Festival

       Imagery by Meaghan Coles Photography 

Lyon Opera Ballet, Trois Grandes Fugues, Adelaide Festival Theatre, 6-7 March 2020 Adelaide Festival Confronting at times, but also exhilarating in its sheer energy and technical accomplishment, Lyon Opera Ballet’s Trois Grandes Fugues (Three Grand Fugues) was performed to an appreciative near capacity audience at Saturday’s matinee session. It was a long way from Swan Lake, with no tulle tutus or point slippers in sight. Instead we were treated to a trilogy of ballets by three acclaimed female choreographers, each responding to Beethoven’s controversial score, Grosse Fuge for violin quartet. This is considered Beethoven’s most contemporary work and has been described as ‘difficult’ and ‘problematic’, meaning there were few harmonies for those of us who like our classical music to be easy-listening. The opening piece by Lucinda Childs had a minimalist grace and beauty that acted as a counterpoint to the occasionally tormented wail of the violin score. Male and female partners danced sans ballet shoes, clad in simple figure-hugging grey costumes, that allowed us to admire those gorgeous muscular physiques and the harmonious line of their toned bodies as they extended their limbs in a rapidly changing sequence of classical arabesques. The second piece, by Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker, discarded male/female partnering for a unisex ensemble of six male and two female dancers, all clad in loose-fitting black suits and white shirts. Beethoven’s agitated score for violins was matched in this piece by the truly impressive vigour of the dancers as hurled their bodies across the stage, progressively stripping off jackets and loosening shirts until by they reached an exhausted conclusion. The audience applause was perhaps rewarding the sheer dynamism of the dancers as they pushed themselves to their physical limits. For the third iteration of the Grosse Fugue, the unconventional choreography by Maguy Marin mirrored the ‘difficulty’ of the musical score. Four female dancers, barefoot and clad in gender-concealing red tunics, variously leapt, squirmed and twitched, or shuffled with hunched postures and crab-like movements, as if challenging the conventions of classical ballet through choreography that was deliberately awkward and unbeautiful. Yes mums, if this acclaimed company is setting a benchmark for contemporary ballet, as it may well be, then there will not be many tutus in the future for your little aspiring ballerinas. But there will be a future for dancers interested in embracing the ever-expanding artistic field of contemporary dance. Check out our KIDDO GUIDE TO ADELAIDE FESTIVAL HERE  Tickets and full program available here   

FRINGE AT FLINDERS   Laugh until your sides hurt at Fringe at Flinders Saturday, 14 March from 3pm-10pm at Flinders University, Bedford Park Comedians, Arj Baker and Peter Helliar are headlining this year’s Fringe at Flinders, along with a jam-packed line up of artists and comedy acts suitable for all ages. Adelaide Fringe brings world famous acts to South Australia and this year the festival will mark its 60th birthday with a program of handpicked local, national and international artists hosted at Flinders University on March 14, 2020. In addition to Fringe on Tour, The Stevenson Experience will sing funny songs for kids of all ages, the Family Friendly Comedy Hour will have you laughing until it hurts and you can wrap up the evening with the Best of Fringe: Comedy Superstars, with special guests Arj Barker and Peter Helliar. “Fringe at Flinders is perfect for families of all sizes and ages and we’re thrilled to be hosting world class entertainment at our Bedford Park campus.” 2020 Fringe at Flinders program, featuring free and ticketed events: Fringe on Tour – FREE Entry 3-10pm at Flinders University Plaza, Bedford Park Entertainment includes: Spandy & Mandi, Bait Fridge Art Install, Dandyman, Jon Udry-Prohibition Cabaret, Jess the Mess, The Kagools, Balloonatics, Bubble Show, The Greatest Magic Show, Frolic & Follies, Head First Acrobats, Germein, Jess Day, Ollie English, George Alice and Timberwolf. Be sure to join the party when Fringe takes over the Plaza, with local, national and international artists converging for a day of free entertainment! With a jam-packed program, there will be something for everyone. The Stevenson Experience Sing Silly Songs for Kids 3.15pm at Matthew Flinders Theatre, Bedford Park Full Price: $18 Child: $15 BankSA Cardholder: $14.25 Family: $60 Identical twin brothers sing funny songs for all ages! The Stevenson’s have been singing silly songs for over a decade, to international acclaim and sold out tours. Now they’re bringing a special all-ages show packed with their best musical comedy. This is a show for brothers, sisters, siblings, twins, and parents celebrating the craziness of family. Ages 7+ Family Friendly Comedy Hour 4.30pm at Matthew Flinders Theatre, Bedford Park Price: $20 Child: $18 BankSA Cardholder: $15.75 Family: $70 Laugh until your sides hurt with this completely family friendly show! Perfect for kids to teens up to grandparents, this show features four of the funniest comedians from the Fringe in one laughter packed show! A hilarious and tasteful show fit for the whole family… One Show Only! Best of the Fringe: Comedy Superstars Two sessions: 6pm, 8pm at Matthew Flinders Theatre, Bedford Park Price: $35 Consession/Student: $29 BankSA Cardholder: $27 Flinders presents the very best comedy the Fringe has to offer in two star-studded shows! Bringing together the biggest international and Aussie stars for the funniest line-up at the Fringe, you can catch a bargain and find your new favourite comedian. Featuring a line-up of comedians and special guests: Arj Barker (6pm) and Peter Helliar (8pm) For more information and to book an event, please visit flinders.edu.au/fringe Location: Flinders University, Bedford Park

