OzAsia 2014 Program

South Australian sister state Shandong Province will be showcased as the focus of the eighth OzAsia Festival. The populous China region’s rich history and culture highlight part of this year’s festival, including the Australian premieres of Red Sorghum (Qingdao Song and Dance Theatre’s interpretation of the novel by Nobel Prize-winning author Mo Yan, which won China Ministry of Culture’s highest award, the 2014 WENHUA grand prize) and Dream of the Ghost Story by Shandong Acrobatic Troupe, which features more than 50 performers. The Adelaide Festival Centre-hosted OzAsia Festival runs from Wednesday, September 3 to Sunday, September 21 with 36 events, including six world premieres, seven Australian premieres, as well as 25 Adelaide exclusives. Other countries represented in this year’s program include Japan, Korea, Philippines, Cambodia, Palestine, as well as Russia and Indonesia. Shandong is not the only cultural area of China represented. From Beijing comes the city’s famed minimalist TAO Dance Theatre, which will bring its double-act 6 and 7 to Adelaide, the latter of which is a world premiere. Also from Beijing is the Australian premiere of Ibsen in One Take by Wang Chong and Théatre Du Réve Expérimental, a movie filmed live on stage and inspired by the works of Henrik Ibsen. For something a little different, Beijing’s “queen of rock” Helen Feng will bring her solo project Nova Heart to the festival. One of the world’s greatest contemporary composers, and OzAsia favourite, Tan Dun (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon composer) will also return to perform the Australian premiere of Nu Shu: The Secret Song of Women with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. Calligrapher and artist Hiroko Watanabe will create a three-dimensional calligraphy installation to the music of Japanese band Above the Clouds, while The Popeye will be used for a series of floating concerts on the River Torrens – Floating Melodies. OzAsia on Screen returns this year for the cinephiles and the ever-popular Moon Lantern Festival at Elder Park returns on Monday, September 8. Chefs including Cheong Liew and Simon Bryant are part of the food program, while the festival has collaborated with leading arts institutions including the Art Gallery of South Australia, Samstag and Nexus Multicultural Centre for its visual arts program. For the full OzAsia program head to adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/ozasia-festival OzAsia Festival Adelaide Festival Centre September 3 to September 21 adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/ozasia-festival