2021 ANNUAL REVIEW 2020 ANNUAL REVIEW
2
“ALTHOUGH COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS ENFORCE A LACK OF SPONTANEITY, THIS YEAR’S SYDNEY FESTIVAL FEELS LIKE SPIRITUAL HEALING” THE SATURDAY PAPER
3
Crowd at The Headland at Barangaroo Reserve, photo by Yaya Stempler
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
“BRISBANE-BASED CIRCA HAS A WORLDWIDE REPUTATION FOR ASTONISHING ACROBATICS, AND THEY LIVE UP TO IT HERE IN A SEQUEL TO THEIR 2017 SHOW FOR THE SYDNEY FESTIVAL.” THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD ON HUMANS 2.0
Humans 2.0, photo by Yaya Stempler
4
5
Wesley Enoch, photo by Cassandra Hannagan
“THE SYDNEY FESTIVALS HE [WESLEY ENOCH] HAS DIRECTED ANNUALLY... HAVE BEEN DEFINED BY THEIR FOCUS ON INNOVATIVE COMMISSIONS OF FIRST NATIONS ARTISTS, NEW AND EMERGING TALENT, AND LARGESCALE AUSTRALIAN WORKS.” THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
6
WHAT A YEAR! Who could have guessed after the year that was 2020 that a Festival was even possible. I was talking to some international colleagues who remarked that Sydney Festival was the only Arts Festival in the world in January. Such a feat of planning, adaption, nimble decision-making and sheer luck at times. Though there were a number of show cancellations due to border closures the bulk of the program proceeded and included sold out hits. Sydneysiders were ready to embrace their city again and they came out in big numbers to The Headland. This new venue at Barangaroo Reserve was a great addition to the Festival providing a huge outdoor theatre stage for a wonderful array of performers – Katie Noonan, Paul Mac, iOTA, Paul Capsis, Sydney Symphony Orchestra and Bangarra all playing to in person audiences, and for people to watch at home. The Headland was also the venue for The Vigil which was broadcast live across the nation via NITV. The 2021 Festival was about inviting Sydney back to enjoy the city and embracing what opportunities we could to experience art. It was fantastic to be a platform for so many of our city’s arts and cultural jewels to shine in January. A big thanks to our artistic partners including the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, Australian National Maritime Museum, Australian Design Centre, Artspace, Arjunan Puveendran, Bangarra Dance Theatre, Biennale of Sydney, Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre, Campbelltown Arts Centre, Carriageworks, Dance Makers Collective, Eishan Ensemble, Erth Visual and Physical Inc, Ensemble Offspring, Ensemble Theatre, Force Majeure, Griffin Theatre, Hayes Theatre, Janet Laurence, Jasmin Sheppard, Jeremy Rose, Jo Clancy, Jonny Hawkins and Nell Ranney, Museum of Contemporary Art, Moogahlin Performing Arts, National Theatre of Parramatta, Performing Lines, Philip Quast, PYT | Fairfield, Rhiannon Newton, Siren Theatre Co, Sydney Chamber Opera, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, The Walkleys Foundation, Sydney Film Festival,
Sydney Writers’ Festival, Sydney Fringe Festival, Sydney Chamber Choir, Sydney Dance Company, Sydney International Piano Competition, Seymour Centre, UNSW Galleries, Urban Theatre Project and Sweatshop, and many others. We were also able to play host to a few interstate companies including Circa, Arc Circus and Cluster Arts, Dead Puppet Society, Mitch Jones, Matthias SchackArnott and the team from MegaFun, Katie Noonan and friends, Michael Kantor and Kate Ben-Tovim. One of things I am most proud of is the Blak Out Program which featured some Festival highlights including Sunshine Super Girl, Spirit: a retrospective 2021, The Complication of Lyrebirds, Heartland, To Cook Cook or Not, Burrawa and a huge array of amazing visual arts from Megan Cope, Carol McGregor, Judy Watson, Archie Moore, Alick Tipote and the 30 artists showcased in Defying Empire: 3rd National Indigenous Art Triennial. From our amazingly dedicated volunteers who give their time and energy, to the many expert staff whose skills helped to realise one of the most complex cultural undertakings in the country, through to the hundreds of artists from Sydney and around the country who shared their artistry and vision with us, and of course the people of Sydney who attended 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 Carriageworks, Sydney Town Hall, Sydney Living Museums and many, many more. Together with our corporate partners and private donors, our supporters allow us to share the Festival with a broad range of people across the city. A special thank you to Peter Freedman of RØDE Microphones who pledged five million dollars to Sydney Festival
to amplify the voices of artists. Peter has been a great supporter of Sydney Festival over the years and his recent pledge is a great testimony to his belief in the power of artists to make a difference. I’ve never been one for farewells. In many Indigenous languages there isn’t a word for a permanent goodbye or farewell as there is always the hope of a time in the future when our paths will cross again, and we can reflect on what has happened in between. When I look back at the past five years, I think about the amazing works that Sydney Festival has commissioned (Counting and Cracking, Humans 2.0, Shanghai Mimi, Backbone, Two Crews, Anthem and many more), the achievements of the Blak Out program (The Vigil, The Season, The Visitors, The Weekend, Black Ties, Sunshine Super Girl and much more) and the sense of collaboration and collegiality with companies, venues and other festivals throughout the country. Sydney Festival has been the most rewarding and the most challenging professional experience of my life and in the way I inherited this role from the gifted Lieven Bertels, I am so excited to see the freshness and power of what Olivia Ansell will bring to her Sydney Festival. A huge thank you for all your support and care, and your dedicated participation in Sydney Festival. So, it is not farewell but see you next year when our paths cross in the foyer of Sydney Festival 2022 where I will be an excited audience member. A huge thank you to the whole team for making this 2021 Festival one to remember. Love,
SYDNEY FESTIVAL 2020 ANNUAL REVIEW
7
21 DAYS
554 PERFORMANCES
101 EVENTS
TURNOVER $18.5M
FREE EVENTS 73,445 9,691
TALKS & WORKSHOPS ONLINE ATTENDANCE
59 15,494
TOTAL FREE
TOTAL TICKETED ATTENDANCE
98,689
INCLUDING BOX OFFICE, CATERING, VENUE HIRE & OTHER
INSTALLATIONS & VISUAL ARTS OUTDOOR CONCERTS & SPECIAL EVENTS
OPERATING INCOME
10%
CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS & PHILANTHROPY
18%
57% 15%
62,117 EXPENDITURE 51%
31%
8
INCLUDING STAFF
OPERATING COSTS
160,806
PROGRAMMING
TOTAL ATTENDANCE
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
9%
LOCAL GOVERNMENT & OTHER INVESTMENT
REVENUE
STATE GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT
FESTIVAL ATTENDANCE
VISITOR ORIGIN
INTERSTATE
1%
REGIONAL NSW
7%
SYDNEY
92%
ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME UNDER $20,000
AGE BRACKET
5%
18–24
$20,001–$40,000
4%
25–34
$40,001–$60,000
4%
35–44
14%
$60,001–$80,000 $80,001–$100,000
9%
$175,001–$200,000
15% 18% 28%
65 +
22%
9% 8% 11%
$200,001–$250,000 MORE THAN $250,000
14%
17%
$125,001–$150,000 $150,001–$175,000
45–54
3%
55–64
12%
$100,001–$125,000
SNAPSHOT 2021
33 19 FREE EVENTS DIGITAL EVENTS
47 VENUES
7% 9
WE PRESENT BOLD AND MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES THAT EXCITE AND UNITE SYDNEY IN JANUARY
22
22
1,162
CO-COMMISSIONED WORKS
WORLD PREMIERES
ARTISTS
DANCE CIRCUS
FREE EVENTS
VISUAL ARTS
THEATRE
INSTALLATIONS
LIVESTREAMS
MUSIC
TALKS & WORKSHOPS PODCASTS OPERA & CLASSICAL
PHYSICAL THEATRE
Burrawa, photo by Yaya Stempler
10
DAVID HAMMON, BURRAWA BRIDGECLIMB
“WHAT AN AMAZING SEASON WE HAD, IT WAS EVERYTHING WE COULD HAVE HOPED FOR. FEELING VERY BLESSED TO HAVE ACHIEVED ALL OF THIS DURING THIS COMPLEX TIME.” KAREN THERESE, DORR-E DARI
“I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK YOUR ENTIRE TEAM FOR LIVING THIS WHOLE EXPERIENCE WITH US. ALTHOUGH THERE WERE MANY SLEEPLESS NIGHTS WE DID FEEL SUPPORTED AND HEARD THROUGHOUT. CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN ON BEING ABLE TO PRESENT SYDNEY FESTIVAL 2021 – ONE WE WILL CERTAINLY ALL REMEMBER!”
