Adelaide Festival Centre and the Riverbank precinct were abuzz with enthusiastic crowds over the weekend, as OzAsia Festival celebrated record breaking attendances of more than 106,000 across the first four days of performances and community events.
Families and fans flocked to the popular Moon Lantern Trail as it lit up Tarntanya Wama/Pinky Flat with more than a dozen giant lanterns, including the new Hong Kong Dragon lantern designed by OzAsia Festival artist Vivian Ho. The Moon Lantern Trail, which was introduced in 2021, attracted 42,000 attendees who enjoyed roving performances, giant puppets, interactive workshops and delectable food on the riverbank.
More than 1000 passionate fans converged at Dunstan Playhouse for two sold out performances of Taylor Sheesh’s The Errors Tour, where the fearless tribute performer brought down the house and the beloved annual celebration of Japanese pop culture AnimeGO! took over Festival Theatre foyer on Sunday. Crowds also gathered at Elder Park’s Lucky Dumpling Market which continues to serve up a delicious range of cuisine from the best local vendors, as well as live entertainment on the OzAsia Festival stage, community performances, and free workshops from Tuesday to Sunday each week, up until November 10.
OzAsia Festival Artistic and Executive Producer Joon-Yee Kwok: “What a spectacular start to OzAsia Festival 2024! Thank you to all our wonderful audiences for making the opening weekend so special.
“From Taylor Sheesh fans singing their hearts out in the Dunstan Playhouse, to families making a wish at Tanabata: Star Village on their way to meet the new Hong Kong Dragon lantern at Moon Lantern Trail, and Festival Theatre Foyer overtaken by Japanese pop culture fans at AnimeGO!
“I was so thrilled to see Adelaide Festival Centre and the Riverbank precinct full of our communities opening this year's OzAsia with such joy and revelry. Please join us for another fantastic two weeks.”
Still to come this week, the OzAsia Festival stage at the Lucky Dumpling Market welcomes some of Adelaide’s hottest musical acts including Aaron Duff’s exhilarating Chinese Electronic Music Project, multi-instrumentalist Koleh’s blend of Southeast Asian sounds and contemporary indie-pop, and Big Bao’s vibrant party vibes featuring an expertly curated Asian Australian playlist.
Adelaide Festival Centre CEO & Artistic Director Douglas Gautier AM: “We were delighted to see so many people enjoying OzAsia Festival’s opening week, showcasing contemporary Asian and Asian Australian performances at their finest. These attendance numbers are a testament to the dedication of Joon-Yee Kwok and the OzAsia Festival team in bringing such a wonderful program of engaging events to the people of Adelaide. I look forward to welcoming everyone to connect with the exceptional OzAsia Festival program over the next two weeks.”
This week audiences can also celebrate the vibrancy and magic of India, in the Australian premiere of the internationally acclaimed extravaganza A Passage to Bollywood. Experience breathtaking dance routines by renowned film choreographer Ashley Lobo, and all the romance, action, and melodrama of a big Bollywood film live on the Dunstan Playhouse stage.
Making its world premiere this week, The Story of Chi in Space Theatre is a captivating coming-of-age tale perfect for families. An OzAsia Festival commission, The Story of Chi uses puppetry to explore the bonds uniting us across generations.
Music takes centrestage at Nexus Arts this week, with drummer Chloe Kim offering an expressive and masterful performance of solo drumkit on Wednesday 30 October, and South Australian hip-hop artist Kultar Ahluwalia’s multidisciplinary performance The Mixed-Race Tape, exploring themes including identity and fatherhood, on Saturday 2 November.
The Honourable Andrea Michaels MP, Minister for Arts: “What an incredible opening weekend for OzAsia Festival with more than 106,000 people heading to Adelaide Festival Centre and the Riverbank precinct.
“The Malinauskas Government is proud to support this fabulous event and I look forward to seeing even more people out enjoying it over the next couple of weeks with a packed program of events, exhibitions, performances and talks from local and international stars, along with the fantastic Lucky Dumpling Market serving delicious Asian cuisine.”
In OzAsia’s third and final week comedy lovers can look forward to award-winning Australian comedian, artist and author Anh Do, performing his hit show The Happiest Refugee Live! at Festival Theatre on Thursday 7 November. Returning for its fourth year, The Special Comedy Comedy Special will bring together a stellar bill of hilarious Asian Australian comedians on the Dunstan Playhouse stage, hosted by ABC Radio Adelaide’s Jason Chong. Featuring Sami Shah, Harry Jun, Jennifer Wong, Kushi Venkatesh, Lawrence Leung, Lizzy Hoo, Sashi Perera, Takashi Wakasugi and Urvi Majumdar for one night only.
Direct from an extended sold-out season in Singapore, it’s Adelaide’s turn to celebrate Por Por’s Big Fat Surprise Wedding. Starring Crazy Rich Asians’ Koh Chieng Mun as the spirited, 70-year-old Por Por. Revel in the surprises of this unforgettable and hilarious dinner theatre performance which includes a four-course culinary experience by local chef Dheeraj Varma, and a glass of sparkling wine on arrival at Adelaide Festival Centre’s Banquet Room from November 6-10.
At Space Theatre, award-winning Afghan composer, instrumentalist and producer Qais Essar will perform an evening of emotional and thought-provoking music on the rabab; and electronic musician, singer and cabaret artist Dyan Tai will present Permaisuri, a live music and performance art project, exploring queer identity and the diasporic migrant experience in Australia.
Punjabi Australian vocalist and Adelaide’s own Parvyn (from popular band The Bombay Royale) will launch her second album Maujuda on Friday 8 November at Nexus Arts, blending contemporary rock, disco, and jazz with rich Sikh Punjabi folk traditions.
OzAsia’s free programming at Lucky Dumpling Market continues in week 3 with Aussie K-Poppers United Concert & Seoul Vibe, a celebration of K-Pop presented by the Korean Cultural Centre, an Australian music showcase including a line-up of local Asian Australian artists, and a free concert by Aussie hip hop royalty L-FRESH The LION.
OzAsia Festival’s final weekend will also include the largest gathering of Asian and Asian Australian writers and thinkers in the country for thought-provoking panels, inspiring conversations and engaging workshops at OzAsia Festival’s Weekend of Words.
The 2024 program, curated by multi-award-winning writer and comedian Sami Shah, features an extraordinary lineup of novelists, journalists, poets, playwrights, performers, and screenwriters from across Australia and Asia, including a panel session from the Asia Society on Our Modern Asian Australian Identity.
OzAsia Festival 2024 runs from October 24 to November 10.
The full OzAsia Festival program can be viewed online at ozasia.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au
Images and vision from OzAsia Festival 2024’s opening weekend can be found here.
Media kits for OzAsia Festival shows and events, including high-resolution imagery and video can be downloaded here.