A free public celebration of the diverse and rich cultures in Sydney’s west, here are our must-see performances
PARRAMASALA PANTRY
Riverside Theatre Courtyard, Corner Market and Church Street, Parramatta
Riverside Theatre courtyard will come alive as our celebrity and guest chefs perform live cooking demonstrations that will tantalize the tastebuds and fill the room with the aromas of freshly cooked meals from around the world!
Celebrity chefs for Saturday 11 March will be conducting live cooking demonstrations:
– Tiffany Jones – Desserts, Cakes & Pastries 12pm – 12:30pm
– Tom Prosser – French Cuisine 2:30pm – 3:00pm
– Brian Johnson – Jammin Jerk, Jamaican Cuisine 4:00pm – 4:30pm
– Furqan Lodhi – Pakistani Cuisine 5:30pm – 6:00pm
DJs and artists will be performing at the following times:
– Bukhu – 1:00pm – 1:45pm
– Soul Drummer – 3:00pm – 3:45pm
– Didge N’ Dholl – 4:30pm – 5:15pm
– DJ Sheerian – 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Celebrity chefs for Sunday 12 March will be conducting live cooking demonstrations are the following times:
– Dharmesh Rangparia (Chaktazz) – Indian Street Food 12pm – 12:30pm
– Ajoy Joshi (Nilgiris) – Inidan Cuisine 2:30pm – 3:00pm
– Nicole Spehar (My Kitchen Rules) – Croatian Cuisine 4:00pm – 4:30pm
– Enzo & Vincenzo – Italian Cuisine 5:30pm – 6:00pm
DJs and artists will be performing at the following times:
– Adnan Baraké – 1:00pm – 1:45pm
– Maharshi Raval – 3:00pm – 3:45pm
– Khyaal – 4:30pm – 5:15pm
– Coco Varma – 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Sat 11 March
IM/MODESTY – a Sound Installation by Shoeb Ahmad
11am-4pm
ICE – Information and Cultural Exchange, 8 Victoria Road, Parramatta
Inspired by his own teenage experiences and the stories of others with a similar background, Bangladeshi-Australian sound artist Shoeb Ahmad explores the blooming of one’s inner sexuality, meditations on intimacy and exploration of personal relationships in im/modesty, a 60 minute sound work that uses a text narrative for three voices to guide the listener through a psycho-geographic trip of one’s sub-continental heritage, written for and manipulated from Indian electronic instruments, harmonium and percussion as well as field sounds recorded in southern India and Bangladesh.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER MIDNIGHT IN PARRAMATTA
2pm-3pm
Dance Stage – Prince Alfred Square, 353D Church Street, Parramatta
Urban Theatre Projects has commissioned Director Roslyn Oades to collaborate with five young people from the Parramatta area on the creation of a new work – What Happens After Midnight? This talk will provide audiences with a valuable insight into the collaboration and is a chance to hear first-hand about making a new work that is connected with the local area.
JAL – PARCHED EMOTIONS
5.30pm-6.30pm
Dance Stage – Prince Alfred Square, 353D Church Street, Parramatta
Jal – the Hindi word for water – is the essence of life, and the very core of this one-hour dance drama produced by Sydney-based Swastik Institute of Dance.
India-born renowned Kathak and Bollywood choreographer Sumati Nagpal creates a parched canvas on stage, populated with characters craving water.
Through poignant moves and expressions, the ensemble conveys its desperation before they find water and perform the dance of celebration.
INDOZ RHYTHMS
6pm; 7pm
Parramatta River Foreshore, Phillip Street, Parramatta
Chenda is the traditional drum from the South Indian state of Kerala called the “Gods Own Country”. ‘Chenda Melam’ is an essential part of any major temple festival in Kerala. IndOz Rythms brings this art here to Australia. Under the able leadership of Gurus Jayaram and Kuriakose.
Sunday 12 March
KWEEN G
1.15pm-2pm
The Lennox Stage – Prince Alfred Square, 353D Church Street, Parramatta
Renowned for potent content, Kween G delivers dynamic style as an MC, performer and Hip Hop artist. Kween G makes music that excites, entertains, and enlightens her listeners – often described as “consciousness-raising”.
CHINESE WISTERIA DANCING
2pm-2.30pm
Dance Stage – Prince Alfred Square, 353D Church Street, Parramatta
Chinese Wisteria dances and performances portray the diversity of cultural elements amongst the Chinese national minorities, revealing the delicacy as well as the rusticity of Chinese folk dances. It will guide the audience into the snowy lands, great desert regions, mountains and villages. It will trigger the imagination; provide an appreciation of Chinese history and culture, adding enjoyment in the charm of Chinese folk customs.
Wisteria represents the beauty of the bright purple and blue flower which is as gorgeous as a rosy cloud.
THE THREE SEAS
2.30pm-3.15pm
The Lennox Stage – Prince Alfred Square, 353D Church Street, Parramatta
The Three Seas combine elements of Indian folk music with a western style of song form in a band full of engaging performers from India and Australia. Listeners can expect a soulful, song-based repertoire with a diverse array of voices and unusual instruments…no tablas or sitars here.
KAPTURE
3.45pm-4.30pm
The Lennox Stage – Prince Alfred Square, 353D Church Street, Parramatta
‘Kapture’ is the long-awaited debut release by one of Australia’s foremost Indian-jazz ensembles featuring Sandy Evans (saxophones), Bobby Singh (tabla), Brett Hirst (bass) and Toby Hall (drums and percussion) with special guest Sarangan Sriranganathan (vocals). It is a moving musical tribute to South African freedom fighter, Ahmed Kathrada (Nelson Mandela’s cell mate).
WESTERN SYDNEY STORY
5.45pm-6pm
Dance Stage – Prince Alfred Square, 353D Church Street, Parramatta
The Western Sydney Migrant Story showcases the cultural dances, rhythms, music and costumes of people from all five continents of the world.
As Australian Indigenous artists pay homage to our common past, the spell binding finale to the Festival pays tribute to the journey of people from varied parts of the world who now call ‘West’ their home.
Coordinated by Ruchi Sanghi, an acclaimed Kathak Guru and teacher in Sydney, the production shall feature some of the very best dancers and community groups of Western Sydney.
Visit: parramasala.com
