From Rhinoceros In Love
Japan is the country of focus for this year’s 5th OzAsia Festival kicking off this Friday evening.
Three shows come complete from there, three are Australian-Japanese collaborations and there is also a Japanese festival of 10 films as part of the overall on-screen program.
Shugo Tokumaru (9th and 10th Sept) is a gifted songwriter and multi instrumentalist (with 50 different instruments at his disposal) whose songs have wowed critics and fans with a sound that draws as much from classic Beatles-esque melodies as his own unique spin on Japanese pop. While, Cool Wise Man with Likkle Mai (9th and 10th Sept) provides ultra cool ska, calypso, rock steady, dub, roots reggae with a Japanese edge.
Each of the bi-national collaborations offers up delicious possibilities. Four Winds (2nd and 3rd Sept) is an extraordinary union of three Australian musicians and a master Japanese drum performer. Andy Bevan and Steve Falk are two Japan-based musicians who blend raw earthy sounds of marimba and didgeridoo with flute and saxophone. Joining them will be Shonosuke Okura, one of Japan’s Intangible Cultural Treasures, on drums and bringing them all together will be Slava Grigoryan, our International Guitar Festival Artistic Director.
From Dreamscape
Dreamscape is a double bill of Jiri Kylian’s Dreamtime, an exquisitely crafted chamber work for five dancers, paired with Leigh Warren’s Escape which contrasts action-packed movement with intense stillness and features mesmerising Japanese contemporary dancer Kaiji Moriyama.
While Koan (13 Sept) is an exclusive program curated by the ASO’s Natsuko Yoshimoto of the rich and varied sounds of contemporary Japanese chamber music. Joining Natsuko will be virtuoso Shakuhachi Master Akikazu Nakamura and Australia’s Claire Edwardes on percussion and Bernadette Harvey on piano.
Notwithstanding, no show is likely to be more anticipated that Rhinoceros In Love (15-17 Sept). Recognised as a masterpiece of experimental theatre, Rhinoceros In Love tells the story of keeper Ma Lu who falls in love with his neighbour Ming Ming who cares not for him. This contemporary, energetic and popular production, attributed as the play that reinvented modern Chinese theatre, unveils the extremes people go to for love.
Of course, no OzAsia Festival would be complete without its Moon Lantern festival, on this year on Monday, 12 September from 3.30pm at Elder Park. Along with various participating community groups and schools the feature act will be the Chinese, Shandong Art Troupe.
With the on-screen festival, to be shown at the Mercury Cinema, there are three Australian films, Dragon Pearl (by Mario Andreacchio – 1st and 11th Sept), the tantalising prospects of Mark Hartley’s Machete Maidens Unleashed (2nd Sept) and the Brian Trenchard-Smith classic Man From Hong Kong (2nd Sept).
So check out the full program at www.ozasiafestival.com.au and get along to not only an opportunity to get better acquainted with the culture of our northern neighbours but also some world class performers.
Kryztoff has two double passes to giveaway for shows at this year’s festival.
We have a double pass to Shugo Tokumaru on Friday 8th September at 8pm and also one to Continent (a treat for lovers of cartoon physicality, slapstick and a Japanese sense of fun) on Friday 16th September at 7.30pm.
If you would like to win one, let us know which show at win@kryztoff.com by 5pm this Friday evening and tell us the name of the director of the 1975 classic Man From Hong Kong (named above.)
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