By Samuel Smith
Published: Thursday, September 26, 2019
From 17 October to 3 November, Adelaide will overflow with theatre, dance, music, visual arts and literature from across Asia.
Along with a smorgasbord of incredible food and the dazzling Moon Lantern Parade, OzAsia Festival is a bold, boundary-pushing arts event offering something for everyone.
To help you make the most of this year’s festivities, we’ve put together a list of must-see events and shows. Best of all? RAA members get 10% off some shows.
RAA member discounted events
Siti Nurhaliza
When: 18 October
Where: Festival Theatre
Malaysia’s answer to Celine Dion, Siti Nurhaliza graces Adelaide with her incredible vocals for one night only. Nurhaliza is a best-selling singer-songwriter, known as The Voice of Asia, with over 23 years in the music industry.
Her Adelaide Festival Theatre show promises a dynamic fusion of modern pop and traditional Malaysian melodies with songs performed in Malay, Mandarin, English, Arabic and Japanese.
RAA members get 10% off tickets.
The Village
When: 25–26 October
Where: Festival Theatre
Stan Lai – one of China’s most revered playwrights – brings his masterpiece, The Village, to OzAsia Festival in 2019. Set in the 1940s, The Village is an emotive coming-of-age story, exploring the evolution of Taiwan, from a temporary refugee exile to the cultural melting pot it is today.
Dazzling audiences with authentic period costumes and a stunning set design, The Village has been staged more than 200 times in the UK, China and the US. See the Australian premiere at the Adelaide Festival Centre.
RAA members get 10% off tickets.
Kata
When: 17 – 18 October
Where: Space Theatre
Lightning-fast breakdancing and edgy hip-hop collide in Kata – a high-octane dance off lead by acclaimed French-Vietnamese choreographer, Anne Nguyen. Known for bringing street dance culture into the spotlight, Nguyen has spent years mastering b-boy style, capoeira, gymnastics and Brazilian jiu jitsu.
In Kata, 8 charismatic dancers hit the stage for a night of explosive dance moves, complex battle scenarios and an immersive, percussive backdrop.
RAA members get 10% off tickets.
Totes Adorbs ❤ Hurricane: Miss Revolutionary Idol Berserker
When: 23—27 October
Where: Adelaide Festival Centre
Dubbed ‘the most WTF show of the year’ by Time Out magazine, Miss Revolutionary Idol Berserker brings a bombardment of confetti, water pistols, glow sticks, Lycra, glitter and pom-poms to Adelaide Festival Centre. From the neon-lit streets of Harajuku, Japan, 25 performers will launch into precise, synchronised dance moves as 50 songs are remixed into one epic music track.
RAA members get 10% off tickets.
Beirut Electro Parade
When: 1 November
Where: Nexus Arts
Paris-based Lebanese producer, Hadi Zeidan brings cosmic synths, neo-Arabic influences and obscure electro from Lebanon’s underground music scene to OzAsia Festival for one night only.
Beirut Electro Parade explores the modern soundscapes of Beirut, having toured in Paris, Beirut, and now – for this first time – Australia.
RAA members get 10% off tickets.
Free events
Lucky Dumpling Market
When: 17 October to 3 November, every day except Monday
Where: Adelaide Riverbank
Between shows, treat your stomach at the Lucky Dumpling Market – a lively smorgasbord of Asian food vendors and bustling bars, on the banks of the River Torrens. The Lucky Dumpling Market includes free live music from an eclectic line up of artists and is open most nights of the 3-week festival.
Moon Lantern Parade
When: 19 October
Where: Elder Park
OzAsia Festival’s famed Moon Lantern Parade is back this year, bringing hundreds of glowing lights, lanterns and a stunning 40-metre Hong Kong dragon to Elder Park. Roll out the picnic rug and settle in for the night, as Australian-Chinese music collective, Emissary of Tang, provides tunes.
For dinner, grab a bite from one of Adelaide’s famed food trucks, serving delicious cuisine from around the world. The night will end with a spectacular fireworks display.
JLF Adelaide
When: 1–3 November
Where: Adelaide Festival Centre
JLF Adelaide is OzAsia Festival’s official literature program, featuring curated talks, forums, conversations, panel discussions and poetry readings from a huge range of local and international writers and thinkers.
Speakers offer an Asia-centric perspective on economics, sport, travel, cinema, history, arts and the environment.