REVIEW: THE LIGHTHOUSE By Charlotte Chambers  Adelaide Festival – 25 Feb – 7 Mar Head out from the light and into the darkness in a magical exploration of Immersive sound, light and music presented by South Australia’s Patch Theatre and directed by Geoff Cobham. Throughout The Lighthouse’s immersive experience the crowd is taken on a roaming journey through the historic Queens Theatre, where a different presentation of light, sound and story is waiting around every corner. The show is utterly interactive with patrons handed a series of lights and lasers, that connect you through the adventures of extraordinary Lighthouse. Children are the gatekeepers of a number of light makers including a magical sphere that is synchronised and miraculously turns off leaving you all in total darkness… albeit for a brief but exciting moment. The journey of light and sound takes you from one interactive experience to another with children chasing light beams, jumping through lasers, walking through air balloons and catching illuminated bubbles. The Lighthouse will leave those young and old completely awestruck with the amount of visual WOW moments the show has to offer. The Lighthouse is suitable from 9 months to 90 years and is exhilarating to the very last laser. A completely illuminating experience – FIVE STARS Tickets available adelaidefestival.com.au/events/the-lighthouse/ READ MORE 

REVIEW: Velvet Rewired By Kate Younie  Location: Magic Mirrors, Spiegeltent, Gluttony Playing until 15 March Cost: $51 – $83 Disco balls, sequins, hula-hoops and hoop earrings all set the scene for a night of soul tunes in this high energy, award winning, feel good production. Marcia Hines is central to this cabaret as she effortlessly sings hits from The Bee Gees, Earth Wind & Fire and Diana Ross. Her voice is as velvet as ever. Smooth and powerful; she perfectly plays her part as Queen Diva. Hines’ two back-up singers, Olivia Carniato and Kyla Bartholomeusz, shine when they are front and centre. Oozing talent and ridiculous rhythm, they had the audience dancing in their seats. DJ and sound mixer, Joe Accaria, keeps the funk tunes coming as aerialist take to the air and acrobats do their thing. Circus skills and high-risk roller-skating are also part of the disco fever. So dust off your glow mesh mini-skirt ready for a night out at this Studio-54 inspired boogie wonderland. Four Stars. By Kate Younie @Big_little_words Tickets available adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/velvet-rewired-af2020

