed with FAMBO: A queer festival for all kinds of families, with special thanks to Jenn Blake, Samantha Blake and Liam Benson. DOUBLE DELICIOUS Carriageworks, Flour Drum
Anthem, BLACK TIES, Bu ŋgul and Two Crews were assisted by the Australian Government’s Major Festivals Initiative, managed by Australia Council in association with the Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals Inc. AIR PLAY Playhouse Square, New Victory Theater, Zoellner Arts Center, Flushing Town Hall. ANTHEM By Andrew Bovell, Patricia Cornelius, Melissa Reeves, Christos Tsiolkas and Irine Vela. Directed by Susie Dee. Produced by Performing Lines in association with Arts Centre Melbourne. ATLAS OF THE SKY Creative Victoria, City of Melbourne, and Melbourne Recital Centre. BERNADETTE HARVEY: ODE: SONATA PROJECT PERFORMANCE Developed in collaboration with Bernadette Harvey. With special thanks to Cornelia Parker, Frith Street Gallery, London, Peggy Polias, and the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. BLACK COCKATOO The Balnaves Foundation BLACK DROP EFFECT Produced and presented by Bankstown Arts Centre and City of Canterbury-Bankstown; proudly supported by the Australian Government’s Indigenous Languages and Arts Program, and Out Loud Inc.
FORM Dance Projects’ Board and Staff, and Executive Producer, Annette McLernon; Sydney Youth Orchestras’ Board and Staff and General Manager, Mia Patoulios; Four Winds Festival; FLING Physical Theatre, Rob McCredie/Associate Artist; David Capra/Visual Artist; Bilal Hafda/Spoken Word; Jessica Wells/Orchestrator; Heidrun Lohr, Photographer and Dom O’Donnell/ Videographer. ENSEMBLE OFFSPRING: BIRDSONG AT DUSK Noisy Egg Creation Fund FORGET ME NOT Commissioned by LUMINATO (Toronto) in association with Ronnie Burkett Theatre of Marionettes (Toronto). This is one of the 200 exceptional projects funded through the Canada Council for the Arts’ New Chapter program. FRONTERA Canada Council for the Arts, Conseil des Arts et des Lettres du Quebec, CCOV and National Creation Fund. GRAND SLAM Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue, Western Sydney University and Crescent Wealth. I’M A PHOENIX, BITCH Supported by The British Council in Australia.
BLACK TIES Commissioned by AsiaTOPA, a joint initiative of the Sidney Myer Fund and Arts Centre Melbourne, and supported by Creative New Zealand. ILBIJERRI Theatre Company is assisted by the Australia Council and by Creative Victoria and City of Melbourne.
ISLAND OF SHADOW Mosman Art Gallery, supported by the Australian Government through the Australian Indonesia Institute of DFAT, Mosman Council, the Australian Embassy in Indonesia, the Gordon Darling Foundation, Dr John Yu AC, and the Office of the Indonesian Consul General in Sydney.
BRAN NUE DAE Opera Australia and the Opera Conference.
JEREMY DUTCHER Canada Council For The Arts.
BRONZE LANDS (TAILTE CRÉ-UMHA) Supported by Cork City Council, St Fin Barre’s Cathedral (Cork), Cork Midsummer Festival, Grace Chan (Registrant) and Kat McDowall.
LASER BEAK MAN Developed as part of New Victory LabWorks at The New Victory Theater. Originally commissioned by Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Sydney Opera House, Arts Centre Melbourne and Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre. Supported by Creative Sparks: Brisbane City Council and the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland. Funding support provided by The Jim Henson Foundation. This project has been assisted by the Australian government through the Department of Communication and the Arts’ Catalyst—Australian Arts and Culture Fund.
BUŊGUL We thank and pay our respects to the Yolŋu people of North East Arnhem land, with whom this work was created, and their country the work was created on. We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we live, learn and work and pay our respects to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders. This project was initiated by the Yunupiŋu
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ENCOUNTER City of Parramatta, Riverside Theatres, Packer Family Foundation, Crown Resorts Foundation, and all the artists, dancers, musicians and families.
SHE CONJURED THE CLOUDS Campbelltown Arts Centre.
