“Monkey Magic with Destined One” is a unique musical stage comedy that reinterprets the classic “Journey to the West” with modern issues and Tasmanian landscapes. This three-act play follows Tripitaka, the Monkey King, and Pigsy in a humorous, environmentally-conscious adventure, enhanced by live music and local Tasmanian artistry.

2024: Hilarious Original Musical Stage Comedy – A Must-See for Comedy Lovers!

Introducing “Monkey Magic with Destined One,” a brand-new stage musical comedy that reimagines the classic Journey to the West (MONKEY MAGIC), seamlessly blending it with contemporary issues and the enchanting landscapes of Tasmania. This innovative production brings together the art of theater and live music to transport an Eastern myth onto the stage, creating a fresh and original stage musical comedy.

Spanning three acts, the story primarily follows Tripitaka, the Monkey King, and Pigsy on a whimsical and high-energy journey to find their destined ones and save nature. Throughout the performance, the narrative skillfully addresses real-world environmental concerns and the complexities of interpersonal trust through a witty and humorous artistic lens. Furthermore, the live music elements are a standout feature of this theatrical masterpiece, adding an extra layer of magic to the entire experience.

All elements of this show is created, curated and developed by Tasmanian local artists.

Monkey Magic with a Destined One Highlights:

– Creativity: **Immerse yourself in the innovative and creative retelling of a mythological narrative.

– Classic Homage:** Experience a respectful nod to the iconic moments from “Monkey Magic.”

– Cultural Fusion:** Witness the infusion of Eastern cultural elements, including Peking Opera and martial arts, creating a unique and authentic stage experience.

– Live Musical Experience:** Be enchanted by the live music performed by the “Purple Passion” band, featuring specially adapted compositions premiering on the same day.

– Comedic Appeal:** Dive into a comedic journey, promising a light and humorous experience suitable for diverse audiences.

“Monkey Magic with a Destined One” Synopsis:

Introducing a brand-new stage musical comedy that ingeniously blends the classic “Monkey Magic” with contemporary issues against the enchanting backdrop of Tasmania. Join Tripitaka, the Monkey King, and Pigsy on a whimsical journey spanning three acts as they seek their destined ones and strive to save nature. This theatrical masterpiece addresses real-world environmental concerns with humour and wit, accompanied by the captivating live music of the “Purple Passion” band.

Before You Hit ‘Buy Ticket’:

This production is a completely fictional narrative, crafted without any factual basis. In our meticulous adaptation, all religious elements from the original source have been purposefully excluded to provide an environment free from religious content.

Music Support: Purple Passion

Technical Support: Olimedia Events

Presented by TasPride

14 October – 4 November 2023


OPENING HOURS

10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Wednesday – Sunday)

TasPride’s annual Artfully Queer Exhibition showcases the creative talents of emerging & fully fledged contemporary Tasmanian
lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans* & queer artists, designers, craftspeople, & performers responding to the theme “together”.


TasPride Artfully Queer – Together Exhibition Opening

The official opening celebration and art prize announcements for the Artfully Queer – Together Exhibition & Arts Program

5:30pm Sat 14th October 23

Free Entry, All welcome.

TasPride Artfully Queer Exhibition

Celebrate the creative talents of emerging & fully fledged contemporary Tasmanian LGBTIQ* creatives responding to the theme “Together”.

10am – 5pm Wed – Sun from 15th of Oct – 4th Nov 23

Gallery Yoga for Queer Bodies

Bring your queer body for a good stretch and become a piece of art in the Artfully Queer Exhibition.

2pm – 3pm Sun 15th and Sun 22nd Oct 23

$15 Waged / $10 Concession

Drag Workshops

Pussay Poppins, Barry Bothways, Ana Thema and Dirty Damo are in the mood for makin’ drag babies again.

15th Oct 4pm to 6.00pm , 22nd  Oct 4pm to 7.00pm ,& 29th Oct 4pm to 6.00pm

$35 Waged / $25 Concession (for all three Sunday workshops)

Drag Sip N Draw

Facilitated by George Kennedy, a rare opportunity to sketch a curated selection of

local drag performers.

6pm – 7:30pm Wed 18th October

Tickets $20 Waged / $10 Concession

Couper V Hooper 

A intimate night of ballads and banter with two queer Tasmanian singer songwriters, Hayley Couper and Shan Hooper.

8pm Friday 20th of October, 2023.