THE YARD BRINGS GELATO, COCKTAILS & FILIPINO STREET FOOD TO RUNDLE MALL This festival season, Rundle Mall and Adelaide Festival are teaming up with Australia’s leading food and drink brands to create ‘The Yard’ – a pop-up space to relax with friends in Gawler Place. Featuring Filipino street food from Hoy Pinoy, gelato from Messina and cocktails from Archie Rose Distilling Co, The Yard will be open from Wednesday 26 February to Sunday 15 March, opposite the Adelaide Festival’s A Doll’s House art installation by visionary Japanese artist Tatzu Nishi. The Yard will see Gelato Messina return to Adelaide after its hugely successful foray for Vogue Festival last October, with a range of clever, limited edition creations especially for The Yard, including: What’s Up Kermit? – a gelato riff on the famous ‘Frog Cake’ featuring salted caramel gelato, honeycomb chunks and whipped cream Off with The Fairies – fairy bread flavoured gelato covered in white chocolate and dusted with sprinkles My Kitchener Rules – a made to order fresh Kitchener bun filled with vanilla gelato and raspberry puree Messina founder and SA-expat Nick Palumbo is also planning to revisit gelato flavours made especially for Adelaide in 2019 – Breakfast in Adelaide, fior di latte gelato with Nutella fudge and Yo-Yo biscuits, and Pavlova, vanilla gelato with raspberry and passionfruit puree and baked meringue. Adelaide Festival partner Archie Rose, Australia’s most highly awarded distillery, will be serving a selection of one-off and classic cocktails specifically for The Yard. The classic cocktails include the Melon Weekender, Southern Apple Spritz and Distiller’s Strength Negroni, all mixed with the distillery’s award-winning gin and vodka. Taking inspiration from Gelato Messina, a range of house-made spiders will also be available and are named accordingly including the Redback, featuring Archie Rose Original Vodka, Daddy Long Legs which is a perfect vehicle for the Archie Rose Signature Dry Gin, and the Huntsman mixed with Archie Rose Rye Malt Whisky. The drinks menu will also feature wines from D’Arenberg Wines, beer from Coopers and cider by Pressman’s, as well as baby spider mocktails for kids. The Yard also has lunch and dinner sorted with Hoy Pinoy looking after the savoury options, cooking up their famous Inihaw Na Manok (barbequed chicken skewers in a traditional soy glaze), Sisig burritos (a traditional Filipino dish given a burrito twist) and Lechon kawali (a rice bowl with slow braised, crispy fried pork belly and chilli). On Friday nights, The Yard will step up a gear with the addition of Festival Fridays, with DJs, weekly special cocktails and plenty of food on offer. The Yard opening times: Wednesday 26 February – Sunday 15 March 2020 Wednesday – Saturday lunch & dinner from 11:30am to late Sundays from 11:30am – 3pm (The Yard will also be open Monday 9 March 11am – 3pm for Adelaide Cup Day Find ‘The Yard’ on RundleMall next to A Doll’s House in Gawler Place Child friendly / free entry rundlemall.com/the-yard

THE LIGHTHOUSE PREMIERS AT ADELAIDE FESTIVAL 25 Feb – 7 Mar season  Patch Theatre and Adelaide Festival have joined forces to premiere a brand new show, The Lighthouse. Take your family on an intimate journey that’s part installation, part scientific quest, part rave. Explore a series of interconnected rooms, each full of hands-on experiences examining a different property of that elusive yet fundamental force of nature: light. Patch Artistic Director Geoff Cobham continues the celebration of big ideas – ideas that explore some of the world’s inexplicable questions from a child’s point of view. Let The Lighthouse illuminate your family. For centuries we have gathered around light – telling stories, seeking warmth and looking for answers. There is a primitive pull to light, a sense of wonder surrounds it. Our greatest scientists still grapple with what light actually is. It seems to be both a particle and wave, but how? The Lighthouse is an interactive immersive promenade performance piece for all ages. Part theatre, part immersive art piece, part rave, part science experiment, The Lighthouse puts children and their families at the centre of an exploration of light. In this house of wonder, a series of theatrical light experiences are linked by puzzle portals that must be solved to gain entry to the next playground. In groups of ten, audiences will depart every 15 minutes, making their way through a series of interconnected rooms. Each room offers a unique theatrical exploration of light, using a performer to bring the story to life. The group is able to proceed to the next room by solving a puzzle, found through interaction with the lighting and performance elements of each room. Discover the complexities of light – from the tiniest spark to the biggest bang, from pixel to landscape, line to animation, glow to strobe. 4 – 8 year olds and their families Audience experience is 60 minutes, 30 patrons enter every 20 minutes from 10am – 12:20pm & 6pm – 8:20pm on weekends. 25 Feb – 7 Mar season at Adelaide Festival. Event location: Queens Theatre Adelaide For more information: patchtheatre.org.au  

