Main photo: Xplorer Studio
In Spring 2007, the inaugural OzAsia Festival was held to platform Asian and Asian Australian art and culture. A Moon Lantern Parade trailed through Elder Park, marking a moment in time where the festival would go on to foster cultural exchange, broader perspectives, and artistic collaborations between Australia and Asian countries.
Now attracting audiences of up to 200,000 each year, the festival showcases theatre, dance, music, visual arts, literature, food, and cultural events.
Running from October 24 to November 10, this year’s OzAsia Festival presents a bold, genre-defying program that draws in artists from around the world.
Here are five picks from the lineup >>
THURSDAY 24.10 – SUNDAY 10.11 // OZASIA FESTIVAL STAGE
Lucky Dumpling Market, Elder Park
The hub of OzAsia, Lucky Dumpling Market, shines with authentic Asian cuisine along the River Torrens. It makes for a great pitstop pre- or post-show, and is also a destination of free live music.
Highlights of the program include Aaron Duff’s Chinese Electronic Music Project, combining traditional Manchurian instruments with modern digital soundscapes; Koleh, merging sounds from Southeast Asia with contemporary indie-pop; Big Bao, featuring local DJs for back-to-back sets of Asian Australian party music; Aussie K-Poppers United Concert, an ode to the global K-pop phenomenon; and one of Australia’s most celebrated hip-hop artists on closing night, L-FRESH The Lion.
SATURDAY 26.10 & SUNDAY 02.11 // THE MIXED-RACE TAPE
Nexus Arts
Kultar Ahluwalia has a lot to say. Through The Mixed-Race Tape, the South Australian multidisciplinary artist tells the story of his life, blending hip-hop with old recordings, family interviews, and spoken word, exploring identity, masculinity, mixed marriage, and fatherhood. Drawing on his Punjabi heritage and Irish roots, Kultar presents his unique style of hip hop through the autobiographical performance, wearing his heart on his sleeve.
WEDNESDAY 06.11 – SUNDAY 10.11 // POR POR’S BIG FAT SURPRISE WEDDING
Banquet Room, Adelaide Festival Centre
At 70 years old, Por Por the matriarch of the Chan family has decided to settle down, yet the groom is a mystery to everyone, including her own family. The theatre performance brings karaoke, comedy, and chaotic character energy, as the family sets out to determine if the love is really true or fake.
Presented by Singapore Theatre Company on their 30th anniversary, Por Por’s Big Fat Surprise Wedding features international stars, including Koh Chieng Mun from Crazy Rich Asians and Under One Roof.
Por Por welcomes guests to the show to be a part of the family, where tickets include a four-course meal and a glass of sparkling wine on arrival.
FRIDAY 08.11 // PERMAISURI
Space Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre
Electronic hyperpop fused with Beijing opera and Southeast Asian soundscapes – that’s the kind of range Dyan Tai brings to the stage. The Malaysian-born, Sydney-based electronic musician, singer, and cabaret artist’s latest project, PERMAISURI, blends Chinese operatic elements with cyberpunk drag and immersive projections by Juune Lee.
Joined on stage by a cast of East and Southeast Asian talent, the show explores queer identity and the diasporic migrant experience in Australia, all through sophisticated pop.
SATURDAY 09.11 // THE SPECIAL COMEDY COMEDY SPECIAL
Dunstan Playhouse, Adelaide Festival Centre
For one night only, a lineup of 10 Asian Australian comedians will take the mic, hosted by ABC Radio Adelaide’s Jason Chong.
It’s a showcase of comedy superstars, including Lawrence Leung from Utopia and Offspring, Lizzy Hoo from Have You Been Paying Attention?, Jennifer Wong and Urvi Majumdar from Celebrity Letters and Numbers, and other performers from sold-out, award-winning festival shows. Expect an electric atmosphere and bold humour.
OzAsia Festival: Thursday October 24 — Sunday November 10
The full OzAsia Festival program can be viewed online.