Tickets $25

Drag Workshop Showcase 2023

Unleashing a multitude of shiny new drag performers and performances fresh from our Artfully Queer Drag Workshop.

7pm Sun 29th Oct 23

Tickets $10 Waged / $5 Concession

Saturday 25 February 2023, 7:30pm – 8:30pm
60 Minutes | No interval

Tickets :
Standard $30 | Concession $20

Ensemble Mania and MONA FOMA present Line Tracing 3 : music for solo instruments : An unbroken evening of music, with solo instrumentalists performing pieces that are remixed and responded to in real-time by Mish Szekelyhidi

The Line Tracing concerts consist of an unbroken evening of music, featuring live performances of several works composed for solo single-line instruments, each of which is followed by a musical response from a guest artist. For this concert we welcome Naarm/Melbourne-based sound and film artist Mish Szekelyhidi, who will remix each composition in real-time, transitioning between the live performances and creating a cohesive unbroken listening experience.

For Line Tracing 3, Ensemble Mania welcomes performances from nipaluna/Hobart based players James Anderson, Angus Deeth, Damian MacDonald, and Dominic Nguyen, and Naarm/Melbourne based musician Kyla Matsuura-Miller.

Line Tracing 3 will include the following works for solo instruments :
Andrew Toovey – Prelude for Viola (1993)
Shiori Usui – Space Between (2022)
Holly Caldwell – Co-meditation 1: Amber (2022)
Dominic Flynn – Sheshonq (2020)
Jaslyn Robertson – Dream-state (2021)
David Murray – infold (2022)


Ensemble Media

Ensemble Mania is a new music ensemble based in nipaluna/Hobart, lutruwita/Tasmania. Consisting of a rotating line-up of outstanding musicians from both within Tasmania and interstate, the collective was created with the goal of providing unique listening experiences for local audiences. The ensemble’s efforts are focussed on showcasing music that would otherwise not be heard in the island state, from exciting current composers to recently uncovered pieces and local gems. 


Mish Szekelyhidi

Mish Szekelyhidi (they/them, b.1993) is an ambitious artist researching radically accessible and expansive ways for disabled artists such as themself to compose, perform, learn and teach music in ways relating to, entangled with, promotive of disabilities and how this can be integrated into community-based and pedagogical settings. Under this project umbrella they are working on a short collaborative book, a series of radio shows, graphic scores commissions, and community workshops. 

Their sound work for commercials, documentary and fiction film has played around the world, including in the prestigious Venice Biennale, Locarno Film Festival, FIDMarseille, Cannes, and for films which have won awards in Torino and Monterrey. Their musical performance highlight is playing the main stage at Mona Foma January 2021 with the UTAS Experimental Music Ensemble. 


This project was made possible with support from the City of Hobart.

Polynesian wayfinding is alive in the Solomon Islands

“We are the crew of Lata, the Polynesian culture-hero who built the first vaka (oceanic voyaging canoe) and navigated across the Pacific.
We use only the ancient designs, materials, and methods of Lata, and from Lataʻs story we learn how to avoid making big mistakes. We invite everyone to reconnect with ancestors and sustainable lifeways. Join us in the real Moana!”

Films & Screening Times
Sunday 12 February 2023 @ 4:00pm (57 minutes)

Free Event

Launched in 1864, the City of Adelaide is the older of only two surviving composite clipper ships. The other is the world famous Cutty Sark.

The derelict vessel faced being broken up in Scotland when in 2000 an Adelaide group of volunteers started a campaign to save it.

This film showcases the engineering task of designing how to lift the ship, its actual move from Scottish soil and its relocation to Port Adelaide.

Films & Screening Times
Sunday 12 February 2023 @ 3:00pm (35 minutes)

Free Event

A triple feature by Australia’s premier maritime history documentarian, Gary Kerr.

Watch just one film or stay for all three!
Enjoy a 10 minute Q&A with Garry Kerr after each film.

Films & Screening Times
Sunday 12 February 2023
10:00am : Trading Out of Hobart (67mins)
11:30am : The Last Cape Horners (73mins)
1:00pm : Two Men in a Punt (96mins)

Free Event

Image courtesy of Garry Kerr
Image courtesy of Garry Kerr
Image courtesy of Garry Kerr

Saturday 11 February 2023, 10:00am – 11:00am
Duration : 60 Minutes | No Interval

Join women sailors from WWSA — Women Who Sail Australia — for a fun and informative hour sharing practical knowledge, stories, and friendship about sailing.

