Newcastle’s momentous cultural festival, New Annual kicks off today bringing 10 days of dance, music, theatre, visual arts and Indigenous workshops to the city.
The action all kicks off this morning with Curious Legends at the Playhouse and ramps up tonight at the Civic Theatre with a contemporary dance performance created by internationally renowned Australian choreographer Stephanie Lake.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said she was thrilled to see 12 months of preparation come to fruition today ahead of a packed schedule of events.
“Months of planning and hard work have culminated in a dynamic event that has broad appeal, attracting new audiences to the wealth of talent that exists within our thriving arts and cultural scene while also providing a platform for national artists to showcase their work in the city,” Cr Nelmes said.
“There is so much to see and do throughout the city during the 10-day festival period, including a busy program at the purpose-built Civic Park Stage, which acts as the festival hub for the duration of the event and will showcase everything from art-making workshops and dance performances to the National Young Writers Festival and Future Innovators Summit.
“The Civic Theatre will also play host to a myriad of shows throughout the festival, including the incredible spectacle of COLOSSUS, which makes its Newcastle debut tonight and features a cast of 50 dancers performing as one in a hypnotic display created by internationally renowned Australian choreographer Stephanie Lake.
“As with our inaugural New Annual, this year’s festival has a strong First Nations program that reflects our rich Indigenous heritage, with the Pavilion of Sand installation providing a base for indigenous cultural expression in Wheeler Place while the landmark musical showcase This Land celebrates the sound, soul, and spirit of the many nations in this country through an incredible line-up of First Nations artists curated by Jacob Ridgeway.
“With its mix of free, ticketed and family-friendly events, New Annual will allow everyone to experience the fun, festival atmosphere of our flagship event and I can’t wait to see everything it has in store for us.”
To check out the full New Annual program, purchase tickets or keep up-to-date with the latest information including wet weather cancellations, visit newannual.com.
