Other than 40+ degree heatwaves and Instagrams of Bondi Beach, nothing typifies a Sydney summer more than the Sydney Festival. And if you’ve already caught a glimpse of a trippy travelling Spiegeltent or a five-story rubber duckie bobbing in the harbour then you’d be correct in thinking that it’s the festival rather than any post-holiday delirium that’s to blame.
To help you sort through the cornucopia of shows rolling into town this year, here are five most of the most outrageous, Francophilic, heartfelt, humiliating and debaucherous to help you welcome the new year in true Sydney style.
1. Semele Walk
You’ll have to dig something truly remarkable out of your wardrobe to stand out at this high-fashion take on Handel’s rarely seen opera. Pouting models in fabulously outrageous Vivienne Westwood couture strut a gleaming white runway alongside princess Semele (post-20th century punk makeover) and the god Jupiter (in sequinned kilt and diamond-studded socks) while you look on from seats set out in gridded fashion show-style. You won’t even notice the absence of a goodie bag. January 11, 12, 14, 15 at 8pm, Sydney Town Hall, $99 – $195.
2. So Frenchy So Chic
Feed your inner Francophile with music richer than beurre blanc and more delicate than the crackly topping on a crème brûlée. The infamous French label will be serving up velvety slices of sassy chic in the form of Melanié Pain and Nadéah and hypnotic chamber-pop by Revolver, presenting France’s eclectic music scene at its vibrant best. January 21 at 8pm, Sydney Town Hall, $56.
3. Symphony in the Domain: The Sound of Kubrick
For an Australia Day experience that doesn’t involve blue paint in your hair and spilt beer on your shoes, pack a picnic and head to The Domain. The Sydney Symphony will be promoting a more elegant atmosphere with classical music from iconic Stanley Kubrick’s movies including A Clockwork Orange, The Shining and 2001: A Space Odyssey. Get there early with sunscreen and a hat (preferably one without flags on it) to get agood spot. January 26 at 8pm, The Domain, FREE.
4. The Blind Date Project
Going on a blind date is daunting enough even when you’re not meeting in a karaoke bar and there aren’t a whole group of strangers gathered around to watch. That’s the premise of The Blind Date Project: You’re those strangers, actress Bojana Novakovic blind dates a different performer every night, and the sentiments — both heartfelt and humiliating — aren’t limited to the couple on stage. January 8 – 20, The karaoke Klub, Seymour Centre, $35.
5. Cantina
Leave your preconceptions at the door for this one. The Sydney Festival’s most debaucherous performance is a seedily seductive fusion of reality, fantasty, dark eroticism and carnivalesque acrobatics, exploring the rapture and torment of desire. Taking place in the trippy Spiegeltent and backed by a live soundtrack making use of some pretty bizarre instruments, it’s as unsettling as it is unmissable. January 8 – 27, The Famous Spiegeltent, $60 – $65.
