Greek Festival of Sydney is looming for the festival manager Dimi Lafazanos, and like all festivals some aspects are behaving smoothly, while others are not. The other problem for any festival director is to convey to the general public what their festival is truly about.
“A lot of people misconceive this festival as just a two day outdoor spectacular in Darling Harbour, everyone can be merry and then go home till next year,” said Lafazanos, “But very few are aware that it then leads into a six weeks cultural component.”
This means the festival produces, co-produces or is an umbrella event for a variety of events, adding up to about twenty to thirty events, said Lafazanos.
These events can be anything from music concerts, theatre shows and lectures.
One of these events will be Cafe Rebetika, which is being co-produced by the Sydney Opera House and will be opening in May for six days.
“The other event we’re involved with is Cafe Carnivale which is a music arts festival that has been happening here in Sydney for the past ten years and they showcase international music,” continued Lafazanos.
As part of that program there will be Greek Fiesta which will be showcasing four types of Greek music, “which will be anything form 1920s to current and that will be all local talent or talent from all over Australia,” said Lafazanos.
One major event though, which has been up in the air and was proving to be a source of immence frustration both to Lafazanos and the Australian producers (Gogos Entertainment), is the international act from Athens, Vasilis Papakonstantinou.
Unfortunartely Papakonstantinou has reneged on his agreement to tour to Sydney, because he has found something more financially agreeable in Athens. Now Lafazanos is in the difficult situation of having to replace him with such short notice.