For immediate release – Monday 27 October, 2014
DISCOVER, REFLECT AND DREAM WITH
THE 2015 SEASON AT THE ADELAIDE
FESTIVAL CENTRE
Adelaide Festival Centre cements its position as one of the nation’s leading cultural precincts as it
unveils its 2015 program.
The 2015 program features over 845 artists in 211 performances throughout the year. There are
137 international artists from the United Kingdom, France, New Zealand, United States, Argentina,
Germany, Russia and Scotland. As well as the best from Australia with 708 Australian artists, 458
are South Australian performers. The 2015 Festival showcases six world premieres, eight
Australian premieres, 14 Adelaide premieres as well as six Adelaide exclusives.
Adelaide Festival Centre CEO and Artistic Director Douglas Gautier says, “The 2015 season
delivers a well-rounded program of diverse South Australian, national and international work full of
collaborations. Here at the Festival Centre we continuously work with other arts organisations to
bring you concerts, shows and exhibitions that would not otherwise be possible. The list of this
year’s collaborators is impressive, - Australian Ballet, Adelaide Festival of Arts, Australian Dance
Theatre, Brink Productions, Musica Viva, New Zealand Dance Company, State Theatre Company
of SA, Windmill Theatre, The Walkey Awards and many others.
“We strive for excellence and the 2015 season is testament to that and puts a very large spotlight
on the arts in Adelaide”.
Kicking off the season, direct from London’s West End will be the Adelaide premiere Thriller Live!,
a theatrical concert spectacular celebrating the legendary songs and mind-blowing dance moves
of Michael Jackson and the Jackson Five.
The biggest selling magic show in the world returns with its third instalment, The Illusionists 1903,
featuring eight world-class illusionists from across the globe. The audience will be transported to
the golden age of magic, showcasing the origins of some of the greatest illusions ever seen.
Lovers of music will be spoilt with the plethora of choice on offer including the double bill, So
Frenchy So Chic Live! Featuring indie pop darling, Emilie Simon revered for her charismatic
stage presence and intricate layering of vocals and live instrumentals and French/Finnish duo The
DØ, Olivia Merilahti and Dan Levy.
There’s plenty on offer for lovers of all things classical, including beautiful music in a stunning
setting as Cocktail Concerts with Niki Vasilakis returns. Overlooking Elder Park, Niki will once
again be breaking down the barriers of classical music and making it accessible, informal and
widely appealing and the series will feature talented musicians from across Australia.
Multi award-winning pianist Jean-Efflam Bavouzet and one of the world’s most stunning young
pianists, Ingrid Fliter are headlining Morgans International Piano Series.
Legendary winner of 18 Grammy awards, Count Basie Orchestra features a peerless array of
instrumentalists with combined credentials that have topped the upper echelons of the
international jazz world for decades. Swing with them on their 80th tour with special guest vocalist
Carmen Bradford.
The classics keep coming with Max Raabe and Palast Orchester from Kurt Weill to Cole Porter,
this will be a magical evening of glamour and romance. Musica Viva celebrates its 70th birthday
with a recital tour by superstar violinist Maxim Vergerov with Roustem Saitkoulov on piano.
A unique memoir in music revealed by one of Australia’s leading AIDS activists –acclaimed
composer Lyle Chan and Aria-nominated Acacia Quartet will present An Aids Activist’s Memoir
in Music, a unique memoir created during the peak of the epidemic.
Don’t miss acclaimed actor, writer, TV travel documentary presenter and original member of Monty
Python, Michael Palin live on stage for one night only.
In association with Adelaide Festival and Queensland Theatre Company, Adelaide Festival
Centre will present the Adelaide premiere of Black Diggers. Sure to be a moving night of theatre,
it’s the untold story of Aboriginal soldiers in World War I, featuring an all-male, all-indigenous cast,
the show evokes these fearless and heroic men, largely unknown to history, who helped win the
war but lost their battle back home.
From State Theatre Company of South Australia, one of the world’s greatest actresses, Miriam
Margolyes will present the world premiere of The Importance of Being Miriam. See her talent on
display as she brings to the stage some of literature’s best known characters along with some
fascinating personal insights of her love of literature and its characters.
The iconic children’s book Masquerade, written and illustrated by UK author and artist Kit Williams,
which sold over two million copies worldwide in the late 1970s, has been lovingly crafted into a
play by award-winning Australian playwright, Kate Mulvany. Masquerade is an enchanting new
theatrical adventure that is bound to delight audiences aged 9 to 90.