THE MERMAID North Sydney Council. THE RIVOLI Cumberland Council, City of Parramatta and FBi. THE WHITE ALBUM Commissioned by Center Theatre Group with support from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation; BAM (2018 Next Wave Festiva); Wexner Center for the Arts (Ohio State University); The Center for the Art of Performance (UCLA). Development support from CalArts Center for New Performance, Ethan Devine, Fariba Ghafari, Emma McMahon and Xander Duell, Eliza Coburn, Jane Kaczmarek, Rebecca Gold Milikowsky, Danniel Rangel, Mark E. Pollack Foundation, the Shiva Foundation and the UCross Foundation. Perofrmance made possible by Joan Didion, Griffin Dunne and ICM Partners. THREE VIEWS Mosman Art Gallery, supported by Mosman Council and the National Parks and Wildlife Service of NSW TIME FLIES The Australian Government through the Department of Communications and the Arts, Creative Victoria, Albury City, Regional Arts NSW, OGA Creative Agency, The Ringmasters. TRIPLE THREAT Commissioned by hÅb and Contact for Works Ahead, with support from Soho Theatre, Cambridge Junction and The Marlborourgh Theatre and funding from Arts Council England. TRUTHMACHINE Metro Arts, Arts Queensland, Brisbane City Council, Adelaide Fringe Artist Fund TWO CREWS Supported by Initiatives d’Artistes en Danses Urbaines – Fondation de France – La Villette; Bundanon Trust and the Australian Government’s Department of Communications and the Arts. WANSOLWARA: ONE SALT WATER FBi Radio 宿 (STAY) National Arts Council Singapore THANK YOU Accessible Arts, Coral and John Arnold, Joan Cameron-Smith, Morwenna Collett, Clark Corby, Ione Davis, Riana Head-Toussaint, Julie Jones, Jessica Keirle, Greg Killeen, Alicia Kish, Vanessa Lucas, Amy Maiden, Liz Martin, Naomi Malone, Paul Nunnari, Katie Parker, Tom Riordan, Vision Australia, our volunteers and interns.
SYDNEY FESTIVAL STAFF 2020 FESTIVAL DIRECTOR Wesley Enoch AM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Christopher Tooher FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION Head of Finance and Administration Dimitri Cachia Finance Manager Jennifer Stallard Accounts Assistants Julie Crawford, Courtney Lewis Executive Assistant Corey Zerna Administration Officers Aiyisha Donnelly, Thomas Hamilton, Georgie Hannam, Jess Pantano Executive Projects Coordinator Fiona Jackson
Ticketing Systems Coordinators Danniella Nocelli, Sarah Toner Ticketing Operations Coordinator Danny Love Ticketing Assistant Christopher Wale
Senior Corporate Partnership Manager Brooke Ravens Sponsorship Manager Amalina Whitaker Events and VIP Manager Jane You
HOSPITALITY AND CATERING Hospitality Manager Blake Smith Catering Consultant Fernando Motti
PHILANTHROPY Head of Philanthropy Marita Supplee Fundraising Coordinator Alyssan Russell
PRODUCTION Head of Production John Bayley Senior Project Manager PROGRAMMING Alycia Bangma Executive Producer Project Managers Vivia Hickman Bonnie Burrill, Nathan DaCunha Producers Project Manager: Dodecalis Katherine Budd, Andy Currums, Luminarium, Procession Kate Williams and The Vigil First Nations Producer Sophie Lukersmith Jade Christian Project Manager: Programming Administrator Barangaroo and Associate Producer Jade Muratore Rebecca Gribble Project Manager: Magic Associate Producer Mirrors Spiegeltent Kat Anastasiou-Bell Gordon Rymer Program Coordinators Project Manager: Parramatta Lucy King, Neville Williams Boney Jesse Hilford BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND Logistics Manager Justine Merrony MARKETING Head of Business Development Logistics Coordinators Jess Dunn, Sarah Jayne Saunders and Marketing Alison Dunn Production Assistant Bridget McWilliams DEVELOPMENT
MARKETING Marketing Manager Aimee Ocampo Publications and Content Editor Nick Jarvis Marketing and Publications Coordinator Rahila Merchant Digital Marketing Coordinator Scott Henderson Campaign Manager Sarah Hunt Campaign Coordinator Alexandra Kwok Marketing and Development Assistant Harry Erickson Publicists Caitlin Eames, Isabella Feros Graphic Design Manager Anais Taylor Senior Graphic Designer Stef Mercurio Signage Coordinator Laura Carlson Ticketing Manager Tara Harding
FESTIVAL DESIGN AGENCY Alphabet Studio FESTIVAL COMMUNICATIONS AGENCY Common State COPYWRITERS Elissa Blake, Yvonne Frindle, Nick Jarvis, Lenny Ann Low VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT Eventeamwork FESTIVAL VIDEOGRAPHERS Stuart Armitt, Mauro Silva
“ ...WHO ELSE BUT THE SYDNEY FESTIVAL WOULD INTRODUCE US TO ANOTHER GROUNDBREAKING ARTIST” THE PLUS ONES
Clockwise from top: Frontera, photo by Victor Frankowski Regurgitator’s POGOGO SHOW, photo by Victor Frankowski Double Delicious, photo by Victor Frankowski Atlas of the Sky, photo by Victor Frankowski POOF! Secrets of a Magician, photo by Victor Frankowski Jeremy Dutcher, photo by Victor Frankowski
Level 5, 10 Hickson Road The Rocks NSW 2000 Australia T +61 2 8248 6500 F +61 2 8248 6599 E mail@sydneyfestival.org.au sydneyfestival.org.au