Every January, Sydney Festival enlivens and transforms Sydney with a bold cultural celebration based on big ideas and cutting-edge art and performance.
The program is kaleidoscopic in its diversity, from jaw-dropping contemporary ballet to epic art installations, international theatre hits, primal circus, immersive virtual reality, modern Indigenous art and theatre, punk protest music and more.
Inclusive programming, a broad range of free events and accessible pricing policies for the ticketed shows means that Sydney Festival is open to all, welcoming Sydneysiders and visitors from wherever they live.
Join us for free music events Symphony Under The Stars in Parramatta Park and Opera in the Domain, or head for Circus City in Prince Alfred Square, Parramatta, for free performances by Legs On The Wall and Sydney Trapeze School.
Throughout January, head down to the Meriton Festival Village in Hyde Park – the epicentre of Sydney Festival – for a drink and a feast, ticketed shows in the Magic Mirrors Spiegeltent, plus free performances and DJs every night.
In 2018, we’re also proud to introduce the Village Sideshow, a fun park filled with wild, wonderful and bizarre attractions. Check out the freaky virtual reality Ghost Train or sing a song on the Karaoke Carousel, plus the Village Pools, Glitterbox, Temple of Din pinball artworks, 10 Minute Dance Parties and more.
More than any other cultural event, Sydney Festival defines Sydney's personality. For over three decades we have presented international artists who guarantee headlines, and whose presence in Sydney adds to the Festival's buzz and prestige. Names like Björk, Brian Wilson, Grace Jones, Manu Chao, Elvis Costello, AR Rahman, Cate Blanchett, Ralph Fiennes, Robert Lepage, The Flaming Lips, Nick Cave, PJ Harvey, Peter Sellars, Sir Ian McKellen and David Byrne & St. Vincent, alongside some of the world's great companies - Wayne McGregor's Random Dance, Cheek by Jowl, Gate Theatre, The Wooster Group and the Schaubühne Berlin to name only a few - share the Festival with the most exciting artists and companies in Australia.
Sydney Festival's audacious contemporary programming positions it at the forefront of arts practice in Australia and up there as one of the most wonderful festivals in the world.
HISTORY
Sydney Festival was originally conceived by the Sydney Committee, the NSW State Government and the City of Sydney with a view to attracting people into the city centre during the holiday month of January.
The first Festival took place in 1977 and it has since grown to become one of Australia's largest annual cultural celebrations with an international reputation for modern, popular and intelligent programming. In many ways it is probably still best understood as a celebration of Sydney and its style and energy reflect the confidence, diversity and vigour of one of the world's most beautiful cities.
The Festival has a history of presenting Australian premieres and many of Australia's most memorable productions such asCloud streetandSmoke & Mirror shave resulted from Sydney Festival's commitment to nurture local artists. It has brought many of the world's great artists to Sydney including: Ariane Mnouchkine and Thèâtre du Soleil (Flood Drummers), Robert Wilson (The Black Rider), Robert Lepage (Far Side of the Moon, The Andersen Project, Lipsynch), Schaubuhne Berlin (Hamlet), Netherlands Dance Theatre, James Thiérrée, Philip Glass, Ian McKellen (Dance of Death), Peter Sellars, Batsheva Dance Company, National Theatre of Scotland (Beautiful Burnout,Black Watch,Aalst), Al Green, AR Rahman, Kneehigh Theatre (Tristan & Yseult,The Red Shoes), Wayne McGregor's Random Dance (Entity), Ludger Engels and Vivienne Westwood(Semele Walk)and Fabulous Beast (Rian).
POLICIES AND ACTION PLANS
The Sydney Festival Limited (ACN 070 285 344) is bound by the National Privacy Principles under the Privacy Act 1988. Sydney Festival holds personal information for the purposes of sending information about Sydney Festival events and other arts events. Read Sydney Festival's Privacy Policy.
Reconciliation Action Plan: Sydney Festival’s vision for reconciliation is to formally and informally engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and communities and to positively contribute to improving outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Disability Inclusion Action Plan: The Sydney Festival Disability Inclusion Action Plan supports our commitment to being for everyone in Sydney, regardless of accessibility needs, and provides our organisation with strategic direction in addressing accessibility issues.
Sustainability Plan: Sydney Festival has a vision is to be the most sustainable major performing arts festival in Australia.
FESTIVAL DIRECTORS
Wesley Enoch is Festival Director 2017–2019
Previous directors were:
Lieven Bertels: 2013 - 2016
Lindy Hume: 2010–2012
Fergus Linehan: 2006–2009
Brett Sheehy: 2002–2005
Leo Schofield: 1998–2001
Anthony Steel: 1995–1997
Stephen Hall: 1977–1994
PATRON
His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd),
Governor of New South Wales
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Chair - David Kirk MBE
Co-Founder and Managing Partner
Bailador Investment Management
David is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Bailador Investment Management and Chairman of listed companies, Bailador Technology Investments, Trade Me and Kathmandu. Prior to this, he was Chief Executive Officer of Fairfax Media. His previous experience also includes a period as an advisor to the Prime Minister of New Zealand. He is currently the Chairman of Trustees of Sydney Grammar School and sits on a number of other Boards and charitable organisations.
