Sydney Festival 2020: French superstar Isabelle Adjani cancels show over bushfire smoke
French superstar Isabelle Adjani has cancelled a Sydney Festival production two weeks before its Opera House debut over fears the city’s air quality will harm her in light of the devastating NSW bushfires. But festival director Wesley Enoch says she will pay.
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French superstar Isabelle Adjani has pulled out of a Sydney Festival theatre production two weeks before its Opera House debut out of fear of the city’s air quality as a result of the NSW bushfires.
The play – Opening Night – has been one of the most highly anticipated events of the 2020 line-up and its cancellation is a major blow for the Sydney Festival.
A festival statement said the cancellation was made by “the company behind the production” of Opening Night and was “due to health concerns related to fire-affected air quality in Sydney”.
Sydney Festival director Wesley Enoch said Isabelle Adjani had “snubbed” Sydney during a crisis in which people were actually dying and the community looked to the arts for relief and reassurance.
“In our moment of crisis, Sydney is being snubbed,” Mr Enoch said. “I’m incredibly disappointed, angry even.
“I’ve been told not to swear. That’s how angry I am at this particular situation. It’s terrible, absolutely terrible.
“People are losing their lives in this country. This country is going through literally a crucible moment, and that’s why you need artists to step up.
“What’s been fantastic is the artists from around the world who’ve been sending us messages of hope, of love, of support.”
Mr Enoch said other Sydney Festival performers were giving their time free of charge to present a fundraising concert on Saturday, January 11, at the Metro Theatre in George St, with most of the funds to go to the Red Cross and WIRES.
Mr Enoch said there would be financial implications for the festival because of the cancellation of Opening Night but added that the production company would not be paid.
“Unfortunately, despite our best efforts and assurances, the Opening Night team has chosen not to come.”
“We’re going to make sure they don’t get paid for anything (because) they haven’t delivered,” he said.
But the director said ticket holders to the show would be refunded in full and praised artists and performers for responding with concern and offers of help.
“We have been in constant communication with all international and Australian based companies in relation to any concerns arising from the current fire situation in NSW and we have been buoyed by their responses,” Mr Enoch said.
“Overwhelmingly, individual artists and companies – both local and from overseas – have responded by asking how they can help or what they can do to support relief efforts once they are on the ground in Sydney for the festival.
