This weekend, the NSW South Coast town of Kiama will be opening its stage doors to the world as its popular annual seaside arts festival goes virtual.

The Kiama International Seaside (KISS) Arts Festival has long been a regular calendar celebration of street performance and interactive community fun – held each autumn and drawing thousands to the town's waterfront. However, in the wake of COVID-19 and cancellation of all public gatherings, the festival organisers were forced to improvise.

The result is the KISS Virtual Festival – beaming into homes this weekend, 24-26 April 2020 and hosted by the internationally renowned circus performers behind Laughter House Productions, Dave Evans and Tamara Campbell. The duo has performed in over 40 countries and on thousands of stages.

The festival promises a mix of global acts and hilarious antics, kicking off on Friday night with the acclaimed adults-only KISS Kabaret hosted by the organisers' alter-egos, Kiki and Pascal. Kabaret is the only priced event, with the rest of the weekend free and family friendly. This includes the notorious Main Stage performances, interactive Compashion Gallery, annual Lantern Parade (including lantern-making workshop), Kids Stand Up Comedy and the festival finale KISS Game Show, a twist on the sell-out Pub Quizzes that have been running through March and April.

To take part live and interact in all events, festival-goers will need to “book a seat” to receive their Zoom code. Virtual bookings are available at https://www.kissartsfest.com.au/.

Festival organisers Evans and Campbell are thrilled to be able to offer a 'good news story' for this weekend. “Our mission is actually the same as any other year – to heighten spirits with helpings of laughter, joy and connection. KISS has always been about bringing people young and old together in hilarious and thought-provoking ways to be part of something bigger. And that goal seems more relevant now than ever before.”

Kiama, like many small towns in Australia, has been hit hard by 2020's double-whammy of the bushfires and coronavirus – which is why the organisers fought hard to see this event go ahead, albeit virtually. Councillor and Destination Kiama Chair Matt Brown says, “it's a wonderful way of us doing something for our community, as well as those around Australia, bringing a bit of laughter and keeping people connected through this time.”

For further media information contact:

• Dave Evans: 0422 914 713
• Tamara Campbell: 0403 817 549
• Clr Matt Brown: 0409 236 288