The Australian premiere of Destinations by acclaimed Taiwanese-Australian pianist Belle Chen is one of three shows providing a sneak peek at Adelaide Festival Centre’s OzAsia Festival 2021.
At the forefront of UK new wave classical music, Chen is as uncategorisable as her music is captivating. Her compositions retain the beauty of classical piano while traversing avant-garde and electronica to embody the world’s natural wonders. Using electric keys, synthesizers and visual installations, Destinations will see Chen’s arrangements brought to life in vivid colour at Her Majesty’s Theatre on 21 October.
Tickets are also on sale for Adelaide exclusive The Special Comedy Comedy Special featuring an exciting line-up of Asian Australian comedians including host Jennifer Wong (from ABC’s Chopsticks or Fork?) and Adelaide’s own Jason Chong, along with Suren Jayemanne, Triple J Drive host Michael Hing and TV personalities Lawrence Leung (Offspring, Maximum Choppage), Alex Lee (The Feed) and Nina Oyama (Utopia).
Rounding out the early release is the Adelaide premiere of Sydney Theatre Company’s White Pearl. Written by Thai-Australian playwright Anchuli Felicia King, the play is a blisteringly funny satire about a skincare company whose new TV commercial goes viral for all the wrong reasons.
With the rest of the program to be revealed in August, this will be the first full-scale OzAsia Festival under the leadership of new Artistic Director Annette Shun Wah. “For OzAsia Festival 2021, we are thrilled to be presenting the most significant showcase of contemporary Asian Australian artists that’s ever been seen before.
“We have so many world-class performers right here in Australia, and these first few shows that we’re announcing today are just the tip of an iceberg that includes world premieres and collaborations featuring some of Australia’s most respected artists alongside exciting new voices.”
In another exciting development, OzAsia Festival 2021 will present In Other Words – a new writing and ideas program featuring a range of talks, workshops and performances from 5 – 7 November.
In Other Words will bring together some of Asia and Australia’s most inspiring contemporary writers as they engage in vital conversations about their past, present and future. Led by former Adelaide Writers’ Week director Laura Kroetsch, the program boasts acclaimed authors Benjamin Law and Roanna Gonsalves as guest curators.
“The thing I have most enjoyed about reading and thinking about this event is that it has given me a chance to experience a sensibility not my own,” said In Other Words Program Curator Laura Kroetsch. “I have so thoroughly enjoyed travelling around Australia and the Asia-Pacific through stories. The experience has been utterly enlightening.”
“We can’t wait to share the full program for this year’s OzAsia Festival, and this early release is just a taste of what audiences can expect,” said Adelaide Festival Centre CEO & Artistic Director Douglas Gautier AM.
“In addition to theatre, music and comedy, we’ll have a wonderful selection of dance, film, visual art and community events – all providing unique interpretations of the cultural engagement between Australia and Asia.”
The 2021 OzAsia Festival runs 21 October – 7 November. Full program will be launched in August. For more information, visit: www.ozasiafestival.com.au for details.
Image: Belle Chen in Destinations – photo by Lidia Crisafulli