Australia’s major arts festivals have announced their programs in recent weeks. Speaking to Limelight, Perth Festival Director Iain Grandage describes his final festival as one “filled with warmth, hope, lightness and brightness, with ecological themes at its heart and a sense of shared humanity as we face difficult times.”

Commencing 9 February (to 3 March), the Perth program features artists including African superstar Angélique Kidjo, UK contemporary dance legend Akram Khan, New York City’s Brooklyn Rider, Italy’s inimitable Ludovico Einaudi and a provocative work from the Belgian theatre adventurers Ontroerend Goed.

Ontroerend Goed’s Are we not drawn onward to new erA. Photo © Mirjam Devriendt

Sydney Festival’s Artistic Director Olivia Ansell is hoping to “speak to the heart and soul of Sydney” with her program, one that features a Puccini operaa staged outdoors on a historic lightship in Darling Harbour, a mini-festival of engagements with JS Bach and the Sydney premiere of Kate Miller-Heidke’s comedy-musical Bananaland. 

And after the early announcement of its centrepiece – Robert Lepage’s The Nightingale – Adelaide Festival has announced its full program. Among its exclusives are the return of the Schaubühne Berlin, this time with French...