ARTISTIC VISION
“THE BRIDGECLIMB TEAM ARE DELIGHTED TO PRESENT THE BURRAWA CLIMB WITH SYDNEY FESTIVAL. WE ARE EXTREMELY PROUD TO HOST A CLIMB DEDICATED TO HONOURING THE KNOWLEDGE AND CUSTOMS OF OUR FIRST NATIONS PEOPLE”
MICHAELA COVENTRY, GROUNDSWELL
“WE HAVE BEEN OVERWHELMED WITH THE POSITIVE RESPONSE TO SEX, DRUGS & PORK ROLLS AND WERE THRILLED TO WORK WITH SYDNEY FESTIVAL TO REALISE THE WORLD PREMIERE OF THE WORK” ADAM MCGOWAN, SEX, DRUGS & PORK ROLLS
“WE ARE SO PLEASED THAT WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OFF WHAT SEEMED AN IMPOSSIBLE TASK AT TIMES AND PREMIERE HUMANS 2.0 WITH YOU IN SYDNEY – ALL IN FRONT OF A LIVE AUDIENCE WITH GREAT TICKET SALES DESPITE BORDER RESTRICTIONS, AUDIENCE LIMITS AND SNAP LOCKDOWNS. IT IS A TESTAMENT TO YOU AND THE TEAM TO HAVE MANAGED THAT AND WE ARE THANKFUL AND OVERJOYED.” DANIELLE KELLIE, HUMANS 2.0
SYDNEY FESTIVAL 2020 ANNUAL REVIEW
11
2021 PROGRAM
12 HANDS 6 GRANDS • 52 ACTIONS • A BEE STORY • A MILE IN M • ALLOWED AND LOCAL • ANNIE HAMILTON • AUTOCANNI BHOOMI: OUR COUNTRY • BURRAWA BRIDGECLIMB • CHR DALARINJI: OURS, YOURS, EVERYONE’S • DARLO SUPPE DESIGN/ISOLATE • DISRUPTION! THE VOICE OF DRUMS DORR-E DARI: A POETIC CRASH COURSE IN THE LANGUAGE O E^ST • ELLA HABER • EMILY SUN WITH ANDREA LAM • FUTURE REMAINS • GROUNDSWELL • H.M.S. PINAFORE • H I WANT TO DANCE WITH SOMEBODY • IN SITU • INÊS • ISOLA KOBIE DEE • KYVA • LINDY LEE: MOON IN A DEW DROP • MAMBO MAUREEN: HARBINGER OF DEATH • MEL BAILEY • M OF LEISURE’S BRUNCH • ORAVA QUARTET • PHILIP QUAST: IS RIVER • QUEEN FATIMA • RAPTURE: A SONG CYCLE OF DES REWIRED: MUSICALS REIMAGINED BY HAYES • ROOFTOP AUSTRALIAN MADE CURATED BY WESLEY ENOCH • SEX, DRUG RETROSPECTIVE 2021 • SPVRROW • SUNSHINE SUPER GIRL • SY FESTIVAL: SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT • SYDNEY SYMPHONY FOUR SEASONS • THE BEAUTIFUL THINGS • THE COLOUR LINE THE MUSEUM OF MODERN LOVE: OPEN REHEARSAL AND REA TINA HAVELOCK STEVENS: THANK YOU FOR HOLDING • TÌN COOK OR NOT • TRUE WEST • UNDER THE MADHAN • UNDRES BIG THINKING FORUMS AND WORKSHOPS • WALKLEYS LIVE: WUGULORA • YELLAMUNDIE FESTIVAL • ZELA MARGOSSI 12
MY SHOES • ADC MAKERS MARKETS • AFTERNOON TEA AT SIX IBAL • BADU • BANDALUZIA FLAMENCO • BECCA HATCH • RISTINE ANU • CLARISSA MEI • CULT SHØTTA • CYCLES • ER CLUB WITH ANDREW BUKENYA • DEFYING EMPIRE • S • DJILLONG DUMULARRA • DOLLAR BIN DARLINGS • OF LOVE • DOT DASH RECORDINGS • DUBA • DUO HISTOIRE • • EXPLICIT CONTENTS • FRACTURES & FREQUENCIES • HAIKU HANDS • HEARTLAND • HIVE MIND • HUMANS 2.0 • LATE/MAKE • JAMAICA MOANA • KEEPING PEACE • KENNY • O INFLUENCIADO • MARIW MINARAL (SPIRITUAL PATTERNS) • MILAN RING • MUSICAL MICROPARKS • NGAIIRE • S THIS ALL THEN? • PLEASUREDOME • POEM FOR A DRIED UP ESIRE AND ECSTACY, MURDER AND MAYHEM • REQUIEM • P PROJECTIONS • SALON CONCERTS • SBS ON DEMAND: UGS AND PORK ROLLS • SONGS OF DON • SPACE YZ • SPIRIT: A SYDNEY FILM FESTIVAL: SUMMER SEASON • SYDNEY WRITERS’ NY UNDER THE STARS • THANDI PHOENIX • THE [UNCERTAIN] E • THE COMPLICATION OF LYREBIRDS • THE LAST SEASON • ADING • THE RISE AND FALL OF SAINT GEORGE • THE VIGIL • NH KHÚC TỪ QUÊ HƯƠNG: SONGS FROM HOME • TO COOK SSING HOLLYWOOD • UNIVERSAL WOMAN • URTHBOY • UTS THE JOURNALIST GENE • WILLIAM BARTON: DIDGE FUSION • SIAN AND HER QUINTET • ZINDZI AND THE ZILLIONAIRES 13
William Barton and Veronique Serret at Paddington Reservoir, photo by Prudence Upton BLACK TIES, photo by Yaya Stempler
14
“WILLIAM BARTON AND VÉRONIQUE SERRET EVOKE AN EVER-SHIFTING LANDSCAPE THAT GRIPS THE AUDIENCE FROM START TO FINISH” LIMELIGHT ON WILLIAM BARTON AND VÉRONIQUE SERRET
SYDNEY FESTIVAL 2020 ANNUAL REVIEW
15
“IN A JAW-DROPPING SETTING LIKE THE HEADLAND, ONLY THE HARDEST OF HEARTS ARE GOING TO WALK AWAY UNIMPRESSED” TIMEOUT SYDNEY ON SONGS OF DON
Rapture, photo by Bianca Di Marchi
Spirit: a retrospective, photo by Jacquie Manning
Crowd at The Headland at Barangaroo Reserve, photo by Jacquie Manning
The Vigil, photo by Yaya Stempler
Songs of Don, photo by Jacquie Manning
16
The Uncertain Four Seasons, photo by Yaya Stempler
ARTISTIC VISION Crowd at The Headland at Barangaroo Reserve, photo by Yaya Stemper
AN EVENING AT THE HEADLAND In the wake of an unprecedented year for Australian arts and culture, Sydney Festival led the way forward with An Evening at the Headland, a purpose-built, COVID safe outdoor pop-up venue at Barangaroo Reserve that played host to 11 nights of music, dance and performance, and drew more than 20,000 people. General admission tickets were accessibly priced for all audience members at just $25. Set against the spectacular backdrop of summer evenings on the harbour, An Evening at the Headland showcased performances from some of Australia’s finest artists, musicians and dancers. The [Uncertain] Four Seasons National Indigenous dance theatre Bangarra presented their landmark retrospective Spirit: a retrospective 2021; Vivaldi, climate change data and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra met for an inspiring encounter in The [Uncertain] Four Seasons; electro star Paul Mac staged The Rise and Fall of Saint George, a musical celebration of the queer community’s resilience and the marriage equality debate; musicians Paul Capsis and iOTA joined forces for RAPTURE: a song cycle of Desire and Ecstasy, Murder and Mayhem; and an all-star lineup, led by Katie Noonan and Christine Anu, paid tribute to Cold Chisel with Songs of Don.