We have two productions from Windmill Theatre – The Book of Loco, which was awarded Best
Theatre Production at the 2013 Adelaide Fringe Festival, and Bear with Me, an intimate concert
especially for bears, their children (and their grown ups).
In a coup for South Australia, the National Play Festival will be hosted in Adelaide for the first
time in 2015. Produced by Playwriting Australia, the National Play Festival is an extraordinary
hothouse of talent and imagination, celebrating the very best of new Australian theatre.
Adapted by Brink Productions from Patrick White’s short story Down at the Dump is The
Aspirations of Daise Morrow featuring Zephyr Quartet, it’s guaranteed to be a richly theatrical
and immersive adaptation.
Inspirational dance from abroad and Australia, The New Zealand Dance Company is renowned
for its earthiness, physicality, rhythm and expression. In an ANZAC centenary celebration,
Rotunda brings to life the world of the band rotunda, an iconic symbol of early 20 th Century
community and draws from the extraordinary courage and spirit of ANZAC men and women. This
exceptional production will also feature a live 20-piece South Australian brass band.
As part of Adelaide Festival Centre’s inSpace program, two of Australia’s most exciting dance
collaborators Lisa Griffiths and Adam Synnott will present the powerful and energetic world
premiere of Chance. Inspired by science fiction, the piece is a study on humanity’s beginnings,
behaviours and cycles.
The Australian Ballet will return with love tragedy Giselle and an effervescent evening of wonder
with triple bill, The Dream.
Australian Dance Theatre will celebrate 50 years of Australian contemporary dance with a 50th
Anniversary Gala. To complement the concert, Performing Arts Collection will feature an
exhibition showcasing how the company has reinvented itself under changing artistic directorships.
Another dance highlight will be The Australian Dance Awards - the pre-eminent dance industry
awards.
Sydney Dance Company again will prove that dance doesn’t have to play it safe. Their trio of
work De Novo features choreographers Rafael Bonachela, Alexander Ekman and Adelaide’s
own Larissa McGowan. The work breaks new ground with a soundscape from Australia’s
acclaimed Sarah Blasko and Nick Wales and costumes by designer Dion Lee.
Adelaide Festival Centre strengthens its world-class festival reputation with back-to-back Festivals
in 2015.
The Come Out Children’s Festival runs over nine days, from May 22 – 30 with hundreds of
shows that promise to engage, stimulate, challenge, educate and entertain young minds.
The diversity of shows, talent and interactivity for children in this festival is astounding, featuring a
total of 550 events, performances, exhibitions, workshops and activities with no less than 12 South
Australian premieres, one Australian premiere and five world premieres.
Kids can expect mayhem, riotous inventions and catastrophic disasters as the Adelaide premiere
of Richard Tulloch’s sequel adapted from the book by Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton, The 26Storey Treehouse takes to the stage. Bound to get the imagination bubbling is Argus by Dead
Puppet Society, who have created a fantastical world with its roots in puppetry and old fashioned
story-telling. Imaginary Theatre’s production Look wraps children up in a gentle theatre
experience.
For the big kids 8+, Chalk About, a Curious Seed production, is both sophisticated yet fun. It’s a
playful, funny and sometimes moving look at how young people see themselves and others, featuring
dance, chat and one perfect scene containing everything you could wish for (including pizza). Kids will
get a chance to go on a circus safari through jungles, oceans and plains when the Circa carnival comes
to town with Carnival of the Animals.
Barry Humphries will present his first Adelaide Cabaret Festival, 5 – 20 June, an event to
savour and remember – curated by the finest cabaret artist this country has ever produced. As well
as the Variety Gala performance, five diverse and engaging shows have already been announced
ahead of the official Festival program launch in April.
Performances include two Grammy Award leading ladies from the United States Lisa Fischer and
Karrin Allyson. As well as award-winning concert pianist Anna Goldsworthy’s deeply felt memoir
Piano Lessons and the World Premiere of Peter & Jack, an exciting collaboration curated by
Artistic Director Barry Humphries that pays tribute to two legends of Australian music, baritone
Peter Dawson and songwriter Jack O’Hagan. Whilst Paris Combo, led by mischievous
chanteause Belle de Berry, will showcase their fun loving mix of jazz, French pop, cabaret, gypsy,
Latino and Middle Eastern rhythms.
Joseph Mitchell will deliver his first OzAsia Festival, 23 September – 4 October with an
emphasis on Indonesia, and will ensure this contemporary Asian arts festival continues to assume
its world leadership position when it comes to Australian/Asian cultural exchange. Moon Lantern
Festival will be celebrated rain or shine on 27 September.