David enjoyed a highly successful rugby career and captained the All Blacks to win the World Cup in 1987. He was awarded an MBE in 1987 and now lives in Sydney with his wife and three sons.
Prof. Larissa Behrendt
Professor of Law and Director of Research
University of Technology, Sydney
Prof. Larissa Behrendt is the Professor of Law and Director of Research at the Jumbunna Indigenous House of Learning at the University of Technology, Sydney.
She has published numerous textbooks on Indigenous legal issues. She is a member of the Academy of Arts and Sciences and a founding member of the Australian Academy of Law. Her most recent book is Indigenous Australia for Dummies. Larissa wrote and directed the feature film, Innocence Betrayed and has written and produced several short films.
Larissa won the 2002 David Uniapon Award and a 2005 Commonwealth Writer’s Prize for her novel Home. Her second novel, Legacy, won a Victorian Premiers Literary Award. She is the former Chair of the Bangarra Dance Theatre and a board member of NSW Museums and Galleries.
She is the Ambassador of the Guwara Aboriginal Campus at St. Andrew’s Cathedral School in Sydney and a board member of the Sydney Story Factory, a literacy program in Redfern. She was awarded the 2009 NAIDOC Person of the Year award and 2011 NSW Australian of the Year.
David Borger
Western Sydney Director
Sydney Business Chamber
David was appointed by the Chamber in 2012 to advocate for the needs of leading businesses in the Western Sydney area.
In this role David sets the policy agenda by promoting discussion on issues that contribute to economic activity and growth in Western Sydney. He has been instrumental in the Badgerys Creek Airport, Powerhouse to Parramatta, and Sydney Olympic Park to Parramatta Light Rail advocacy conversations.
Prior to this, he served as Minister for Roads, Minister assisting the Minister for Transport and Roads in the NSW Government, Minister for Housing, as well as Minister for Western Sydney in the NSW government.
Paddy Carney
Partner - PwC Australia
Paddy is a registered company auditor, a partner at PwC and is also Deputy Chair of its Board of Partners in Australia. She has over 25 years' financial experience with PwC in the UK and Australia across a broad range of clients with a focus on the retail, consumer and agribusiness sectors. She is also a Trustee of the Historic Houses Trust of NSW (Sydney Living Museums) and a governor of the Sir David Martin Foundation.
Angela Clark
Former Director, Digital Network
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Angela Clark was formerly Director, Digital Network at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, after joining the ABC Executive as Director of the Innovation division in March 2012. Angela started her career as an investment analyst before joining JCDecaux Australia at 26 years old, becoming its first Managing Director and launching the company's operations across four states. Seven years later Angela joined Macquarie Radio Network as CEO, leading the company for five years before leaving radio to pursue her passion for digital media, founding a number of start-ups in citizen powered and local news. Angela has previously held Directorships across arts, media and sporting organisations including; South Sydney Football Club, Biennale of Sydney, Bundanon Trust, Performing Lines and Commercial Radio Australia.
Angela holds a BA in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from Oxford University.
Darren Dale
Producer
Blackfella Films
Since joining Blackfella Films in 2000, Darren has produced many award winning productions including the landmark multi-platform history series First Australians, feature documentary The Tall Man, factual series First Contact, and the tele-movie Mabo commissioned to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the landmark High Court decision.
In collaboration with acclaimed UK writer Jimmy McGovern, Darren has also produced two series of the Logie Award-winning Redfern Now for ABC1, with a final tele-movie to screen in 2015.
He is currently Executive Producer on the factual series DNA Nation for SBS and the ABC3 teen drama series Ready for This.
Darren currently serves on the board of Screen NSW and is the Deputy Chair of the Council of the Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS), and in 2012 was the recipient of the prestigious AFTRS Honorary Degree.
Diana Eilert
Diana Eilert is a professional non-executive director. She is currently a director of ASX listed companies Veda and Navitas as well AMP Life, Networks NSW (the “poles and wires”) and Queensland Urban Utilites (water). Diana also has extensive executive experience running large businesses - such as Suncorp’s entire insurance business - as well as recent digital experience gained in her 3 years with Newscorp where she was also a director of real-estate.com.au.
Diana has a long held enthusiasm for the Sydney Festival and in her executive career was one of the major sponsors under the GIO brand.
Matthew Melhuish
CEO
Enero Group
Matthew has over 30 years' experience in the advertising and marketing industry across a range of roles in Australia and the UK. Prior to Enero, Matthew was a founding partner of BMF and was CEO for 15 years from its inception through to BMF being named as ‘Agency of the Decade'.
Matthew was Chairman of the EFFIE Advertising Effectiveness Awards for 10 years and spent 15 years as a National Board member of the peak industry body, The Communications Council and the Advertising Federation of Australia (AFA). He also served as National Chairman of the AFA. Matthew was a Board member of the international aid organisation Médecins San Frontiérs/Doctors without Borders (MSF) for 10 years.
