Ben Gillies and Chris Joannou will launch their book Love & Pain with a special in conversation at this year’s New Annual festival.
The launch of the book is part of the City of Newcastle’s flagship arts and theatre event which is set to make a return this September, offering 10 days of immersive art, culture, and creativity.
New Annual aims to shine a spotlight on local artists, musicians, and creatives, showcasing the depth of talent in Newcastle’s thriving cultural and arts sector.
“New Annual is the catalyst for Newcastle’s cultural events sector to take centre stage alongside leading national events,” Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.
“Building on the success of last year’s festival, which attracted almost 40,000 people to more than 140 performances and activities, New Annual will once again surprise, inspire and delight audiences as they discover a new side of Newcastle and its creative community.”
The festival will showcase a diverse program featuring dance, circus, visual art, music, and theatre performances by both local and nationally renowned artists.
This year, the festival will introduce new performance spaces, including Christ Church Cathedral and an inner-city distillery, alongside the transformation of familiar landscapes like Civic Park and Museum Park with large-scale installations and pop-up stages.
Civic Park will be buzzing with activities, including the extravagant Blanc de Blanc Encore by Strut and Fret in the Spiegeltent and Keith Courtney’s mesmerizing installation called Kaleidoscope.
A vibrant mix of free, low-cost, and family-friendly events will also be on offer throughout the festival, including powerful performances like Noise by Dancenorth Australia and the musical showcase This Land featuring acclaimed First Nations performers.
Museum Park will host a range of free events and workshops celebrating First Nations culture, while the Civic Theatre will be a hub for dynamic performances, including gigs by Kate Ceberano and Boy and Bear, as well as a production of Good Mourning by Tantrum Youth Arts.
New Annual will run from 22 September to 1 October. Visit newannual.com to check out the full program and secure your tickets.