If you’re already a member of WWSA you will know how inclusive and supportive this group is … if you’re not a member yet come along to learn about our great group.

WWSA is a mix of skippers, cruisers, racers, and women just starting out enjoying wooden boats as well as modern production boats. Two accomplished Tasmanian skippers will share some of their tips and experiences on the day. They will also share some of the special places here in Tasmania to take your boat, accompanied by lots of great photos. 

In addition, there will be hands-on advice and demonstrations of rope handling and shorthanded berthing.

Artists across Tasmania present their own interpretation of the broad theme of water in any medium.

As an island we are surrounded by water so there is ample opportunity to capture its mood and beauty.

The Water Ways exhibition has artwork across all styles and media including painting, sculptures and photography. The works range from representational and abstraction to environmental commentary.

Art is for everyone.  All artists create in an individual way and viewers will connect with a work for a very personal reason. Reflecting this unique but valid bond the major prize of $2000 will be decided not by judges, but by people’s choice vote. We invite visitors to engage with the art by voting for their favourite art work.

Prominent members of our community are asked to select their favourite artwork and give a reason for their choice. The diversity of choices is interesting to see.

Diane Casimaty. Spring Bay
Maggie Rees. Clydes and Shells
Rick Crossland. Blunnies on the Beach

Friday 10 February 2023, 6:30pm – 7:30pm
Saturday 11 February 2023, 6:30pm – 7:30pm

Doors Open 15 minutes prior to performance
Duration : 60 Minutes | No Interval

A Sea Voyage | A Tragedy | A Love Story

Michael Veitch (of The Full Monty, D-Generation and Fast Forward fame) plays the hero of one of the most dramatic, yet now forgotten, true chapters from Australia’s maritime history. Based on Michael’s book of the same name, Hell Ship is a tale of hardship and heroism; of survival and love; of disaster and redemption. 

In the spring of 1852, the magnificent sailing ship Ticonderoga set course from Liverpool to Victoria filled with mainly Scots Highlander families, all hoping to find a new life in a new land. However, on the voyage, disaster struck when a deadly typhus epidemic erupted throughout her decks, taking scores of her passengers. On the high seas, an epic struggle of life and death played out. 

Michael is accompanied live on stage by the exquisite musical talents of Tom Veitch, his talented cellist and composer son. 

This is an hour of drama and music not to be missed. 

“…a stylish, well-produced solo show; a lively and meticulously researched act of historical imagination” 
– Cameron Woodhead

Image courtesy of Michael Veitch.
Image courtesy of Michael Veitch.
Image courtesy of Michael Veitch.

Opening Event
Friday 17 February 2023
5:00pm – 7:00pm

Enter a gallery space transformed – by designers, using seaweed-derived products – into a ‘speculative vision of a future home’, where a regenerative relationship between humanity and earth (and seaweed) has blossomed.

It’s 2046 and a decade has passed since a society inspired by seaweed has taken to the seas. The roots stem back to Hobart and the innovation that started in the 2020s. It’s a place of refuge for those in the Pacific Islands who have lost their homes to rising seas and the changing climate. On the outskirts of the city are sustainable floating ‘pods’ inspired by the buoyant air sacs or pneumatocysts of the giant kelp. In the city the larger buildings are stretching above and below the surface. The lifeblood of these speculative homes is seaweed, once highly neglected, now essential to the daily life of humans and their hope for the regeneration of the ocean.

Transforming the gallery space into our speculative vision of a future home, Pneu invites visitors to enter the regenerative living space of 2046. Work from a desk made from seaweed that has sequestered C02 and anthropogenic nitrogen. Be bathed in the light of a lamp that has improved marine biodiversity. Host your friends at a dining table that has alleviated eutrophication and acidification. Look out of the porthole to share in our vision for the future, one surrounded and supported by seaweed. 

Pneu is a speculative design installation about the future of the seaweed industry in Tasmania by three up-and-coming young designers. With practices ranging from architecture to furniture to marine biology and cinematography, the exhibition explores the potential of seaweed to reshape humanity’s relationship with our home, the planet Earth.


Rachel Vosila. Kelp Biopolymer Development (2022)
Shimroth John Thomas. Phycolight (2022)
Conor-Castles Lynch. Concept Image (2021)

Pneu is part of the International Seaweed Symposium (ISS) and MONA FOMA 2023