Songs of Don
Crowd at The Headland at Barangaroo
The Rise Reserve, and Fall of byStYaya George photo Stemper
The Festival closed with the return of The Vigil, a free event at Barangaroo Reserve that served as an evening of reflection and performance by First Nations artists on Gadigal Country. The Vigil 17
“YOU CAN FEEL HER SPIRIT HERE... THE MORE THAT WE RECOGNISE AND RECLAIM AND PUT BREATH AND ENERGY AND SPIRIT BACK INTO SIGNIFICANT SITES, THE BETTER THIS LANDSCAPE WILL FEEL CLEANSED.” STEPHEN PAGE FROM BANGARRA DANCE THEATRE ON SPIRIT: A RETROSPECTIVE 2021
The Vigil, photo by Yaya Stemper
BLAK OUT
Sunshine Super Girl, photo by Yaya Stemper
In 2021 Sydney Festival’s Blak Out returned with First Nations storytelling at the forefront of the Australian Made program. Highlights included Bangarra’s Spirit: a retrospective 2021 at The Headland at Barangaroo Reserve; the remarkable story of tennis legend Evonne Goolagong in Sunshine Super Girl; and the inaugural Burrawa BridgeClimb led by Indigenous storytellers. The Festival showcased a wealth of First Nations visual art presenting exhibitions featuring Carol McGregor, Judy Watson, Archie Moore, Megan Cope, Alick Tipoti and a stunning showcase of work by 30 contemporary First Nations artists at the Maritime Museum in Defying Empire: The 3rd National Indigenous Art Triennial. First Nations musicians took over much-loved local venues in Allowed and Local, with sets from Ngaiire, Christine Anu, Thandi Phoenix and Kobie Dee getting audiences grooving in their seats. While at the Seymour Centre, didgeridoo virtuoso William Barton and violinist Véronique Serret blended traditional songlines and modern storytelling with Heartland. Following last year’s 250th anniversary of Captain James Cook’s voyage to Australia, To Cook Cook or Not (presented in partnership with the Biennale of Sydney) challenged prevailing historical narratives. The Vigil returned for a third year, cementing this tradition of cleansing, reflection and performance on the eve of 26 January. 18
Djillong Dumularra, photo by Yaya Stemper
ARTISTIC VISION
Burrawa, photo by Yaya Stemper
Spirit: a retrospective, photo by Yaya Stemper
To Cook Cook or Not, photo by Yaya Stemper
Mariw Minaral, photo by Jacqui Manning
Heartland, photo by Jacqui Manning
Fractures & Frequencies, photo by Saul Steed
SYDNEY FESTIVAL 2020 ANNUAL REVIEW
19
Humans 2.0, photo by Yaya Stempler
WORLD PREMIERE WORKS Sydney Festival has a long tradition of commissioning significant new Australian works and hosting world premieres, and the 2021 program once again illustrated the richness and diversity of our cultural platform. Major world premieres in 2021 included The Last Season, a provocative new work about environmental destruction and human survival from acclaimed dance theatre company Force Majeure; Humans 2.0, a celebration of resilience from virtuosic, next-gen circus ensemble Circa; PYT | Fairfield’s Dorr-e Dari: A Poetic Crash Course in the Language of Love, a journey through Persianlanguage romance; Duba, an immersive, multi-sensory experience showcasing rare and endangered animals from theatrical innovators Erth Visual and Physical Inc; Queen Fatima, rising writer James Elazzi’s heartfelt, hilarious comedy celebrating our cultural differences; and Sex, Drugs & Pork Rolls, a compelling portrait of life growing up in Western Sydney from the extraordinary creative team at Urban Theatre Projects and Sweatshop.
The Last Season, photo by Yaya Stempler
Duba, photo by Yaya Stempler
20
Dorr-e Dari, photo by Anna Kucera
Musical Microparks, photo by Jacquie Manning
ARTISTIC VISION
“AN INNOVATIVE, THOUGHT-PROVOKING, AND MOVING TOUR THROUGH ERSKINEVILLE, WHICH ADDRESSES AUSTRALIAN IDENTITY” LIMELIGHT ON MUSICAL MICROPARKS
Requiem, photo by Prudence Upton
In Situ, photo by Prudence Upton
TRANSFORMED SPACES Sydney Festival lets Sydneysiders experience new ways of seeing their city, engaging with the familiar but unexpected, sometime provocative angles. This year the Festival continued its tradition of transforming spaces around Sydney, while successfully negotiating the challenges of the pandemic. In Musical Microparks, the innovative musicians in Ensemble Offspring brought pop-up musicals and walking tours to innercity landscapes; for In Situ, Dance Makers Collective and Future Makers turned Parramatta Park into a celebration of hidden dance; Paddington’s Reservoir Gardens became a Requiem for the environment in Janet Laurence’s installation; Wiradjuri dancer Jo Clancy brought puppetry, song and dance to Vaucluse House in Under the Madhan; and in Universal Woman, the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra paid tribute to 20th Century polymath Hildegard von Bingen in the spine-tingling St Mary’s Cathedral Crypt. Meanwhile, Sydney Festival’s popular Salon Series returned to unite music and architecture for intimate performances in unique spaces including the Sydney Town Hall Vestibule and Vaucluse House. SYDNEY FESTIVAL 2020 ANNUAL REVIEW
21
AUSTRALIAN STORIES ON STAGE
Bhoomi, photo by Prudence Upton
At a time where the cultural conversation around the nature of Australian stories is more significant than ever, Sydney Festival continued its commitment to bringing diverse stories of our country and its artists to the stage. This year, writer and performer Jonny Hawkins staged a touching homage to older women in Maureen: Harbinger of Death; playwright Steve Rodgers adapted the hit Aussie film Kenny into an hilarious, big-hearted salute to ordinary decency; Arjunan Puveendran and Indu Balachandran brought us Bhoomi: Our Country, a performance that examined the way ancient artistic practices migrate to the culture of new communities; provocateur Mitch Jones tackled addiction, corruption and environmental destruction in the visceral performance art piece Autocannibal; and Walkleys Live: The Journalist Gene brought a selection of Australia’s awardwinning stories to life on stage, exploring the potential of writing to take account, change lives and speak truth to power.
★★★★ “CATCHES YOU LIKE A FLY IN A WEB OF STORYTELLING” THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD ON MAUREEN
Walkleys Live, photo by Yaya Stempler
Maureen, photo by Clare Hawley
22
Autocannibal, photo by Yaya Stempler
Future Remains, photo by Lisa Tomasetti
Cycles, photo by Yaya Stempler
SPOTLIGHT ON SYDNEY With a dedicated focus on the recovery and rejuvenation of the arts sector amid the challenges posed by the COVID pandemic, Sydney Festival supported the work of Sydney companies and partnered with beloved local events to present a program that highlighted the vital contributions of art to the vibrancy of the city’s culture. Sydney Chamber Opera presented two works: Future Remains, a lacerating, sensual song cycle that fused Czech masterpiece Diary of One Who Disappeared with their premiere Fumeblind Oracle, and poem for a dried up river, Jane Sheldon’s mesmerising mix of opera, poetry and art installation; while the acclaimed Sydney Chamber Choir performed Cycles, a joyous program of contemporary choral music. Elsewhere, Sydney Festival partnered with Sydney Film Festival for a special Summer Season at the State Theatre, and joined forces with the Sydney Writers’ Festival for the conversation series, Something to Talk About.
poem for a dried river, photo by Lisa Tomasetti
SYDNEY FESTIVAL 2020 ANNUAL REVIEW
23
Of Leisure's Brunch, photo by Tiera Boo
MUSIC ACROSS THE CITY
Kyva, photo by Jacquie Manning
After a challenging year, live music made its long-awaited return as Sydney Festival hosted some of our most exciting and innovative performers at a range of venues across the city. Capturing the sound of the moment, the performances cultivated a much-needed feeling of community and celebration to Sydneysiders.
A.Girl, photo by Louise Whelan
Bringing the joy of live music back to audiences, Allowed and Local showcased the talent and diversity of Sydney’s music scene; in 12 Hands 6 Grands, Australia’s best female pianists were united for a rare collaboration; the award-winning Hayes Theatre Company reimagined classic musicals in Rewired: Musicals Reimagined by Hayes; Broadway and West End star Philip Quast took us on a captivating musical journey in Is This All Then?; didgeridoo virtuoso William Barton and powerhouse violinist Véronqique Serret roamed across Aunty Delmae Barton’s poetic stories in Heartland; and Dharawal singer Sonya Holowell led the Eishan Ensemble across a musical fusion of Persian classical and western jazz in Afternoon Tea at Six.
