Crossroads

A captivating story of three women of Greek origin, living in a small country pub, somewhere in the Australian countryside. Crossroads offers the audience a rare opportunity to explore the spirituality of ancient Greek and Aboriginal ritual.

27 March – 20 April

***Season extended to April 20th due to popular demand ! ***

Alex & Eve

Alex & Eve is about a male version of Bridget Jones, whose parents continually pressure him to marry - and she’d better be a good Greek-Orthodox girl!

Sat 29 March
3pm - 10pm

Sun 30 March
10am - 10pm

Greek Festival Darling Harbour

Two days of non-stop entertainment featuring live music from some of Sydney’s finest Greek-Australian musicians. Australia’s best Greek dancing displays and workshops, complimented by some of the most sumptuous Greek food in the Southern Hemisphere!

Sun 6 April
4pm

Zorba in China

Nikos Kazantzakis was a great admirer of Chinese civilisation. The event will be centred on his impressions from his first visit (1935) and the reception of his work in China.

8 April - 19 April

Atrium

Using the contemporary medium of photography to explore the ancient Greek styles of architecture and sculpture, Atrium endeavours to bring new life to the old world.

9 April - 25 May

Antigone

This recent version of Sophocles’ magnificent tragedy cuts to the core of one of the conundrums of the twenty-first century: how to balance the heart of the individual with the ever-shifting demands of the state.

Wed 9 April
6.30pm

Rembetika

Around 1920, the poor people of urban Greece began singing songs of a special type, filled with complaint and desire, love and bitterness. Many songs speak of an underworld of hashish and petty crime. These songs are known as Rembetika

Sat 12 April
6.30pm

Kazantzakis’ Odyssey

In 1939, Nikos Kazantzakis published his long epic poem Odyssey of 33,333 verses. This lecture examines briefly the “longest poem of the Western world” and explains its aesthetics, ideology and form.

Sun 13 April
4.30pm

Homer Day

This series of lectures examines the influence of Homer’s epic poetry on the development of ancient Greek and European artistic creation.

14 April - 18 April

Ancient Greek Myths

Kids’ activities in the Nicholson Museum. Discover the world of ancient Greece, through the myths of the gods and goddesses of Olympus and the adventures of heroes.

Wed 16 April
6pm

Mistra and the Palaiologoi

Come with us to visit a living museum: Mistra, the last capital of the Byzantine Peloponnese, on its conical hill with a castle at the top and with brilliant churches, palaces and houses on the slopes below.

Exhibition:
15 April – 18 April
11am – 4pm

Public Lecture:
17 April
6pm

Greek ‘Proxy Brides’ in Australia: Dreams and Realities

Greece after World War Two was a country politically divided and in financial ruin, with an oppressive culture and open wounds inflicted by foreign occupation and civil strife. During that time many young women were forced to make certain life-changing decisions.

Sun 20 April
12pm - 4pm

Ancient Greece Family Day at the Nicholson Museum

Discover ancient Greece with child-friendly talks, art and craft activities for kids, and a chance to handle artefacts from ancient.

Sun 20 April
4.30pm

Dionysios Solomos Awards

The Greek Festival of Sydney brings you our most prestigious event to commend the NSW highest ranking Greek Language students in the presence of family, friends and distinguished guests.

No events during Greek Orthodox Easter

Opening night:
Tue 29 April, 5pm

Exhibition:
Wed 30 April - Fri 2 May, 1pm – 6pm
Sat 3 May, 11am – 4pm

The Sight of Greek Sound

Shane Rozario has been photographing Sydney’s multicultural music program ‘Café Carnivale’ since its early beginnings in 2001. His photographs are the only historical record of the incredible talent amongst Sydney’s many multicultural communities.

Wed 30 April
6pm

Book Launch: Women of the Sun

The novel Women of the Sun, first published in 1985, is a pioneer literary work about the history of the Aboriginal people since the invasion of their country by the colonialists in 1788.

Sat 3 May
6.30pm

Book Launch: to Hellas & Back

To Hellas and Back is a hilariously funny and deeply moving tale of one woman’s journey through love, loneliness and culture shock, set to the tune of screaming bouzoukia, a million blasting car horns and a fast crumbling psyche.

Sun 4 May
2pm

Recital

Hellen Arestides and her ensemble will once again perform in the beautiful Paddington Uniting Church with a program of traditional and modern Greek music which will delight and fill your heart with warmth and passion.

Tue 6 May & Tue 20 May
6pm

Discover Greek Wine and Food @ Nostos

The food will be sumptuous, the wine divine and the atmosphere electric, so do not miss out.

Wed 7 May – Part 1
(1950-1970) 6pm

Wed 14 May – Part 2
(1970-present day) 6pm

Mikis Theodorakis the Greek

A tribute to the great composer Mikis Theodorakis, honouring his unique contribution not only to music and to culture generally, but also to his people’s struggles.

Fri 9 May
8.15pm

Maria Yiakoulis & Ensemble

Australian influences are fused with Greek traditions to create Maria’s own unique style of world music.

Tue 13 May
6pm

How Spartan were the Spartans?

Historian and archaeologist Dr Brian Brennan presents an overview of ancient Spartan society using new archaeological material, recent scholarship and a reappraisal of literary evidence.

Thur 15 May
6.30pm

Mikis Theodorakis

This presentation examines the life and the work of the most important Greek composer of popular music in the 20th century. Theodorakis is both diverse and contradictory, a man and an artist of extremes whose presence is a testimony to.

Sun 18 May
4pm

The Return of the Parthenon Marbles

A presentation by founder and chairman of the International Organising Committee – Australia – for the Restitution of the Parthenon Marbles, Emanuel John Comino OAM. Mr Comino has campaigned for 32 years for the Marbles’ return. Britain still refuses to return them to Greece.

22 May - 28 May

Greek Masters Exhibition

Art at Home Gallery will be presenting the inaugural “Greek Masters Exhibition” in partnership with the Greek Festival. Never before in Australia have we seen an exhibition of great iconic artists who are household names in Greece.