Werk it – Adelaide Fringe By Liv Williams 14 FEB – 15 MAR | CORONA THEATRE – Garden of unearthly delights The best way for me to describe the late-night circus production Werk it, currently showing at the Adelaide Fringe, is to say… it’s kind of like the most talented members of Cirkidz grew up and got drunk together at a party, and this is the result. In a good way! It’s a little bit circus, a little bit comedy, a little bit cheeky, and a whole lot of badassery; and brought to you by Circus Trick Tease, the crew behind Neon and the 2018 smash hit Can’t Face. It’s an hour of true acrobatic flex, with enough sass and innuendo to give it a legit M rating (leave the kids at home for this one!). Notable mentions to a killer hula hoop routine, and a juggling display that brought out in me, what I can only describe as an unexpected sudden onset juggling fetish. Juggling virtuoso, Richard Sullivan, just looked so sexy when he was throwing his balls in the air, I don’t know, I can’t explain it. If it’s wrong, I don’t want to be right! A few questionable minutes at the very beginning with a slapstick routine that people who don’t love slapstick (i.e. me) may inwardly groan at, is very much made up for by the remaining 57 minutes of what is a cracker show of extreme talent on display, that lacks nothing, and exceeds expectations. It just werks! Buy tickets

Adelaide Festival 28 Feb – 15 March For 60 years, Adelaide Festival has been delighting audiences with the very best in artistic excellence from international and local performers, musicians, artists and writers. The 2020 Adelaide Festival will be no exception, with a range of free and ticketed experiences to tickle the fancy of every family member – from theatrical triumphs, jaw-dropping physical theatre, spine-tingling music, to whimsical one-man shows; Adelaide Festival is the perfect way for families to get out and about in Mad March. DON’T MISS Fire Gardens Presented by Compagnie Carabosse Thu 12 – Sun 15 Mar Adelaide Botanic Gardens Over four magical nights the city’s Botanic Garden, already a charmed space once the sun has set, will become a dreamspace of mystery and revelation fashioned from thousands of individual flames. BIG PEOPLE Adelaide Festival’s 60th Birthday Concert 29 Feb Elder Park, King William Road The Doctor 27 Feb – 8 Mar Dunstan Playhouse, Adelaide Festival Centre Requiem 28 Feb – 4 Mar Festival Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre Black Velvet 28 Feb – 2 Mar Odeon Theatre Breaking The Waves 13 & 15 Mar Festival Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre Lyon Opera Ballet 6 & 7 Mar Festival Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre LITTLE PEOPLE The Lighthouse 15 Feb – 7 Mar Queen’s Theatre Dimanche 28 Feb – 7 Mar Space Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre A Doll’s House 28 Feb – 15 Feb Gawler Place Canopy, Rundle Mall The Artist 9 – 14 Mar Main Theatre, AC Arts WIN A Family Pass To The Lighthouse The Lighthouse takes you from tiny spark to Big Bang, from pixel to landscape, from line to laser. It’s part installation, part scientific quest, part rave. Above all it offers the kind of magic that only interactive theatre can. Thanks to Adelaide Festival we are giving away a family pass to The Lighthouse (2x adult and 2x child tickets) for Tuesday 25 Feb, Wednesday 26 Feb or Thursday 27 Feb subject to availability RRP $88. Queen’s Theatre Adelaide Recommended for ages 3+. TICKETS AND MORE INFO FROM: adelaidefestival.com.au @adelaidefestival

DON’T MESS WITH THE DUMMIES THIS FRINGE Hey Kiddos! Were you lucky enough to see Splash Test Dummies at last year’s Fringe? Or were you one of the dummies who missed out? Well get ready to rumble in the jungle, because The Dummies are on a new expedition and you’re invited along for the ride! We hear the Splash Test Dummies are also making a return too.  Pack your bag, tie your shoes and get ready for circus-filled hilarity as the Dummies monkey about the jungle, swing through treetops and bush bash their way through the undergrowth. With a rockin’ soundtrack, unbelievable acrobatics and trademark Dummies frivolity!  From the unstoppable Dummies Corp comes an all-new extraordinary adventure! Don’t mess with the Dummies, Lions and tigers and dummies, oh my! Set up camp and stampede into the jungle for an outlandish, circus filled extravaganza that will leave you chuckling like a monkey and roaring for more. You can expect a blend of circus, comedy and imaginative play aimed at entertaining young and old in unison.  See you there!  Showing 14 Feb – 14 Mar  Tickets available from adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/don-t-mess-with-the-dummies-af2020    