Ngaiire, photo by Louise Whelan
“TO WITNESS SUCH A HEADY EMOTIONAL MIX IN A SMALL ROOM FEELS INCREDIBLY INTIMATE” THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD ON NGAIIRE AT ALLOWED AND LOCAL
24
Milan Ring, photo by Louise Whelan
ARTISTIC VISION
12 Hands 6 Grands, photo by Jacquie Manning
Philip Quast: Is This All Then?, photo by Jacquie Manning
Rewired: Musicals Reimagined by Hayes, photo by Yaya Stempler
Afternoon Tea at Six, photo by Jacquie Manning
SYDNEY FESTIVAL 2020 ANNUAL REVIEW
25
FREE AND FAMILY PROGRAM Highlighting our commitment to delivering accessible, inclusive events, Sydney Festival offered a range of major free works as part of this year’s program, including exhibitions around the city at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, the Art Gallery of New South Wales, UNSW Galleries and Artspace. The Australian National Maritime Museum, in collaboration with the Empathy Museum, presented A Mile in My Shoes, a one-of-a-kind pop-up celebrating the migrants and refugees who have made Australia their home. Matthias Schack-Arnott’s Groundswell transformed the forecourt at Customs House into an immersive, large-scale installation where audiences could literally feel the earth move. In HIVE MIND, crowds at Vaucluse House were thrilled by kinetic sculptures that brought micro insects to dazzling large-scale life, while for Keeping Peace, from art and design collective Lgop unleashed a giant inflatable installation on the Headland at Barangaroo Reserve. The Festival also continued its dedicated family programming, with events including A Bee Story, Arc Circus and Cluster Arts’ adventurous new physical theatre piece for children; Wiradjuri dancer Jo Clancy’s puppetry, song and dance show Under the Madhan; and Badu by Erth, a magical, immersive journey into the wild wonders of our ocean. A Mile in My Shoes, photo by Jacquie Manning
Hive Mind, photo by Jacquie Manning
26
A Bee Story, photo by Jacquie Manning
ARTISTIC VISION
Tina Havelock Stevens: Thank You For Holding, photo by Yaya Stempler
Sydney Symphony Under the Stars, photo by James Horan
Groundswell, photo by Yaya Stempler
Audience at Bee Story, photo by Yaya Stempler
Under the Madhan, photo by Jacquie Manning
Keeping Peace, photo by Yaya Stempler
SYDNEY FESTIVAL 2020 ANNUAL REVIEW
27
Spirit: A Retrospective photo by Jacqui Manning
28
★★★★ “THE DANCERS CONJURED IMAGES OF AFFECTION, AGGRESSION, DISCOVERY AND DESPAIR IN A WORLD WHERE NATURE AND SPIRITS PREVAIL” SYDNEY MORNING HERALD ON SPIRIT: A RETROSPECTIVE 2021
SYDNEY FESTIVAL 2020 ANNUAL REVIEW
29
“THE MESSAGE OF THE SHOW – LOVE IS LOVE IS LOVE – COMES ACROSS LOUD AND CLEAR … MANY TERRIFIC PERFORMANCES” THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD ON H.M.S. PINAFORE H.M.S Pinafore, photo by Jacquie Manning
In Situ, photo by Bianca De Marchi
WESTERN SYDNEY Sydney Festival is committed to being a festival for all of Sydney. Reaching beyond the boundaries of the city centre and into Sydney’s multicultural geographic heart, we continue to offer free and ticketed events in Western Sydney through our relationships with Riverside Theatres, Parramatta Park Trust, City of Parramatta, Campbelltown Arts Centre and Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre. Welcoming audiences back into public spaces and local venues, Sydney Festival's Parramatta highlights included two nights of the large-scale, symphonic concert Sydney Symphony Under the Stars at Parramatta Park; a sequin-spangled spin on Gilbert and Sullivan’s H.M.S. Pinafore at Riverside Theatres; and the Festival’s Allowed and Local series taking over Club Parramatta, Milky Lane and The Albion Hotel with a weekend of live music.
The Complication of Lyrebirds, photo by Luke Currie-Richardson
Our 2021 program also saw the world premiere of new Australian works in Western Sydney with Queen Fatima from Western Sydney writer James Elazzi; Urban Theatre Project’s Sex, Drugs & Pork Rolls; Jasmin Sheppard’s exploration of identity in The Complication of Lyrebirds; Rhiannon Newton’s Explicit Contents; and Toby Martin (Youth Group) and Dan Lang’s Vietnamese and Western music fusion TÌNH KHÚC TỪ QUÊ HƯƠNG / Songs From Home.
Lady Tabouli, photo by Robert Catto
30
For the first time, we presented a digital program to ensure everyone had access to Sydney Festival regardless of location, lockdowns or economic circumstances. The digital program featured livestreamed events including the mainstage action direct from The Headland at Barangaroo Reserve and Griffin Theatre Company’s Pleasuredome; online workshops in partnership with the University of Technology Sydney; the Festival’s first podcast series with artists from across the program; and even a virtual dance party with Sydney Dance Company’s I Want to Dance with Somebody.
UTS Forums - Impacts of Isolation, photo by Yaya Stempler
ARTISTIC VISION
SYDFEST AT HOME
Across 21 days, the digital program saw over 15,000 engaged with the program. Audiences all around the world tuned in, including people from Canada, UK, USA, Japan, India, Colombia, Hong Kong and Germany.
SYDNEY FESTIVAL 2020 ANNUAL REVIEW
31
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 2021, the disability programming initiative involved the development of Into the Space Between the Notes, a showcase of music featuring musicians Liz Martin Band and Tralala Blip. This performance was intended to be an invitation to the audience to come into the space between, where musicians with disability lead and share the storytelling together. Due to the increase in COVID positive cases and the subsequent border closures, this performance was cancelled. Sydney Festival 2021 offered Auslan interpreted and captioned performances, audio described performances and tactile tours, and relaxed performances. The website included an ‘access’ filter, and videos were created in Auslan to ensure people who are Deaf could access information easily. 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.
32 5 WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE VENUES
32
PERFORMANCES
7
2
2
2
CAPTIONED PERFORMANCES
TACTILE TOURS
Auslan interpreter at The Rise and Fall of Saint George, photo by Bianca De Marchi
Auslan interpreter at Wugulora, photo courtesy of Department of Premier and Cabinet
AUSLAN INTERPRETED
AUDIO DESCRIBED PERFORMANCES
RELAXED PERFORMANCES
ACCESS & INCLUSION
ACCESSIBLE PRICING Rather than traditional accessible ticket pricing options like Under 30s, Tix For Next to Nix, or Arts Pass, a special low ticket price initiative was introduced for all patrons wishing to attend any performance as part of An Evening at the Headland. This meant that General Admission tickets were available at $25 for all, with a $22 additional concession price also offered. This price was also offered for several Allowed and Local performances, while others were available to attend free of charge. For those unable to attend The Headland’s season of events, every performance was available to watch live online, completely for free. In total the program launched with over 40 free in person or digital events, and 41 events priced at $25 and under. Audience at The Headland at Barangaroo Reserve, photo by Bianca De Marchi
27
16
41
26,718
15,953
1,175
IN PERSON FREE EVENTS
TICKETS SOLD TO EVENTS $25 AND UNDER
16 FREE DIGITAL STREAMS
HEADLAND TICKETS
EVENTS PRICED $25 AND UNDER
ALLOWED AND LOCAL TICKETS
A Mile in My Shoes, photo by Jacquie Manning
SYDNEY FESTIVAL 2020 ANNUAL REVIEW
33
Future Remains, photo by Lisa Tomasetti
34
★★★★ “THOUGHT PROVOKING AND EXCELLENT: FUTURE REMAINS IS A RICH MUSICAL WORK” THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD ON FUTURE REMAINS
SYDNEY FESTIVAL 2020 ANNUAL REVIEW
35
MARKETING Sydney Festival’s 2021 marketing campaign ran from November 2020 to February 2021, achieving great success in tough circumstances. The COVID-19 pandemic presented challenges unique to 2021 with significant changes for audiences and in the media landscape. As the first major festival to return to Sydney, the marketing campaign aimed to welcome audiences back with confidence, reinforce COVID safe practices, and showcase the Australian Made program.
ĕʠ˰ˌɞίځų̀ʠ˰ͭկ?ځ͜˰̾ͼ?ځǴίځŻɍ
This year, our artwork highlighted the Australian Made program and paid tribute to First Nations people who have been an integral part of Wesley Enoch’s tenure as Festival Director with four portraits painted by Thea Anamara Perkins. A wide-ranging campaign spanned outdoor, online, print, broadcast, radio and direct mail. The strategy this year followed changing audience patterns with a greater emphasis on digital and outdoor in suburban areas. Huge thanks to the Festival’s media partners who helped to deliver an impactful campaign: Signwave Newtown, The Sydney Morning Herald, ABC, SBS and NITV, TimeOut, Concrete Playground, Mr Glasses, Limelight, AKA and 2RPH.
Flags in CBD, photo by Yaya Stempler
Poster in bus shelter
Confidential © 2020 ŻίΝǴˌ˩ɞɍʠǴ
Triffid in the CBD photo by Yaya Stempler
36
Festival brochure and signage at Carriageworks, photo by Yaya Stempler
RADIO
1%
DIGITAL CAMPAIGN IMPRESSIONS SOCIAL
22%
18 MILLION DIGITAL PUBLISHERS
OUTDOOR
42%
DIGITAL
12%
PROGRAMMATIC VIDEO SOCIAL MEDIA EMAIL
PROGRAMMATIC
12%
SEARCH
TV
7%
8% 35% 11% 38% 7% 1%
MARKETING
MEDIA INVESTMENT BY CHANNEL
PROGROMMATIC
SEARCH PRESS
3%
1%
Website advertising for TimeOut takeover
SYDNEY FESTIVAL 2020 ANNUAL REVIEW
37
2021 Sydney Festival website
WEBSITE UX testing was conducted on the 2020 Sydney Festival website to explore useability improvements on event pages and the new purchase pathway. A redesigned event page was developed with a mobile-first strategy, improving the hierarchy of information, and enhancing hero imagery where compatibility for autoplay videos was added. Information architecture and user journey around Explore and Info were also changed to improve discoverability of site content. Prior to launch Festival Stories were also redesigned and a new donation pathway created.
