Adelaide Dance Festival

The inaugural Adelaide Dance Festival kicks off on Sunday, with a host of performances, workshops and master-classes featuring local and international performers. Among the highlights will be Australian Dance Theatre’s new show The Beginning of Nature, choreographed by artistic director Garry Stewart. The performance is described as an “evocative depiction of the complex symphony of rhythms in nature”, with an original score of electronica, strings and vocals composed by Brendan Woithe in collaboration with Kaurna consultant Jack Buckskin and performed live by Zephyr Quartet and singers. The festival also includes a free arts-meets-science performance in a glass cube at the SA Museum (read story here) and a new work, The Spinners, by Australian choreographer Lina Limosani and Scottish director Al Seed. The Dance Festival runs until July 21.

Winterfest at Port Adelaide

Winterfest has returned to the Hart’s Mill precinct in Port Adelaide, with comedian Fiona O’Loughlin performing at the new Ice Cube venue for the opening night tonight and ARIA-winning singer-songwriter Megan Washington taking to the stage tomorrow night. Other artists in the festival line-up include folk group All Our Exes Live in Texas, The Audreys and children’s singer Peter Combe. The ice skating rink is also back, alongside a series of creative workshops, a winter-themed market, roving performers and long-table lunches featuring local chefs.

The Gospel According to Earth, Wind and Fire

Australia’s Got Talent winner Andrew De Silva, Gospo Collective, Jones Contemporary, Jones Juniors and the Big Black Kaftans join Adelaide musician Charmaine Jones for her latest show, The Gospel According to Earth, Wind and Fire,  tonight at Norwood Concert Hall tonight. The show is described as a “two-hour musical tribute to the kings of groove” featuring tunes including “September”, “Let’s Groove”, “Fantasy” and “After the Love has Gone”. The audience is encouraged to “get up and groove” during the show.

We Will Rock You

Rock musical We Will Rock You, written by Ben Elton and based on the songs of Queen, is being presented for the first time in Adelaide by Matt Byrne Media. The musical tells the story of a group of Bohemians who struggle to restore the free exchange of thought, fashion and live music in a distant future where everyone dresses, thinks and acts the same. The all-Adelaide cast is performing the show at the Arts Theatre until July 14, and then at Elizabeth’s Shedley Theatre from July 19 to 28.

Brothers Wreck

Brothers Wreck actors Nelson Baker and Dion Williams as Jared and Ruben. Photo: Tim Grey

State Theatre and Malthouse Theatre are co-presenting Indigenous playwright and director Jada Alberts’ new play Brothers Wreck at Norwood’s Odeon Theatre until July 14. The show, which tells the story of a grief-stricken family struggling to cope with the suicide of one of its members, is described as a “confronting and honest exploration of grief and loss”. Read InDaily‘s interview with cast member Nelson Baker here and see our review of the production here.

Colours of Impressionism – up late

Beginning tonight, the Art Gallery of SA will host a month of late-night events every Friday for the final weeks of its landmark exhibition Colours of Impressionism: Masterpieces from the Musée d’Orsay. More than 65 paintings from the Musée d’Orsay in Paris are on display, including significant works by Monet, Cézanne and Renoir. Next Friday’s event will feature jeweller Lauren Simeoni, who will lead a wearable art workshop, a wine-tasting masterclass, live jazz music and a drawing workshop with Luke Thurgate. Colours of Impressionism runs until July 29; read more about it in this InDaily article.