Photos: Sydney Festival
Kurt Vile tuning up
With six performances – each spanning 80 minutes, including an interval – to be performed during the festival and having just came from a critically acclaimed run of shows in Europe, Ockham’s Razor is sure to be one of the theatrical highlights of 2014. WHEN & WHERE: Jan 20–29 Seymour Centre, Chippendale. HOW MUCH: $42
Music: Edwyn Collins WHAT: The one-time lead singer and songwriter for influential British post-punk outfit Orange Juice is bringing a selection of his incredible back catalogue to the stage in Sydney for the festival in 2014. The Scottish-born musician, who has been active in the business since 1976, has influenced highly successful bands and artists like Belle & Sebastian and Franz Ferdinand and is quite rightly considered a national treasure in the United Kingdom. What makes Collins’ story all the more unique and amazing is the fact that he has recovered since a near fatal stroke in 2005 to return to his one true passion of writing, releasing and performing music. His show, entitled Exuberant Northern Soul is sure to be chock full of his legendary music – ranging from old Orange Juice classics, to songs off his most recent album Understated. WHEN & WHERE: Jan 19 and 21 Spiegeltent, Jan 18 at The Lennox in Parramatta. HOW MUCH: $48 at Spiegeltent, $25 at The Lennox.
Circus: LIMBO WHAT: The latest creative work from Australia’s new emerging circus company; AfterDark Theatre. LIMBO is a raw, sexy and, at times, confronting journey through the mind of an old woman, stricken by madness, living in what is described as a ‘twisted mansion’. Combining elements of gymnastics, puppetry, illusion 20
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as well as cabaret, burlesque, live music and good, old fashioned circus acrobatics, LIMBO is poised to be one of the stand out performances from 2014s Sydney Festival. Artistic director Francesco Minniti says "We are trying to bring audiences an entertaining show that is still artistic. Usually circus shows are very in your face and gimmick loaded, we are trying to steer away from that." Having returned from a series of critically acclaimed shows in the United Kingdom as well as in Melbourne, you’re not going to want to miss LIMBO when it descends on Sydney. WHEN & WHERE: Jan 9–26 at the Festival Village, Hyde Park. HOW MUCH: $59–$65
Music: Kurt Vile WHAT: Philadelphia solo artist Kurt Vile, is no stranger to Australian shores, having only recently been in the country for 2013s Splendour in the Grass Festival, but he will be performing, alongside his band The Violators, at the 2014 Sydney Festival. One of contemporary, indie music’s most accomplished and critically acclaimed artists; Vile's most recent albums; including 2011s Smoke Ring for My Halo have received massive critical acclaim both in his native country as well as internationally. Highly respected British music publication NME described Vile’s live show as being “electrifying”. Vile will be kicking off a run of shows around Australia this month and next with a show with his band, supported by local band Shining Bird, as well as a solo show the following night. WHEN & WHERE: Sydney Town Hall, 22 Jan. Kurt, solo, Jan 23 at the Festival Village, Hyde Park. HOW MUCH: Jan 22: $56, Jan 23: $32. For more info on the Sydney Festival, which runs from January 9-26, see sydneyfestival.org.au