TOP 5 WEBSITE USERS WORLDWIDE
WEBSITE ACCESS
4%
0.78% UK
0.28% GERMANY
0.23% SOUTH KOREA
33%
636K
3.8%
VISITS TO THE WEBSITE
63%
VIA MOBILE
38
VIA TABLET
VIA DESKTOP
USA
91.75% AUSTRALIA
MARKETING
EMAIL ENGAGEMENT
94,126k
PRE-SHOW REMINDERS
204
ENEWS SUBSCRIBERS
20%
PRE-SHOW EMAILS SENT
23%
74%
ENEWS OPEN RATE
CLICK TO OPEN RATE
OPEN RATE
3%
CLICK THROUGH RATE
SYDNEY FESTIVAL SOCIAL MEDIA
149,568
156,200
FACEBOOK FANS
48,600
TWITTER FOLLOWERS
INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS
PAID SOCIAL DEMOGRAPHICS AGE
PAID SOCIAL RESULTS
24.1%
29.5%
GENDER
20
CAMPAIGNS
6.9M IMPRESSIONS
7.7%
36% MALE
10.6%
62% FEMALE
11.6%
16.5%
3% NOT DISCLOSED
18%
INCREASE IN ROAS YEAR-ON-YEAR
18–24 25–34 35–44 45–54 55–64
65+ SYDNEY FESTIVAL 2020 ANNUAL REVIEW
39
SYDNEY FESTIVAL SOCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
AUDIENCE TWEETS
Black Ties at the @sydney_festival was one of the most enriching, heartwarming, and hilarious show I’ve seen in years. It was a Congratulations Enoch & the team at @sydney_festival privilege to to beWesley in the audience. Thank you, @ on theILBIJERRI launch ofand thisTeyear's #sydfest! I am proud of #sydfest for Rēhia Theatre! rising@thejoshuamaxwell to the challenge and adapting the festival to keep us all safe. Pls remember to wear masks and follow @NSWHealth rules when Wow.events. Opening night of ‘Anthem’ as part of @ attending sydney_festival Get a ticket if you still can. This @CloverMoore play made me sad. It made me see. It made Watching #sydfest home. Loving Please livestream more @ me think of howatmuch better we it. must all be. sydney_festival ❤ @sydsymph Brilliant writing, cast and performance. Gets my @elissablake vote for pick of #sydfest 40
THE [UNCERTAIN] FOUR SEASONS: musically stressful! A full-body dissonance experience. Very relevant to my interest in transformative works. #sydfest @sjhfletcher THE [UNCERTAIN] FOUR SEASONS: beautifully evocative and unsettling transformation. I would have loved more program notes on the incorporated climate data; it was hard to deconstruct in a meaningful way. #sydfest @jezfletcher COVID safety report on The Headland for #sydfest: pretty good! No horizontal spacing between chairs, but loads from row to row. Pretty much ubiquitous mask wearing. Only issue was the scrunching up in the queues to get in. There were lots of ppl waiting before the doors opened. @jezfletcher
@tiff.williams: V happy that my first show of 2021 was spent witnessing one of my favourite albums of 2020 live thank u angel @ iameastofficial for having me
✨ 💖
MARKETING
AUDIENCE SOCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
69 Likes
@seemysydney_: Checked out #aMileinMyShoes as part of the @sydney_festival These shoes belong to Australians, and each have a story to tell, my size 8’s belonged to #monashindy Thank you for your story 🏻
@janiealbert So today I did this, Burrawa Indigenous BridgeClimb with @sydney_ festival .. an amazing way to kick off the festival. ️Thanks to our guides Matt and Mia who are full of fun facts we really should know already - like the meaning of Woolloomooloo (young wallaby) and great insights into the feisty Barangaroo. For someone who doesn’t love heights (who does) you feel you’re in safe hands
🖤💛❤
🦘
💓🙏👩✈
👏
104 Likes
36 Likes
@jouljet: A music event of an Australian story, an iconic mural and focal point for a community. And then the hope of #LoveIsLove
@eimilebri: Took a nice long walk around my neighbourhood and up to the market, on the way home I happened upon a Smoking Ceremony marking the opening of the Paddo Res as a @sydney_festival site #GadigalLand
So good. I hope everyone gets to see this, it deserves to see stages all around the country.
💚
35 Likes
I can't wait for my first @sydney_festival show tonight. High expectations for the performance and brilliant comms re ticketing/ FOH. Feel v. safe and organised. #SYDFEST #sydney #arts #tennis @Lucysh @sydney_festival excellent discussion on UTS Big Thinking Forum so ably and thoughtfully led by @LarissaBehrendt thanks to everyone involved #SydFest @DeborahTobias
👏👏
A superb evening under the Sydney stars with the #SongsOfDon. Katie Noonan as sublime and as sweet as ever. #SYDFEST @VincentAlvaro Thank you #SydFest for the #Livestream Enjoying #Rapture from interstate. Having sparkly shoe envy! @TheRenza
💕
💕💕
👏👏👏
21 Likes
@BangarraDance opening performance for @sydney_festival received a standing ovation. The work was so powerful; its simplicity and clarity genius- nothing about it felt forced. We would say get tickets but it might already be sold out. #sydney #sydfest #Australia #Dance @bamboozleroom Lovely 90minutes at #InSitu in @parramattapark with @ dancemakerscltv @sydney_festival 9 micro solo works #sydfest @pipsterb Just had the chance to join @sababebawi's session during #SYDFEST. Brilliant session due to interactive nature, very warm and welcoming of questions and exploration of thought together! @venuskhalessi SYDNEY FESTIVAL 2020 ANNUAL REVIEW
41
Wesley Enoch talks to media at The Vigil, photo by Yaya Stempler
PUBLICITY Overall, the publicity campaign for the 2021 Sydney Festival PR was hugely successful, with coverage of the Festival published in more than 700 outlets across Australia, Aotearoa/New Zealand, UK, France, USA, Singapore and China. Australian coverage was split 62% nationally or interstate and 38% in New South Wales. Total coverage increased by 27.5% on the previous year, with 8,377 pieces of media mentioning Sydney Festival. The Festival was featured in major Australian print outlets including The Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian, Australian Financial Review, Daily Telegraph, The Herald Sun, Saturday Paper, Brisbane Courier Mail, Adelaide Advertiser, The West Australian and Hobart Mercury. Radio coverage included ABC Sydney, ABC local stations Australia-wide, ABC News Radio, Radio National, Radio Australia, Triple J, Double J, SBS Radio, 2GB, 2DayFM, FBi and 2SER. Online, the Festival was featured in pieces on The Guardian, The New York Times, News.com.au, ABC Online, Junkee, Broadsheet, The Conversation, NME, TimeOut and Concrete Playground and ArtsHub. On television the Festival garnered significant coverage across all major networks including Channel Seven, Channel Nine, Channel Ten, ABC, SBS and NITV. Highlights of the 2021 PR campaign included 171 pieces of coverage in The Sydney Morning Herald across print and online (up from 160 in 2020), 80 separate television packages featuring a Sydney Festival artist or spokesperson (up from 46 in 2020 / 73% increase), and 76 interviews with Sydney Festival Director Wesley Enoch (up from 41 in 2020 / 85% increase). 42
Media call at Spirit a retrospective, photo by Yaya Stempler
Wesley Enoch speaking at The Vigil, photo by Yaya Stempler
MARKETING
PRESS 4%
5
TOP REFERRING ONLINE PUBLICATIONS
TV
22%
MEDIA COVERAGE
WROTE
47
RADIO 40%
PIECES
INTERNET
WHICH DROVE
34%
23,905
UNIQUE VISITORS TO THE WEBSITE
$32,694,005
VALUE IN AD SPACE
6 3 2 , 5
335
PRINT ARTICLES IN NATIONAL AND LOCAL PRINT MEDIA
BROADCAST (TV AND RADIO) REPORTS
MEDIA COVERAGE IN AUSTRALIA NATIONAL 62% NSW 38%
SYDNEY FESTIVAL 2020 ANNUAL REVIEW
43
IN THE MEDIA “AS WE STOOD TO LEAVE BARANGAROO, AND THE BRIGHT LIGHTS OF LUNA PARK TWINKLED ACROSS THE HARBOUR, I FELT A SENSE OF GRATITUDE. I WAS THANKFUL TO THE COMMUNITY WHO CONCEIVED AND BROUGHT THIS SHOW TO LIFE: A PERFORMANCE THAT GAVE US SPACE TO REFLECT AND CELEBRATE, THAT MOVED THE DEBATE ON THE MURAL FORWARD, AND OFFERED ENGAGEMENT AS A SOLUTION TO PREJUDICE.” THE CONVERSATION ON THE RISE AND FALL OF SAINT GEORGE
“SUNSHINE SUPER GIRL IS DESTINED TO BECOME A LEGACY PIECE OF AUSTRALIAN THEATRE” THE CONVERSATION
“MICICH CRAFTS A WORLD OF CURIOUS CREATION AND ULTIMATE DESTRUCTION. SUBLIME LIVE MUSIC BY KELLY RYALL COLOURS THIS WORLD, AND WORDS BY TOM WRIGHT BRING IT INTO BEING. DAMIEN COOPER’S LIGHTING OSCILLATES BETWEEN A LONGING FOR TENDERNESS AND A SENSE OF COLD, HARSH OBSTACLES.” THE CONVERSATION ON THE LAST SEASON
“THOUGHT PROVOKING AND EXCELLENT…(JESSICA O’DONOGHUE’S) PERFORMANCE WAS A TOUR DE FORCE OF DRAMATIC RANGE HELD TOGETHER WITH BRILLIANT VOCAL PRECISION AND CONTROL.”
