Sydney’s Carriageworks is something of a chameleon. The performance venue-cum-exhibition space-cum-convention centre-cum-installation hall wears its savvy flexibility on its sleeve, and its ability to cater for just about any occasion has proven to be both commercially and artistically fruitful. 2015 has been one of Carriageworks’ most successful years since it reopened its doors in 2007 to begin the next phase of its 127 year life as an artistic hub. Over 790,000 people have passed through its doors over the past year, a 43% increase on 2014’s tally.

This astronomic swell of patrons, which has been consistently record-breaking over the past four years, is largely due to Director Lisa Havilah’s stewardship of Carriageworks. Her gusty, boldly forward-facing approach, and willingness to embrace experimental, pioneering work, has made this venue one of Australia’s most well-heeled and highly regarded contemporary multi-arts centres. As Havilah unveiled 2016’s season this morning, which has been tipped to be the most ambitious undertaking of Carriageworks to date, her choice of language – iron-clad words like “boundary-pushing,” “unrelenting” and “risk-taking” – speaks to a fearless and decisive vision that bucks...