Tasmanian International Arts Festival brings the world to our shores

The world comes to Tasmania shores in March 2015 for the state’s highly acclaimed biennial multi-arts festival –
now known as the Tasmanian International Arts Festival.

Ten Days Artistic Director, David Malacari said, just as Tasmania and the world has grown and changed, so has the
festival since its 2001 beginnings.

“The 2015 Tasmanian International Arts Festival brings with it a new creative energy and confidence that
celebrates Tasmanian’s connections to the world through the great trading routes of the southern oceans which
converge on the state, and through the many communities in Australia which provide cultural enrichment of
inestimable value,” Mr Malacari said.

“The program will be presented state wide in March 2015 in locations as diverse as Bruny Island, Lake Pedder,
Kempton, Saltwater River, Lake St Clair, Swansea and Deloraine as well as King Island and Flinders Island.

“It will showcase an exciting range wonderful artists and companies, national and international,” Mr Malacari said.

“We are connected to a world of exciting, intense and entertaining arts so finding theatre, dance, music, comedy
and visual arts for 2015 wasn’t the problem, however choosing from a mouth watering list of acts was. We have
put together a program appealing to our many audiences that features international acts Dementia 13, The
Cardinals, Rising and an Australian premiere of Hamlet, de Los Andes; alongside an abundance of creativity and
ambition from our local artists.

“Dementia 13 offers an impressive deconstruction of Francis Ford Coppola’s 1963 horror film’s audio in which the
entire sound track; dialogue, sound effects and music; are created live on stage, with astonishing clarity and
atmosphere, to accompany the screening of this glorious, schlock horror classic in Launceston and Hobart,” said
Mr Malacari.

“In an Australian exclusive, South American company Teatro de los Andes, use Bolivian culture, traditions,
mythologies and language, to recreate a Bolivian version of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Hamlet de los Andes is not the
Hamlet of high-school. It is raw, visceral and compelling. This highly visual performance was a hit in London and is
sure to astound Tasmanian audiences in Burnie and Hobart.

“The increasingly renowned contemporary dancer, Aakash Odedra will delight audiences in Launceston and Hobart
with his beautifully fluid movements in both contemporary dance and a short work inspired by traditional Indian
styles in his acclaimed show, Rising.

“Odedra will perform four solo dances; three of which have been choreographed by world renowned
contemporary dance choreographers Akram Khan, Russell Maliphant and Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, with the final dance
choreographed by Odedra himself.

“The inventive UK theatre company, Stan’s Café, explore the idea of belief in the sometimes whimsical but always
witty production, The Cardinals. When their puppets go missing the three cardinals must step in and act out some
of the most well known stories from the bible on a tiny puppet’s stage. A performance that doesn’t preach or
offend but does provoke questioning and self-reflection and provides a different experience for audiences by being
staged in churches in Launceston and Hobart. “

Arts Minister, the Hon. Dr Vanessa Goodwin said since its inception Ten Days has been one of the premier arts
experiences in Tasmania.

“We look forward to that continuing with the Tasmanian International Arts Festival.”

“The 2015 festival is another great opportunity for Tasmanians and visitors to enjoy a wide range of unique
performances in every corner of the state,” Dr Goodwin said.

Other highlights include:

• Blue Angel, an immersion of music, installation, video, sound design and art performed in and around
Hobart’s iconic Astor Hotel; audiences can select to stay overnight for the full, immersive experience
created by the stories of sailors and sea-faring, or stop by in the evening for a boutique concert.

• In Alzheimer Symphony, a famous elderly actor forgets his lines while performing Shakespeare’s King Lear,
marking the beginning of his journey into Alzheimers. He develops contraptions to meet his needs which
help fight his fading memory but eventually it becomes too much and he has no choice but to succumb to
his fate. Alzheimer Symphony will be performed on Bruny Island, Huonville, Kempton, Deloraine and
Swansea.

• El Son Entero, the well-respected traditional Cuban band will tour Australia for the first time with their
seductive beats and tightly woven rhythms sure to get audiences out of their seats and onto the dance
floor. El Son Entero will delight audiences in Burnie, Triabunna and Moonah.

• I Think I Can, an interactive performance which invites audiences to inhabit a miniature town and become
active participants in its community. To be performed in both Hobart and Burnie.

• The world premiere season performance in Hobart of Chinese maestro Tan Dun’s Wolf Totem –
commissioned and performed by the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra.

The full program will be available from all Ten Days ticketing outlets and can be downloaded from the Ten Days
website. Tickets will go on sale 10am Thursday 13 November.

Tickets purchased prior to Christmas will attract a 25 per cent discount, subject to availability, as part of an early
bird ticket offer. To purchase tickets simply head to tendays.org.au, phone 6210 5777 or visit the Ten Days office
located at 71 Murray Street, Hobart.
Becher Townshend, Font PR