★★★★
THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD ON FUTURE REMAINS
“IN SITU IS A FULL SENSORY EXPERIENCE AND NOT ONE TO BE MISSED” SYDNEY SENTINEL ON IN SITU “USUALLY, PARTICIPANTS SOAK IN THE 360-DEGREE SPECTACLE OF SYDNEY WITHOUT CHALLENGE TO A WESTERNISED PERSPECTIVE OF THIS LAND AND HARBOUR. FOR THIS INAUGURAL BURRAWA CLIMB, HOWEVER, WE LEARN LEGENDARY STORIES AS WE WALK ATOP THE STEEL SPAN OF THE BRIDGE, WHICH SOME 250,000 AUSTRALIANS WALKED ACROSS MORE THAN 20 YEARS AGO IN A MARCH FOR RECONCILIATION.” THE GUARDIAN ON BURRAWA BRIDGECLIMB 44
MARKETING
“WE WATCH AND LISTEN IN AWE AS THE LAND, THE BUSH, AWAKES TO SING THEIR SONGS. IT IS NIGHT, AND WE PEER WITH EYES NOT YET ACCUSTOMED TO DARKNESS WHILE THE LAND IS VERY MUCH ALIVE AND PULSATING UNDER THE MOONLIGHT… THE DANCING IS MESMERISING — GRACE INTERSPERSED WITH BURSTS OF ANCIENT MOVEMENT FROM THE MEN, REMINDING US OF LONG LOST WARRIORS” DANCE INFORMA ON SPIRIT: A RETROSPECTIVE 2021
“A GLORIOUSLY FUNNY AND ENDEARING SUCCESS.” THE AUSTRALIAN ON KENNY
“THIS 70-MINUTE WORK FLIES BY AND LEAVES A GROWING, GLOWING WARMTH. IT’S A CELEBRATION OF THE PERSIAN LANGUAGE AND THE WORKS CREATED FROM ITS HARD-WON SURVIVAL”
★★★★
THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD ON DORR-E DARI: A POETIC CRASH COURSE IN THE LANGUAGE OF LOVE "A RIVETING PIECE OF CONTEMPORARY CIRCUS THAT CELEBRATES THE GROUP OVER THE HEROIC INDIVIDUAL AND EXPLORES NOTIONS OF TRUST AND HUMANITY. EXHILARATING!
★★★★
ARTSHUB ON HUMANS 2.0
“WITH A CAST OF FIVE AND GENEROUS DOSES OF HUMOUR AND WARMTH, SUNSHINE SUPER GIRL IS A PLAY THAT COULD TRAVEL THE COUNTRY SEVERAL TIMES OVER, TAKE UP RESIDENCE IN SCHOOLS AND CREATE NEW MOMENTS OF CONNECTIONS FOR YEARS.” THE SATURDAY PAPER ON SUNSHINE SUPER GIRL “BLENDING THE SOUNDS OF DIDGERIDOOS, VOICE, GUITAR, VIOLIN AND ELECTRONICS, HEARTLAND… EVOKES A VIVID LANDSCAPE THAT GRIPS THE LISTENER FROM START TO FINISH”
★★★★
LIMELIGHT ON HEARTLAND SYDNEY FESTIVAL 2020 ANNUAL REVIEW
45
Sydney Festival is made possible by the dedicated support of its Government, corporate and media partners who play an integral role which enables us to present an engaging world-class program.
GOVERNMENT & COMMUNITY PARTNERS Sydney Festival is especially thankful for the ongoing support by Founding Principal Government Partners; Create NSW and City of Sydney whose continued investment is Sydney Festival has allowed us to reimagine spaces, engage audience curiosity and present high calibre and diverse year on year.
The Vigil, photo by Yaya Stempler
Special thanks are also given to Destination NSW and Infrastructure NSW whose investment helped us realise the ambitious An Evening at The Headland series at Barangaroo Reserve. The Headland series featured 14 performances all of which were livestreamed for free to an Australian and international audiences. In addition, these partners assisted in promoting Sydney Festival and The Headland series through their extensive marketing channels to further drive visitation to New South Wales. Sydney Festival continues to develop and present high-calibre arts and cultural events in Western Sydney with a focus on programming within Parramatta local government area which is supported by City of Parramatta Council. The 2021 Parramatta Program included the staging of H.M.S. Pinafore at Riverside Theatre as well as reactivating the live music scene with the inclusion of Allowed and Local across multiple venues in Parramatta. Sydney Symphony Under the Stars also returned to the Crescent and to the delight of audiences, was held across two evenings made possible through the support of Parramatta Park. UTS returned as ‘Knowledge Partner’ of Sydney Festival presenting co-curated topical forums as well as workshops aimed at prototyping and bringing about meaningful change. For the first time in our six year partnership, this program of events were made available digitally via YouTube, Zoom and Facebook Live and as always were a powerful addition to our 2021 program.
Sunshine Super Girl, photo by Yaya Stempler
46
Requiem, photo by Prudence Upton
PARTNERSHIPS
Carriageworks signage, photo by Jacquie Manning
Allowed and Local, photo by Yaya Stempler
Flags in the CBD, photo by Yaya Stempler
Sydney Symphony Under the Stars, photo by James Horan
UTS Talks, photo by Yaya Stempler
An Evening at The Headland, photo by Bianca De Marchi
SYDNEY FESTIVAL 2020 ANNUAL REVIEW
47
CORPORATE PARTNERS For the first time Sydney Festival welcomed a Regional Partner nbn Australia who helped connect audiences with creative content and cultural performances which featured at Sydney Festival 2021. As part of this, nbn will be taking Sydney Festival on the road, screening a recorded performance of Spirit: a retrospective 2021 by Bangarra Dance Theatre at pop-up events in five regional locations across Australia. nbn also led a robust conversation with Wesley Enoch as they explored how digitisation can help creators, particular First Nations artists, connect with new audiences. Sydney Festival unveiled an exciting new project with BridgeClimb Sydney called Burrawa, which offered a unique immersion into Aboriginal stories spanning thousands of years whilst climbing the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge. Our exciting new venue The Headland at Barangaroo Reserve hosted a series of outdoor concerts where all our Sydney Festival partners were acknowledged at the entrance as well as on the stage screens. Guests attending this venue enjoyed beverages from the James Squire bar which in addition to serving a range of James Squire beers also served Four Pillars Gin/Fever-Tree cocktails and a selection of Alpha Box & Dice wines.
Four Pillars and Fever-Tree cocktail carafe, photo by Jacquie Manning
Four Pillars Gin and Fever-Tree also supported the Allowed & Local series which reenergised local bars and venues in Sydney CBD and Parramatta with a series of music gigs. Media partners provide vital promotional support and coverage, with special thanks to The Sydney Morning Herald, ABC Radio, SBS, NITV, TimeOut, 2RPH, Concrete Playground, AKA, Showtime and Limelight. The Festival also works with a variety of production partners who play a critical role in staging Sydney Festival, most notably TDC who provided the audiovisual technology and expertise at The Headland – including supporting the nightly livestreams. Special thanks to our other production partners; Chameleon, EPS and Safety Culture. We would also like to thank our Festival lawyers Holman Webb, our research partners Woolcott Research and RDA Research as well as Wilson Parking, Signwave Newtown, CloudWave and Artbank Australia. Preview Guide liftout inserted in The Sydney Morning Herald
Sponsor logos on screens at the Headland at Barangaroo
48
Burrawa on Sydney Harbour Bridge
PARTNERSHIPS
Festival scrim at The Headland at Barangaroo Reserve James Squire bar, photo by Yaya Stempler
James Squire bar, photo by Bianca De Marchi
Partner board at The Headland at Barangaroo Reserve, photo by Bianca De Marchi
FESTIVAL FEASTS Sydney Festival’s restaurant program offers audiences a unique dining experience during the month of January. Now in its 21st year, the Festival Feasts program continues to be a successful initiative that directs new business to partner restaurants across Sydney CBD, Inner-West and Parramatta. Thank you to our 2021 restaurant partners; Barangaroo House Bar, Bartolo, Bea at Barangaroo House, Big Poppa's, Cafe Sydney, Chefs Gallery, Chi by Lotus, Esquire at the QVB, Lotus The Galeries, Misfits, Parlour Cucina, Reign at the QVB, The Dining Room, Park Hyatt Sydney and The Gantry Restaurant. SYDNEY FESTIVAL 2020 ANNUAL REVIEW
49
YOU MAKE IT POSSIBLE Our sincere thanks to Principal Philanthropic Partner Peter Freedman AM and all our private donors – our biggest advocates who not only adapted to an evolving Festival during an uncertain year, but whose commitment was unwavering. Peter Freedman’s dedication to ensure the livelihoods of talented Australian and overseas artists made headlines when he committed five million dollars to the Festival and after a five-year journey, we said our farewells to Sydney Festival Director, Wesley Enoch.
