Sydney Festival  is a signature event on Sydney's event calendar and The Star is the Principal Partner for the second year running

Sydney Festival joined forces with their Principal Partner, The Star Sydney, to announce the Sydney Festival 2015 program of events at The Event Centre on Thursday 23 October.

Sydney's premier entertainment destination, The Star Sydney, is proud to be the Principal Partner for Sydney's most exciting festival line-up, which kicks off on the 8th of January 2015. The partnership, now in the second year of the four-year agreement, is a perfect fit; mixing the significant cultural celebration of local and international talent with key food, wine and nightlife venues.

Greg Hawkins, Managing Director, The Star said: “We're very proud of our partnership with Sydney Festival, an incredible event that embraces the arts and popular culture and which attracts both local and international visitors to our beautiful city.”

“As Principal Partner, The Star offers everything that is great about Sydney in summer - food, wine, entertainment and nightlife, and this year The Star will once again open up the fantastic rooftop bar on Sky Terrace throughout Sydney Festival nightly from 8 to 26 January. With live music every night and panoramic harbour views back over the city, Sky Terrace is the perfect spot to celebrate Sydney and enjoying a beverage this summer,” continued Mr Hawkins.

Leven Bertels, Festival Director said, “What's really special about Sydney Festival is the diverse programming, with the best local and international artists from high arts – opera, theatre, and contemporary dance, to circus and family shows, and a whole range of free activities. The 2015 Festival looks to be one of the biggest ever. Living up to its tag line 'This is Our City in Summer', Sydney Festival gives audiences the perfect excuse to celebrate the city in summer,”

Highlights of the Sydney Festival program taking place at The Star include:

Seu Jorge – Brazil's best-loved musical export

Music takes centre stage at The Star as one of the most exciting artists of our generation, Brazil's superstar Seu Jorge, makes his Australian debut at The Star Event Centre. Jorge brings his signature mix of transformative pop covers and swinging original tunes from Rio's favelas to Australia performing a musical mix flavoured with samba, reggae, Brazilian pop and electronics. His stand alone performance is exclusive to The Star Event Centre on 11 January. www.ticketek.com.au or sydneyfestival.org.au/tabac

Sky Terrace

As the sun goes downs over the city, The Star's premier rooftop bar, Sky Terrace, will light up with an impressive line-up of local and international Festival talent. Serving up a host of musical gems: from hip-hop to soul and running the full gamut of electronica (and everything in between). Offering a range of alfresco eats and drinks, Sky Terrace is the destination to start the night before a show or kick back well into the night. Take in the sweeping panoramic views this January with Sydney Festival and The Star Sydney. Open every evening from 6pm till late.

Tabac Rouge & hotel packages

One of the world's greatest circus performers, James Thieree has lured Sydney audiences inside his surreal imagination three times before, in The Junebug Symphony, Bright Abyss and Au Revoir Parapluie – but nothing will quite prepare you for the sublime pandemonium that awaits you in Tabac Rouge. Tabac Rouge, Thieree's latest creation, is an opium hallucination on a breathtaking scale. Thieree plays a once glorius ruler held captive in a hall of mirrors, aunted by visions of his own downfall and surrounded by the exhilarating frenzied movements and contortions of his subjects. A vibrant carnival of circus, dance and theatre that builds to an unforgettable climax, Tabac Rouge is an assault of stunning imagery, ideas and atmospherics. It evokes everything from Alice in Wonderland and King Lear to Hieronymus Bosch – but we promise you've seen nothing like it.
Close to all the action throughout Sydney Festival, The Star offers three towers of luxury accommodation including The Darling Hotel & Spa, Sydney's newest five star hotel and Astral Towers & Residences.

Teaming up with Sydney Festival, The Star is offering Tabac Rouge hotel packages to offer audiences pure luxury across the 171 scious rooms, suites and penthouses, an infinity pool and a 16 room luxury spa. Hotel package information below: 

• One night's accommodation at luxury hotel, The Darling
• $50 Food and Beverage credit to enjoy at The Star's bars, signature restaurants (Balla, Black by ezard & Sokyo) and Fat Noodle
• Premium or A Reserve ticket to Tabac Rouge
• Quote promo code SYDFEST15 (case sensitive) when booking online only. Or call Guest Services 1800 800 830 . Visit www.star.com.au/sydneyfestival

*Travel Package Conditions:Subject to availability. Credit Card details required to secure booking. Package prices are per person and are based on 2 guests per package, in queen bedding (Twin bedding available on request directly with the hotel). Packages are pre-paid and non-refundable. Valid for bookings from 23 August – 12 October 2014 for stays between 09 – 22 January 2015, inclusive. Tabac Rouge tickets valid for performance on the day for which the accommodation is booked only.

Fast Festival Feasts

To ensure the perfect start or end to any of the Sydney Festival performances, The Star's signature restaurants including; Sokyo, BLACK by ezard, Balla and Fat Noodle will take part in Fast Festival Feast – specially designed pre or post-show menus developed across a selection of Sydney restaurants.

Sokyo will feature a four-course shared 'fast Omakase' menu including kingfish ceviche and tempura bay bug, while BLACK by ezard have developed a delicious two-course menu featuring a tomato vine ripened salad, buffalo cheese, green kalamata olives, white balsamic and basil dressing. Stefano Manfredi's newest venture, PizzaAperta Manfredi which opens on 14 November will also have an incredible $30 lunch special on offer including; a traditional pizza plus an item from the salad or dessert menu and a complimentary drink.

Ferrython

And Sydney Festival wouldn't be complete without the only event which has occurred every year since the festival commenced, Ferrython - one of Australia's most popular and iconic free events. The harbour comes alive as our beloved ferries go head-to-head: racing from Circular Quay to Shark Island and back to a glorious finish at the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Ferrython sails into Australia Day on 26 January 2015, so pack a picnic or sizzle some snags and gather on the foreshore to cheer on the ferries as they get fast and furious. For more information about Sydney Festival at The Star, go to www.star.com.au.

Single tickets for Sydney Festival 2015 go on sale Monday 27 October at 9am, www.sydneyfestival.org.au or 1300 856 876

About The Star
The Star is Sydney's only world-class casino and entertainment destination. The Star offers award-winning chefs and restaurants, luxury hotel accommodation and serviced apartments, a 16-room day spa, an international designer retail collection as well a world-class casino and international nightclub Marquee.  The $100 million Star Event Centre is a state-of-the art multi-use venue and has hosted more than 250 events since opening in January 2013, including The AACTA Awards, The ARIA Awards, The Premiere of World War Z, charity events for the Starlight Foundation and Sony Foundation and international talent such as Ricky Martin, Seal, Cold Play and Alicia Keys.

For more information or enquiries, visit www.star.com.au/sydneyfestival or call 1800 700 700.