Discover the new at Adelaide Fringe
The breadth of this year’s Adelaide Fringe program “ensures that every visitor will find something that resonates deeply with them”, says Heather Croall.
Adelaide Fringe director and CEO Heather Croall describes the city’s transformation during Adelaide Fringe as “a vibrant, eclectic explosion of creativity where every corner offers a new adventure and every performance a unique journey”.
With Fringe kicking off on Friday, 16 February and running until Sunday, 17 March, she is promising countless memorable, joyful and exciting moments.
“This year, we’re thrilled to welcome audiences to an experience that is as diverse as it is immersive,” Croall said.
“From the pulsating heart of our open-air venues to the intimate, hidden gems scattered throughout Adelaide, our festival is a kaleidoscope of the arts, celebrating everything from cutting-edge technology to timeless storytelling.
“Whether you’re a lover of avant-garde performances, comedy, music, or visual arts, the breadth of our offering ensures that every visitor will find something that resonates deeply with them.”
Last year’s Fringe smashed Australian box office records, being the first festival in the country to sell one million tickets. Attendance over the event was more than three million visits.
“The Adelaide Fringe is not just an event, it’s a community coming together to share in the joy of discovery, laughter, and the powerful moments that only live performance can deliver,” Croall said.
“I get so excited to think that this year will be someone’s first ever Fringe, because it’s life changing!”
Discover the new at Adelaide Fringe… Support the little guys who fly under the radar. See the next smash hit. Treat yourself to a handful of shows. Soak up the party atmosphere. Don’t let Fringe fabulousness pass you by!
Here, is a small taste of what’s on offer in 2024…
Cirque Alfonse – Animal
Australian Premiere. Canada’s Cirque Alfonse takes you on a journey of discovery through a series of slightly surreal farm fables. In this re-invented agricultural world, the farm is turned upside down and the barn turned inside out! Circus, song, dance and theatre all come together, driven by original live music – an irresistible mix of trad and soul that the troupe calls ‘agricultural funk’.
Natural Wonders
World Premiere. Embark on an extraordinary journey through a series of projected and immersive artworks of diverse natural ecosystems and storytelling, transforming the Botanic Garden into an outdoor art gallery under the stars. Enter upon sunset to explore a magical trail of stories, light and music for all ages with unique works by award-winning artists.
Trail’s End
World Premiere. Proudly led by a team of Aboriginal creatives, this one-act play explores issues of family and identity, and shares an all-too common experience of cultural dissonance in modern Australia. Brothers Sam and Jamie have had a tough year. After their mother passes, Sam comes to blows with his stepdad. Feeling untethered, Jamie decides to move overseas. Before he leaves, the boys go on one final camping trip together… and Sam carries one last secret in his backpack.
Best of the Best
World Premiere. Get ready for the extravaganza of a lifetime with this showcase of the hottest acts, handpicked from some of the most sensational shows across the Fringe! Hosted by the dazzling MC superstar, Tash York, and featuring a selection of the very best circus, magic and cabaret acts, plus a different headlining act each night, this is your chance to catch the ultimate sneak peek of this year’s festival!
Sleep’s Hill Tunnel
Australian Premiere. Go underground and follow the tracks of the old Adelaide to Melbourne rail line to discover the immersive projections and explore the tunnel’s history through unique time-lapse footage and phenomenal installations from various artists including Neil Broomhill and the renowned Stephen Axford of Planet Fungi.
So Fresh! Hits of the 2000s
SA Premiere. A decade with a vibe: the noughties. Is it too soon to be nostalgic? NEVER! If you didn’t own a So Fresh CD, do you even exist? It was a compilation of our best memories, our heartbreaks… of every season growing up. With non-stop bangers from the early 2000s, this show – led by Chloe Castledine and Winston Howard with live band and dancers – will jam pack nostalgic hit after hit, in one hour of power.
Unplugged
World Premiere. Wundes welcomes you to a new algorithm that blends the worlds of drag, art, live music and theatre to beg the ultimate question, ‘Are you still listening?’ Debuting their own original music, with influences ranging from Judy Garland to My Chemical Romance – Wundes takes you a sonic and visual journey filled with music and comedy to leave you laughing, crying and with a sense of new-found hope.
Fashionably Late
World Premiere. Libby & Matt have always been fashionably late to everything from parties, their jobs, a cabaret career and even to love. They’ve rocked up way after everyone else to all the important things but they want you to know it’s never too late to start. This is a hilarious how-to guide to living your dreams… eventually. From the award-winning creators of Endo Days and Extra Curricular.
Holden Street Theatres
Holden Street Theatres is a boutique theatre, moments from the city with a reputation as the ‘Home of Theatre’ during Fringe. With a variety of stages from large black box theatres to smaller, intimate performance spaces and even a sunken garden, free parking, great food, fine wines and incredible programming, Holden Street is a favourite for many patrons and artists.
For the full program at this year’s Adelaide Fringe, visit adelaidefringe.com.au
