After a five-year hiatus, Asia TOPA (Asia-Pacific Triennial of Performing Arts) returns to Melbourne with a spectacular and diverse program of performances, exhibitions and events.
Taking place from 20 February to 10 March 2025, Asia TOPA will showcase the vibrant creativity and cultural dynamism of the Asia-Pacific region, featuring 33 performances, 18 of which are world premieres and 18 new commissions from across the Asia-Pacific.
The major arts festival will transform the city into a cultural hub. The festival will see major cultural venues, including the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), Fed Square, Footscray Community Arts and Bunjil Place, hosting captivating performances and immersive experiences.
Stay up to date with what’s happening within the region’s art scene here.
“I hope this edition of Asia TOPA resounds with the resilience, joy and creativity of the artists from our region. We want the triennial to be a way for people to build new connections and imagine new futures,” says Asia TOPA creative director Jeff Khan.
“I hope you join us for this celebration of the inspiring artistry, ideas and possibilities that are so unique to Asia-Pacific art and culture.”
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Highlights
The performance stream of Asia TOPA promises an eclectic array of events, celebrating the diverse art forms that define the Asia-Pacific region. One of the standout performances is Milestone, a new commission and one-night-only event at Hamer Hall happening on 20 February 2025, created by pioneering Australian artist and photographer William Yang.
The performance marks Yang’s 80th birthday and offers a reflection on his five-decade career, interwoven with an original score composed by Elena Kats-Chernin, performed live by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. Yang’s iconic photographs will serve as a backdrop for stories of immigration, sexuality and family.
Other performance highlights include:
- U>N>I>T>E>D (27 February – 2 March 2025) – A stunning cross-disciplinary collaboration by Chunky Move, which merges dance and Javanese techno beats, staged at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl
- Ane Ta Abia (8 March 2025) – A world-premiere choral collaboration between musicians from Papua New Guinea and Australia, showcasing rare Indigenous music at Arts Centre Melbourne
- Opera for the Dead (21–23 February 2025) – An immersive musical and visual work exploring Chinese mourning rituals, presented by Mindy Meng Wang and Monica Lim at Space 28
Cross-cultural and Indigenous collaborations
One of the most groundbreaking performances is Gapu Ŋupan (Chasing the Rainbow), a cross-cultural collaboration between First Nations artists from North East Arnhem Land and Taiwan. This powerful new work, commissioned by Asia TOPA, blends song, dance and visual storytelling to honour ancestral connections and reflect on a shared future.
Similarly, Bunyi Bunyi Bumi, happening on the 23 and 24 of February, is an ambitious performance that weaves together Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Acehnese stories through dance, body percussion and rhythm, offering a joyful and defiant rebuke of colonial narratives.
Theatre, Dance and Interactive Experiences
In the realm of theatre, Tiny, Fluffy, Sweet brings Beijing and Utrecht-based artist Ran Chen’s exploration of ‘cute’ culture to the stage, while A Nightime Travesty, a darkly satirical musical, offers a sardonic take on First Nations identity, parody and politics. At Malthouse Theatre, A DAYLIGHT CONNECTION will present a revamped version of the hit production that received standing ovations at the YIRRAMBOI Festival.
Asia TOPA will also feature cutting-edge dance performances, such as Lapse by Melati Suryodarmo, which responds to global chaos through movement and live music and Pulau (Island), a site-specific dance inspired by Yayoi Kusama’s iconic artworks.
For families, the Terrapin Puppetry Company will present Goldfish, a groundbreaking collaboration with Japan’s Aichi Prefectural Art Theater, offering a moving puppet performance about disaster recovery and resilience.
Digital and VR Art
Asia TOPA will also push the boundaries of digital art. The immersive VR concert KAGAMI, a collaboration between Tin Drum and the late Ryuichi Sakamoto, will make its Southern Hemisphere debut at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. Sensing Dark Matter at Science Gallery Melbourne combines art and science to explore the mysterious forces of the cosmos through virtual reality.
A Festival for All
In addition to the dazzling performances, Asia TOPA offers a series of Knowledge and Nightlife events, which will be announced in December 2024 and January 2025, respectively. These will include artist talks, workshops and late-night performances, providing deeper insights into the artistic practices of the Asia-Pacific region.
To browse the full Asia TOPA lineup, head here.
