What IS the “Sydney Festival” all about?
Is there a “New York Festival”, a “Tokyo Festival”, a Paris or London Festival, or even a “Berlin Festival”?

Why does Sydney Festival exist?

Does it have any relation to festivals of the likes of “Surry Hills Festival”, Newtown Fest, etc… although it is fair to say these themselves seem to be rapidly losing the relationship they have had with their communities.

The best Sydney Fest has offered me in the past few years is the occassional large scale work like that of La Fura Dels Baus how ever many years ago..

There have been some amazing musicians and theatre works, but you’re often almost better off just planning a well timed overseas trip to catch them at a much less hyped occassion somewhere more in their element.

OK, so I did unfortunately miss the Uber Lingua section of the opening party this year, which is about the closest I’ve seen to any real community connection recently. As for the Barracks Bar, I’ve been to various shows over the years and NEVER been as satisfied as seeing a similar class of performer at a non-Sydney festival gig put on by a promotor with real passion for the music. The point of that bar simply does not seem to be appreciation of the performance itself. I’m not quite sure what the point is, but it doesn’t do it for me…

What do you think is the point of the Sydney festival?

There is certainly art I need and art I want, but the festival rarely provides either, and if it ever does, something about the event almost inevitably lets it down. Sorry, but I’m skeptical of the value of the whole thing.