2024 LIVEWORKS FESTIVAL: A Convergence of Art, Identity, and Innovation

Performance Space's Liveworks Festival returns from October 23rd to 27th at Carriageworks. Now in its 41st year, Performance Space continues to cement its reputation as Australia's leading platform for experimental art, promising a program that challenges conventions and explores contemporary themes through diverse artistic expressions.

The 2024 lineup, curated under the guidance of new Artistic Director Kate Britton, offers a rich tapestry of performances that address pressing societal issues and personal narratives. Britton emphasises the festival's role in bringing people together during challenging times, stating, "This year's Liveworks Festival and the incredible artists in the program offer us a chance to come together, share space, and imagine a kinder and more generative world."

Among the festival's highlights is It's Already Happened, We're Just in the Past, a speculative installation by Emily Parsons-Lord and Shan Turner-Carroll that promises to challenge perceptions of time and reality. For those seeking a more vibrant experience, THUNDERBLOOM-LIVE by HOSSEI and his ensemble offers a theatrical extravaganza that blends various performance styles.

Marcus Whale's Ecstasy stands out as a bold intersection of rave culture and Christian liturgy, promising a visceral solo performance that explores spirituality in unexpected contexts. Interactive experiences are also on offer, with Daley Rangi's dissent inviting audience participation in a role-playing piece, while Luke George's Fell creates an intimate space for exploring personal and communal narratives.

The festival doesn't shy away from complex social issues. Jessie McCall's The Bloom examines queer propagation and motherhood, while PinWen Su's Leftover Market casts a critical eye on societal undervaluation. Joel Bray's Brolga: A Queer Koori Wonderland promises to be a highlight, offering an immersive celebration of queer performance and First Nations stories.

For those drawn to more intense emotional experiences, Marcus Ian McKenzie's The Crying Room: Exhumed and Oli Mathiesen's endurance-based dance work The Butterfly Who Flew Into The Rave push the boundaries of physical and emotional expression.

The Liveworks Festival 2024 appears set to offer a diverse and challenging program that reflects the complexities of our times. From interactive performances to immersive installations, the festival provides a platform for artists to explore themes of care, intimacy, collapse, and the potential for small actions to create significant change.

The festival promises to be a thought-provoking and engaging experience that showcases the power of performance to illuminate our shared human experiences and imagine new possibilities for our future.

Full program: https://performancespace.com.au/

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