“I HAVE LONG BEEN AN ADVOCATE FOR THE SYDNEY FESTIVAL AND STRONGLY BELIEVE IT IS ONE OF THE WORLD’S MOST IMPORTANT CULTURAL EVENTS AND MOST CERTAINLY AUSTRALIA’S." PETER FREEDMAN AM
“SYDNEY FESTIVAL RECEIVES RECORD PHILANTHROPIC DONATION.” SYDNEY MORNING HERALD 13 JANUARY, 2021
Peter Freedman and Wesley Enoch, photo by James Brickwood
50
“MR FREEDMAN’S EXTRAORDINARY GIFT WILL CHANGE THE LIVES OF SO MANY ARTISTS, LIFT THE SPIRITS OF THOSE WHO HEAR THE STORY AND HOPEFULLY INSPIRE OTHERS TO DO THE SAME. WE CANNOT THANK HIM ENOUGH FOR HIS GENEROSITY AND PHILANTHROPIC LEADERSHIP.” MARITA SUPPLEE, HEAD OF PHILANTHROPY, SYDNEY FESTIVAL
VIP FESTIVAL LAUNCH
“I WANTED TO SAY HOW MUCH WE ENJOYED THE LAUNCH. IT WAS FUN AND DIFFERENT – ALTHOUGH I THINK I HAD ENOUGH SUGAR FOR A YEAR! HOW CAN ONE RESIST THOSE MESSINA ICE CREAMS? MY ABSOLUTE FAVOURITE!” FIONA MARTIN-WEBER
Angus Hayward, Fiona Martin-Weber and Tom Hayward, photo by Cassandra Hannagan
Antoinette Albert, Marita Supplee and Rupert Rosenblum, photo by Cassandra Hannagan
Andrew and Carol Crawford, photo by Cassandra Hannagan
PHILANTHROPY
Sydney Festival Launch, photo by Cassandra Hannagan
Previe Villadarez, Wesley Enoch, Peter Freedman and Elizabeth Laverty, photo by Cassandra Hannagan
Ros and Alex Hunyor, photo by Cassandra Hannagan
SYDNEY FESTIVAL 2020 ANNUAL REVIEW
51
FAREWELL MR ENOCH Malcolm Turnbull, Peter Freedman, Jacqui Scheinberg, Wesley Enoch, Lucy Turnbull, Richard Scheinberg and Previe Villadarez, photo by Yaya Stempler
Wesley Enoch, photo by Yaya Stempler
Anthony Maple-Brown, Fiona Martin-Weber and Tom Hayward, Vivia Hickman, Chris and Rhae Shaw and Christopher Tooher, photo by Yaya Stempler
Peter Freedman and Malcolm Turnbull, photo by Yaya Stempler
Camilla Drover, David Mathlin, Cathy and Andrew Cameron, Jules Maxwell and Catriona Noble, photo by Yaya Stempler
Ros Hunyor and Antoinette Albert, photo by Yaya Stempler
Isidoro Felman and Ray Wilson, photo by Yaya Stempler
52
Leanne Hillman and Angela Clark, photo by Yaya Stempler
PHILANTHROPY PHILANTHROPY
Chris Tooher and Rhae Shaw, photo by Yaya Stempler
Larissa Behrendt, photo by Yaya Stempler
“THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE GIVEN TO THE FESTIVAL AND TO SYDNEY! YOU’VE CHANGED THE CONVERSATION FOR THE BETTER AS YOU’VE ENTERTAINED, AWED AND INSPIRED US! BEST WISHES FOR YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE.” LARISSA BEHRENDT AND MICHAEL LAVARCH Penelope Seidler, photo by Yaya Stempler
Fiona Martin-Weber and Anthony Maple-Brown, photo by Yaya Stempler
GET INVOLVED IN 2022 “BEING PART OF THE FESTIVAL FAMILY HAS CERTAINLY TAKEN US ON EXCITING ADVENTURES AND A MEMORABLE RIDE”. CAROLYN LOWRY OAM Visit sydneyfestival.org.au/support or contact Sydney Festival Philanthropy on (02) 8248 6507 or philanthropy@sydneyfestival.org.au for further details.
Carolyn Lowry, photo by Yaya Stempler
SYDNEY FESTIVAL 2020 ANNUAL REVIEW
53
COVID COMMUNICATIONS The 2021 website launched with an easy to find ‘Stay COVID Safe’ page in the top navigation. This page included links to NSW Health guidelines, COVID safe practices and, importantly, a link to the list of COVID-19 case locations with advice to follow heath orders to not attend the Festival if any sites had been visited. Further essential information about attending events was also communicated here, including staying at home if unwell messaging, the Service NSW app, face masks, social distancing, and hygiene. We used Festival Stories to update relevant COVID news, which could be alerted on our homepage. These webpages were visited 6,634 times. COVID safety messaging could also be found in the 'Important' section of each event page and on venue pages. This information was emailed to all Festival tickets holders 24 hours prior to their events, meaning 21 daily email sends completed with a total of 10,365 opens.
COVID safety signage, photo by Yaya Stempler
Checking in at The Headland at Barangaroo Reserve, photo by Bianca De Marchi
COVID safety floor decals, photo by Yaya Stempler
Hand sanitising station at Carriageworks, photo by Yaya Stempler
54
Queuing and checking in at the Headland at Barangaroo Reserve, photo by Bianca De Marchi
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.
Sydney Festival hosted two internship placements in 2021 for students attending New South Wales universities. These interns worked across the marketing and production teams to complement their studies at the University of Technology Sydney.
Volunteers supported the 2021 program, 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. The 2021 volunteer program involved over 160 volunteers working more than an astounding 3,200 hours. The volunteer program also involved 12 volunteer team leaders who supervised rotations and provided information for volunteers at specific sites. 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 2021 the management of Sydney Festival volunteers was undertaken by an internal Sydney Festival volunteer management team.
COMMUNITY
Sydney Festival 2021 volunteers, photo by Yaya Stempler
A huge thanks to the 2021 interns. We look forward to seeing them continue to develop their skills over the coming years.
Volunteer at Sydney Symphony Under the Stars, photo by Yaya Stempler
A massive thanks to all the volunteers for all their hard work and dedication throughout the Festival.
SYDNEY FESTIVAL 2020 ANNUAL REVIEW
55
SUPPORTERS CORPORATE PARTNERS REGIONAL PARTNER
SPECIAL DISTINGUISHED PARTNER
DISTINGUISHED PARTNER
FESTIVAL LAWYERS
STAR PARTNERS
MEDIA PARTNERS SPECIAL DISTINGUISHED PARTNERS
DISTINGUISHED PARTNERS
STAR PARTNERS GU E R R I L L A A D V E R TI S I N G GU R U
MR GLASSES C R E A T I VE A G E N C Y
OO
56 56
BUSINESS SUPPORTERS
CONTRIBUTORS
RESTAURANT PARTNERS
Hapag-Lloyd Staging Rentals & Construction
Artbank Australia CloudWave RDA Research SafetyCulture
Barangaroo House Bar Bartolo Bea at Barangaroo House Big Poppa’s Cafe Sydney Chefs Gallery Parramatta Chefs Gallery Town Hall CHI by Lotus
Esquire at The QVB Lotus the Galeries Misfits Parlour Cucina Reign at The QVB The Dining Room, Park Hyatt Sydney The Gantry
GOVERNMENT & COMMUNITY PARTNERS PRINCIPAL PARTNERS
SUPPORTED BY THE NSW GOVERNMENT VIA CREATE NSW
STRATEGIC PARTNERS
STRATEGIC SPONSOR
SPECIAL DISTINGUISHED PARTNER
DISTINGUISHED PARTNER
STAR PARTNERS
WITH SINCERE THANKS TO PRINCIPAL PHILANTHROPIC PARTNER PETER FREEDMAN AM AND OUR PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORTERS MAJOR DONORS Hooper Shaw Foundation Anthony and Suzanne Maple-Brown Roslyn Packer AC DIRECTOR’S CIRCLE Antoinette Albert John Barrer Andrew Cameron AM and Cathy Cameron Hunt Family Foundation Fiona Martin-Weber and Tom Hayward Neilson Foundation Turnbull Foundation FESTIVAL HEROES Anonymous Robert Albert AO and Libby Albert Larissa Behrendt AO and Michael Lavarch AO
Elizabeth Laverty Dr Kathryn Lovric and Dr Roger Allan David Mathlin and Camilla Drover Penelope Seidler AM ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS The Arcadia Syndicate Carol Crawford Wesley Enoch AM Dianne and Terry Finnegan Linda Herd Roslyn and Alex Hunyor Lisa and Mark Jackson Pulver David Kirk MBE Amanda and Andrew Love Dr Carolyn Lowry OAM and Peter Lowry OAM Robyn Martin-Weber Julianne Maxwell Mary Read Victoria Taylor
Villa & Villa P/L Kim Williams AM and Catherine Dovey Ray Wilson OAM FESTIVAL PATRON John and Helen Barclay Kate Dundas Jennifer Dowling and James Hill Kiong Lee and Richard Funston Lyndall and Trevor McNally Ezekiel Solomon AM
Cheryl Lo Dr Ann McFarlane Catriona Noble Christopher Tooher Sam Weiss SYDNEY FESTIVAL PHILANTHROPY COMMITTEE Andrew Cameron AO (Chair) David Mathlin Jacqui Scheinberg Rhae Shaw Maria Villa
FESTIVAL LOVERS Helen Bauer Sandra Bender Iolanda Capodanno Paddy Carney Zoe Davis Barry Fitzgibbon Gary Nicholls Benjamin Law
SYDNEY FESTIVAL 2020 ANNUAL REVIEW
57
SPECIAL THANKS THE FOLLOWING COMPANIES AND PRODUCTIONS ACKNOWLEDGE THE SUPPORT OF: The Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body.