The Brass Monkeys are Coming to the Garden!  February 14 – March 13 If you gasped and giggled at last year’s “Children are Stinky” show then you better prepare yourself, because the creators are BACK and bringing an all new, action-packed, super exciting circus spectacular to Adelaide Fringe. Brass Monkeys celebrates kids who march to the beat of their own drum and have the world at their dancing feet. Bursting with high calibre acrobatics, a ton of comedy, live music and high flying tricks, this show is perfect for little kids and grown ups who like a big brass belly laugh! Performed by powerhouse duo Kyle Raftery and April Dawson (Lunar Circus, Circus Oz) and directed by Malia Walsh (heaps of stuff). This trio of artists are famous for combining circus skills of epic proportions with comedy for all ages. Recommended for children between 3-10, and grown ups who like a laugh. We spoke to the Monkeys themselves before their big Fringe debut!  What can we expect from your show that we didn’t see last year? Everything in the show is new! We have aerials, unicycling, huge juggling act and of course live music mixed with acrobatics. What will kids love most abut Brass Monkeys? The incredible acrobatics and comedy… it’s got just as many jokes for the grown ups too! Are you from Adelaide originally? We are from all over Australia, one from Perth, one from county NSW and our director is from Melbourne. What is your favourite part about performing/directing at Adelaide Fringe? Adelaide has the best audiences in the world. You are smart, adventurous and super fun! Are there any other shows on your must-see list? So many, but if you liked big tricks and loads of laughs get a baby sitter and treat yourself to WERK IT, on in the Garden every night. A bit of advice for any Fringe goer?  Go and see one show this year that isn’t what you would normally see, explore a different genera or a new venue. Stirling Fringe is worth the trip!  Tickets are available from:  gardenofunearthlydelights.com.au 

The Stirling Fringe is back for its 4th year with a brand-new venue. Bamboozled Productions is proud to be bringing back the Stirling Fringe for 2020, which will feature fabulous performers from around the world, interstate and of course locally. The boutique event is once again bringing the excitement of the fringe to the tranquil Adelaide hills from the 21st of February to the 1st of March 2020. The Stirling Lawns will again be the hub, with the 100-seat tent venue, and outside stage and of course bars and food trucks. the Stirling Fringe is also very excited to have the Stirling Community Theatre as one of its venues for the first weekend. Next Year’s Stirling Fringe will feature 60 shows from 42 different companies. There will be 7,500 tickets available and a number of shows exclusive to the event. A whole host of genres will be on show next year including, theatre, cabaret, comedy, magic, circus, and family entertainment; there’s something for everyone Louise Clarke Director of Bamboozled Productions says “we are thrilled to be returning the energy and excitement of the fringe to the Adelaide Hills with a curated program of superb shows.” “The best part is we can experience all the thrills of the Fringe in a relaxed setting in the beautiful leafy Stirling while punters kick back with A Prancing PonyBeer or an Adelaide Hills wine.” Of course, another advantage of the Stirling fringe is the hills are always cooler and both venues are air-conditioned!” The event kicks off with a bang with the famous opening night party. Proceedings will start at the Stirling lawns with the free, family-friendly event. Then at 9:30pm the ticketed Variety Gala will begin in the Stirling Community Theatre, showcasing some of the highlights of the festival. Another big attraction is the bar on the Stirling Lawns, it’s the perfect place to soak up the atmosphere of the event with world-class drinks from the Adelaide Hills region, food trucks and an open-air stage featuring a rotating schedule of free entertainment. During the week, there are 2:30pm shows each day, catered towards those who may not want to see shows at night but still want to experience the best of the festival. These shows include theatre piece I’ll Tell You This For Nothing-My Mother The War Hero and “Jazzin cheek” music performance, Bessie-Billie-Dinah-Empress, Lady& Queen of the Blues. The Stirling Fringe is proud to offer a wide range of family shows, with matinees and after school shows also being a big part of the program. Children’s shows include Talking Dogs and Mr. Snot Bottom’s Stinky Silly Show, Big Tops and Tiny Tots Circus Showand ‘utterly bonkers’ Kids’Directors Cut, amongst many others. stirlingfringe.com.au