The stunning views from our new destination bar The River Deck make for a perfect place to meet
friends for drinks before and after any social event. As the weather warms up, Summer Sessions
on the River Deck will be the place to be seen, with live music every Friday and Saturday night
throughout January.
Families won’t be disappointed as Horrible Histories live on stage returns with a brand new show,
Barmy Britain, with some amazing 3D effects. The popular Something on Saturdays program
continues to delight in 2015, offering children aged 3-10 their first steps into the magical world of
theatre. The fun runs from 2 May – 5 September, proudly supported by principal sponsor National
Pharmacies.
Step beyond the stage for our year-long program of curated exhibitions including The Maj 100 – A
hundre d years in a hundred pictures, Peoples’ Choice, The Art Of Deception, Blake Prize,
Remembering Gallipoli, Art By Prisoners 2015, 60 Years of Edna, Possums!, Australian
Ballet Exhibition, Breaking Ground 2015: Seeing Spring, Australian Dance Theatre: 50
Years of Contemporary Dance, Nikon Walkley Press Photography Exhibition and in 2015, we
will be celebrating 10 years of Our Mob. Information on the exhibitions and opening hours can be
found on our website.
Bring your friends, both old and new to a performance as part of our Morning Melodies program,
great daytime entertainment at an affordable price.
Community involvement is an important aspect of the Festival Centre and each year there is a
range of eclectic and vibrant community events and performances as part of the World of
Cultures, celebrating our rich multicultural society.
Give yourself an early Christmas present and complete your 2015 season with the ever popular
Christmas Proms. There’s no better way to get into the festive spirit than with rousing renditions
of some of the most popular Christmas classics.
The Festival Centre’s GreenRoom program (18-30 year olds) and centrED program (primary and
secondary students) will continue to give young people the opportunity to participate in a number
of workshops, events and forums. The Student Tix program offers discounted tickets, enabling
younger audiences to access the arts. This is supported through the generous donations of the
Adelaide Festival Centre Foundation.
In 2015, Adelaide Festival Centre invites patrons to discover, reflect and dream like the young boy
on the cover of our 2015 season program. This image won the Adelaide Festival Centre’s
Discover, Reflect, Dream photo competition this year and reminds us of that sense of childhood
freedom and adventure. So, whether you’re a new visitor or have been coming to the centre for
many years, you can always discover new possibilities at Adelaide Festival Centre.
To stay in touch with what’s on at Adelaide Festival Centre, patrons can sign up to receive the
What’s On email newsletter. Like our Facebook page to hear all the news first, check out our
YouTube channel or follow us on Twitter and join in the conversation.
For full program details including co presenters visit adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au
Get social with us on Twitter @AdelaideFesCent or Facebook facebook.com/FestivalCentre
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Media releases for individual performances can be found here
adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/about-us/media-releases/
High resolution images for each production along with artists' and creatives' biographies are
available upon request. For all enquiries and if you would like to be added to our media database
please contact:
Petrina Egan 08 8216 8699 / 0423 324 288
[email protected]
Tim Mason 08 8216 8540 / 0433 923 848
[email protected]
Horrible Histories Barmy Britain please contact Pia Di Paolo 903) 98205477 [email protected]
Michael Palin Live on Stage please contact Ian Phipps 0419 977 649 [email protected]
Black Diggers please contact Adelaide Festival of Arts Duncan Fraser (08) 8216 4422
[email protected]
Count Basie Orchestra please contact Phil Bathols (07) 5569 0030 [email protected]
Bear with Me & Book of Loco please contact Adam Rosetto Windmill Theatre (08) 8415 5303
[email protected]
th
Australian Dance Theatre 50 Anniversary Gala please contact Julia George (08) 8373 7733
[email protected]
The Aspirations of Daise Morrow please contact Dani Raymond (08) 8211 6565
[email protected]
Max Raabe Palast Orchestra please contact Andrew McKinnon 0412 092150 [email protected]
Maxim Vengerov please contact Cassie Etwell (02) 8394 6658 [email protected]
Festival Hellenika please contact Loula Dacolias 0418839896 [email protected]
National Play Festival please contact Alice Poujois-Enari Playwriting Australia (02) 8571
9178 [email protected]
FESTIVAL of FAITH: Music & Dance from around the World please contact Afzal Mahmood
[email protected] or Jiten Patel 0403 508067 [email protected]