Disruption! The Voice of Drums, Dorr-e Dari: A Poetic Crash Course in the Language of Love, Humans 2.0, In Situ, Sex, Drugs and Pork Rolls, Spirit: A Retrospective 2021, Sunshine Super Girl, The Last Season, The Museum of Modern Love, Yellamundie Festival
Dorr-e Dari: A Poetic Crash Course in the Language of Love, In Situ, Sex, Drugs and Pork Rolls, Spirit: A Retrospective 2021, Sunshine Super Girl, The Last Season, True West, Yellamundie Festival
Hide the Dog, The Pulse 12 HANDS 6 GRANDS Australia Piano World, Kawai, Fazioli, and Sauter. A MILE IN MY SHOES An Australian National Maritime Museum Foundation Project. Produced by Empathy Museum. Sponsored by City of Sydney and Kingdom of the Netherlands. Supported by Settlement Services International, SBS, Arts Centre Melbourne and AusRelief. ALLOWED AND LOCAL Presented by Sydney Festival in association with Sydney Fringe. AUTOCANNIBAL Creative Victoria and Snuff Puppets. BURRAWA Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council, Tribal Warrior, Jakelin Troy, Matthew Doyle and Clarence Slockee. DISRUPTION! THE VOICE OF DRUMS Sydney Improvised Music Association. DORR-E DARI: A POETIC CRASH COURSE IN THE LANGUAGE OF LOVE The University of Sydney, Vitalstatistix, Crack Festival and the Seaborn, Broughton & Walford Foundation. FIRESTARTER – THE STORY OF BANGARRA Icon Film Distribution FUTURE REMAINS Supported by Kim Williams AM and developed as part of Carriageworks 2020 In Development Program. The staging of Diary of One Who Disappeared was commissioned by Sydney Opera House, enabled by Prof Ross Steele AM. GIRLS CAN’T SURF Madman Entertainment GROUNDSWELL Co-produced by Sydney Festival and commissioned by Melbourne Fringe with Naomi Milgrom Foundation. Supported by the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria, City of Melbourne, the Besen Family Foundation and the Playking Foundation. 58 58
HIGH GROUND Madman Entertainment HUMANS 2.0 Commissioned by The Mondavi Center, UC Davis. Supported by Queensland Government through Arts Queensland. I WANT TO DANCE WITH SOMEBODY Presented by Sydney Dance Company and the NSW Government as part of The Festival of Place. IN SITU Supported by City of Parramatta and the Parramatta Park Trust. MINARI Madman Entertainment SEX, DRUGS AND PORK ROLLS Supported by Riverside Theatres, Crown Resorts Foundation, Packer Family Foundation and Bankstown Arts Centre. SPIRIT: A RETROSPECTIVE 2021 Bangarra Dance Theatre is supported by Bai Communications, Lendlease, Boral, Qantas and The Balnaves Foundation. SUNSHINE SUPER GIRL Produced by Performing Lines and supported by production co-commissioners: Melbourne Theatre Company; Griffith Regional Theatre; QPAC; Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre; Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre; Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre; Geelong Arts Centre; The Art House – Wyong; Capital Venues and Events; and Country Arts SA. Supported by the Seaborn Broughton & Walford Foundation; the Blake-Beckett Trust; Moogahlin Performing Arts; Playwriting Australia through its Playwrights Retreat Program; and the generous support of Performing Lines’ donors. SYDNEY SYMPHONY UNDER THE STARS Parramatta Park Trust, Sydney Symphony Orchestra and City of Parramatta. THE LAST SEASON Commissioned by Carriageworks, produced by Force Majeure, devised by the Company. THE MUSEUM OF MODERN LOVE City of Sydney THE PULSE Commissioned by Adelaide Festival, Sydney Festival and Darwin Festival. THE [UNCERTAIN] FOUR SEASONS Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Melbourne composer Hugh Crosthwaite, Monash University’s Climate Change Communication Research Hub, design and innovation agency AKQA and German advertising agency Jung von Matt. TÌNH KHÚC TỪ QUÊ HƯƠNG / SONGS FROM HOME Commissioned by Urban Theatre Projects. TRUE WEST Riverside’s National Theatre of Parramatta, Crown Resorts Foundation and Packer Family Foundation. YELLAMUNDIE FESTIVAL Presented by Moogahlin Performing Arts with Carriageworks and Sydney Festival. Supported by City of Sydney and the Australian Government Office for the Arts. Special thanks to ILBIJERRI Theatre, Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company, Te Rehia Theatre, Native Earth Performing Arts, Tawata Productions, and Wesley Enoch.
SYDNEY FESTIVAL STAFF 2021 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 Officer Thomas Hamilton PROGRAMMING Executive Producer Vivia Hickman Producers Andy Currums, Kate Williams, Kat Anastasiou-Bell First Nations Producer Jade Christian Digital Producer Ione Davis Associate Producer Neville Williams Boney Programming Administrator and Associate Producer Rebecca Gribble Volunteer Manager Ashleigh Harrington Volunteer Coordinator Sharon Mifsud BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND MARKETING DEVELOPMENT Senior Corporate Partnership Manager Brooke Ravens Sponsorship Managers Amalina Whitaker, Raymond Phan Events and VIP Manager (Maternity Leave) Jane You MARKETING Marketing Manager Aimee Ocampo Digital Marketing Specialist Scott Henderson Marketing and Social Media Specialist Oliver Hall Marketing Coordinator Harry Erickson
Graphic Design Manager Anais Taylor Senior Graphic Designer Stef Mercurio Signage Coordinator Allison Jeny TICKETING Ticketing Manager Tara Harding Ticketing Systems Coordinators Sarah Toner, Vanessa Denis Ticketing Customer Service Team Danny Love, Christopher Wale PHILANTHROPY Head of Philanthropy Marita Supplee Executive Projects Coordinator and Philanthropy Assistant Fiona Jackson PRODUCTION Head of Production John Bayley Production Manager Alycia Bangma Project Managers Gordon Rymer, Nathalie Taylor, Nathan DaCunha Project Manager: Parramatta Jesse Hilford Logistics Manager Justine Merrony Logistics Coordinators Eleanor Miller, Sarah Jayne Saunders Production Assistant Bridget McWilliams Store Supervisor Sean Maroney HOSPITALITY AND CATERING Hospitality Manager Blake Smith Catering Consultant Fernando Motti FESTIVAL DESIGN AGENCY Alphabet Studio FESTIVAL COMMUNICATIONS AGENCY Common State FESTIVAL PHOTOGRAPHERS Bianca De Marchi, Jacquie Manning, James Horan, Prudence Upton, Yaya Stempler FESTIVAL VIDEOGRAPHERS Vokyo
SYDNEY FESTIVAL BOARD PATRON Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AO QC, Governor of New South Wales BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chair – David Kirk MBE Prof. Larissa Behrendt AO (outgoing)
Andrew Cameron AM Paddy Carney Angela Clark Darren Dale Kate Dundas Dr Robert Lang Benjamin Law Catriona Noble GAICD
Clockwise from top: Flags in CBD, photo by Yaya Stempler Requiem, photo by Prudence Upton Becca Hatch at Allowed and Local, photo by Bianca De Marchi Sunshine Super Girl, photo by Yaya Stempler Crowd at The Headland at Barangaroo Reserve, photo by Jacquie Manning Back cover: Portraits by Thea Perkins
SYDNEY FESTIVAL 2020 ANNUAL REVIEW
59
60
