Arts Wednesday begins a preview of the Sydney Festival interviewing a variety of artists in many genres.

We begin this week chatting to Stephanie Lake who is the Resident Choreographer of The Australian Ballet and is one of the most innovative Australian choreographers to emerge in the last decade. She created the international hits Colossus and Manifesto(smash successes at Sydney Festival in 2020 and 2023) and now her new work The Chronicles is about to feature in the Sydney Festival. Twelve dancers perform to an electro-acoustic score by Robin Fox, which blends driving rhythms with the stirring, ethereal sounds of the Sydney Children’s Choir and a solo vocalist singing live on stage. 

16 – 19 JAN

Roslyn Packer Theatre

Also this week we meet William Yang who is celebrating his 80th birthday with a retrospective entitled William Yang: Milestone. Alongside examples from his vast output, Yang weaves stories of his life and career, set against Elena Kats-Chernin’s haunting score, performed live by a chamber ensemble. His candid narrative tells the life of a Chinese-Australian artist chronicling queer stories in Australia, from the early days of Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras to the HIV/AIDS epidemic of the 1980s and 90s. 

10 & 11 JAN

Roslyn Packer Theatre

Also we have our regular chat with Jacqui Cowell, Manger of Arts and Culture at Waverley Council about what’s happening at the Bondi Pavilion and around Waverley.

Other upcoming guests include neo-soul singer, Jalen Ngonda and actor/comedian Bron Batten.

Arts Wednesday, 18 December 2025, 10.30 – 12.00

89.7 fm

DAB+

eastsidefm.org/artswednesday