Split Flow & Holistic Strata (dance)

Hiroaki Umeda is one of the world’s leading choreographers. He uses stunning visual and sound technology to influence his choreographic style in a digitised and multimedia- focused performance. It’s short, sharp and unlike any modern dance presented before in Adelaide.

The multi-media-focussed Split Flow.

The Record (theatre)

This is a special event we are doing for our 10-year anniversary. Forty-five members of the South Australian community will come together to rehearse and perform a modern movement / theatre piece that shows us who we are as a multicultural society and how we connect with each other as a group of strangers who are fundamentally united by the time and place we live in now.

Special event The Record. Photo: Maria Baranova

As If To Nothing (dance)

City Contemporary Dance Company are like the Sydney Dance Company of China. An elegant and exquisite ensemble of dancers who represent the best of contemporary dance and attract leading artists from around the world, such as former William Forsythe Associate Sang Jija, who choreographed this work.

Contemporary Dance Company’s As If To Nothing. Photo: Isamu Murai

Two Dogs (theatre)

This is a belly-laugh-inducing comedy from China. Two Dogs leave their home in rural China and trot off the make it big in the city. Like a classic Hollywood screwball but filled with the challenges of modern-day China. This is one of the funniest shows I’ve seen in the theatre.

Acclaimed Chinese comedy Two Dogs.

God Bless Baseball (theatre)

Japan’s acclaimed theatre director Toshiki Okada looks at the complex relationship between Japan and Korea with America as an overseeing parental figure, all played out through the metaphor of baseball. This is intimate, moving, world-class theatre.

God Bless Baseball.

Twelfth Night (theatre)

Shakespeare through the lens of modern India. This is a fast-paced and fun-filled production with music and energetic performances which proves the Bard will never go out of date and can reach to all corners of the globe.

An Indian take on Twelfth Night, set in Mumbai.

Croquiky Brothers (comedy)

This show is for anyone who grew up with Mr Squiggle. These two brother-clowns from Korea can draw anything. They dance to pop tunes, clown around, draw funny faces and re-create the Mona Lisa. Children of all ages will be laughing out loud and cheering on the Croquiky Brothers at their first performances in Australia.

The dancing, clowning, drawing Croquiky Brothers.

King of Ghosts (music)

Soumik Datta is an Indian music superstar. He has performed with an eclectic line-up of stars such as Beyonce, Bill Bailey and Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui. In Adelaide, he will partner with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra to present a live film score to an old Sunjit Ray film which touches on the theme of magical realism. A rare opportunity to see a world-class musician play with the ASO for free in Elder Park.

King of Ghosts. Photo: Souvid Datta

Cabinet of Curiosities (music)

Margaret Leng Tan is the world’s first toy pianist. She also makes music from tea pots, toys, bicycle bells and other found pieces. She was mentored by John Cage and has performed in many of the great music halls around the world. Here, she will present her latest work called Curios alongside some of her classic pieces composed by Cage and Australia’s own Erik Griswold.

Miniature piano player Margaret Leng Tan. Photo: Kong Chong Lew

Beastly (interactive)

Tutti Arts is an Adelaide-based company that creates cutting-edge visual arts and performing arts by young artists with disability. Its project Shedding Light was the quiet success of the 2015 OzAsia Festival and it returns again with another immersive performance event which involves one-on-one performances with audience members being led into secret temple spaces to witness the beastly nature that hides within each of us.

Beastly, presented by Tutti Arts and Stepping Stone.

The 2016 OzAsia Festival runs from September 17 until October 2, with the full program available here.

For details of the Moon Lantern Festival and other OzAsia Festival opening weekend events, see InDaily’s what’s on column.