Sydney Festival ushers in its 40th anniversary in style as it unveils 2016’s headline acts: Toni Morrison and Peter Sellars’ Desdemona and Festival centerpiece, Tom Waits’ Woyzeck.

These two world-class productions are the first to be revealed by outgoing Artistic Director Lieve Bertels in his final year leading the festival. Desdemona is a re-imagining of Shakespeare’s Othello, exploring the life and death of the Bard’s most tragic heroine. For the first time Sydney Festival will open its doors to audiences in October 2015, outside its usual summer Festival dates at the beginning of January. Opening the festival in the New Year will be German theatrical company, Thalia Theater Hamburg’s grim masterpiece, Woyzeck. This Sydney Festival exclusive is also Thalia Theatre’s Australian debut – an event facilitated by the support of the NSW Government and premier tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.

Desdemona

“Sydney Festival’s 40th year will see a great line-up of artistic activity beginning with the special October season of Desdemona, an acclaimed piece of Contemporary Theatre. Over four decades, the festival has grown to become a wonderful showcase of home-grown and international talent,” said...