Program Guide 2008 Program Guide | Page 2

WELCOME CAROL SCHWARTZ AM PRESIDENT JOHN BRUMBY MP PREMIER LYNNE KOSKY MP MINISTER FOR THE ARTS This year marks the end of a remarkable four-year tenure by Festival Artistic Director Kristy Edmunds. Kristy has brought to Melbourne the most groundbreaking, exciting and entertaining contemporary work in theatre, dance, music and the visual arts, along with a multitude of crossdiscipline collaborations. Each year Melbourne International Arts Festival engages and inspires us with some of the most innovative theatre, music, dance, visual arts and multimedia from Australia and around the world. Excellence, diversity and accessibility are hallmarks of Melbourne International Arts Festival, a festival that aims to present the best possible artistic experience to as many people as possible. Last year more than half a million artlovers attended Festival events. The extent to which Kristy has raised the Festival’s international profile is truly significant, promoting the Festival as a leadership organisation that is engaged with the world. I would also like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of Festival staff who do their utmost to make all the great ideas happen. The Festival would not be able to go that extra mile, to be such an exceptional event on the international arts calendar, without the generous financial contributions of our sponsors, supporters and Patrons Circle members. This support is crucial to the long-term planning and viability of the Festival. With such a rich and diverse program of events on offer, 2008 promises to be another outstanding year in the Festival’s history. Delve into this Guide and be prepared to experience Melbourne as never before! Carol Schwartz AM Melbourne International Arts Festival President The wide variety of venues and ticket prices, as well as the free exhibitions and visual arts events, make this Festival accessible to all. In 2008 the free events program includes an historic Opening Night concert in Federation Square that brings together music ensembles, soloists, performers and artists in celebration of the oldest and the newest cultures of our multicultural city. The Festival extends beyond metropolitan Melbourne with the impressive Festival Around Victoria program, which brings top Festival acts to regional communities. This year Toshi Reagon and BIGLovely Trio perform in Bendigo, Frankston and Dandenong, Kartik Seshadri performs in Frankston and the Interpreti Veneziani delivers a taste of Venice to Sale. The Victorian Government is proud to be the major supporter of Melbourne International Arts Festival. The Festival plays an important role in putting Melbourne and Victoria and our local artists on the international map, and brings some of the world’s best talent to local audiences. Have a great Festival. John Brumby MP Premier of Victoria This year’s program makes the most of all that Melbourne has to offer. From the exterior walls of NGV International via the Princes Bridge walkway, to Moorabbin and beyond, the Festival invites you to see Melbourne with fresh eyes. As we near the end of Kristy Edmunds’ four-year tenure, I would like to acknowledge her contribution to the Festival and to the cultural life of Melbourne. The Festival provides an important international platform for local artists. This year’s Festival features a number of hotly anticipated world premieres from some of Victoria’s most innovative companies: Back to Back Theatre with Food Court, Chunky Move’s Two Faced Bastard, Lucy Guerin Inc with Corridor, Jenny Kemp’s Kitten, Appetite by KAGE, The Black Arm Band with Hidden Republic, Polyglot’s The Big Game and Sunstruck by Helen Herbertson and Ben Cobham. These premiere works of international significance truly demonstrate the high calibre of talent in Victoria and the commitment that the Festival has to developing local artists. The Victorian Government has supported the Festival for 23 years and I am personally proud to be able to offer my support to this, one of the highlights of the Victorian cultural calendar. Lynne Kosky MP Minister for the Arts, Victoria