Adelaide Fringe releases 2020 program for 60th anniversary

Audience numbers are expected to increase despite show numbers being down for the Adelaide Fringe’s diamond anniversary program in 2020.

Adelaide Fringe 2020 performers Alessia Scriva from Frolic and Follies, Carla Anita Mattiazzo from The Catchelorette, Monski Mouse from Monski Mouse’s Baby Cabaret, Callan Fleming from Perfect Match(stick) by The Redhead Cabaret, Jordan Steffens from The King Of The Circus and Saskia De Muir from Immoral Kombat at Carrick Hill. Picture: TOM HUNTLEY

Fringe acts will be popping up in more suburban and regional areas than ever before as part of next year’s 60th anniversary program, which is released online today.

However, the number of shows in the 2020 Adelaide Fringe program has actually decreased for the first time in more than a decade with just 1210 events – down by 116 on this year’s registrations.

Previous times that Fringe acts dropped were in 2007 and 2009, which were the first two programs to be held in “odd” years after it became an annual event.

Fringe director Heather Croall said there had been a fall in single performance shows – such as one-off music and comedy gigs, workshops and general events – as well as the number of visual art exhibitions.

These had been replaced by acts which are doing longer runs.

“Some genres have actually seen an increase,’ Ms Croall said. “We’re predicting that more tickets will be sold in 2020 because there are more venues with shows that run for the whole season.”

THE BIG 6-0: Performers form the number 60 for the Adelaide Fringe’s diamond anniversary at Carrick Hill. From left: Callan Fleming from Perfect Match(stick) by The Redhead Cabaret, Saskia De Muir from Immoral Kombat, Alessia Scriva from Frolic and Follies, Carla Anita Mattiazzo from The Catchelorette by Carla’s Confessional Cabaret, Jordan Steffens from The King Of The Circus and Monski Mouse from Monski Mouse’s Baby Cabaret. Picture: TOM HUNTLEY

Next year’s program is also smaller than 2018, when there were 1223 listings. Most past years have had an increase of between 50 and 200 shows.

Despite the fall, Adelaide Fringe remains the largest event of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, second only around the world to the Edinburgh Fringe in Scotland.

“We can’t wait to flood the city with the joy and mayhem that comes with Adelaide Fringe,” Ms Croall said.

Centrepiece of the 2020 program will be Aboriginal illuminations display Yabarra: Dreaming in Light at Tandanya, which will build on the concept held this year at night along the Torrens riverbanks.

“Yabarra 2020 is a whole new projections project, not just a restaging. It will be more like walking into a Dreamtime story and being immersed in it. It will be run from 10am for much broader audiences,” Ms Croall said.

“Attached to this project are over $100,000 in grants for First Nations artists to present work.”

Opening night activities on February 14 will include the Tindo Utpurndee indigenous sunset ceremony in Rymill Park and a concert by rap sensation Baker Boy at the RCC on the University of Adelaide’s Maths Lawns. Roads in the city’s East End will also be closed to traffic for celebrations.

Adelaide Fringe performers at Carrick Hill for release of 60th anniversary program: Carla Anita Mattiazzo from Carla’s Confessional Cabaret, Alessia Scriva from Frolic and Follies, Monski Mouse from Monski Mouse’s Baby Cabaret, Jordan Steffens from The King Of The Circus, Saskia De Muir from Immoral Kombat and Callan Fleming from Perfect Match(stick) by The Redhead Cabaret. Picture: TOM HUNTLEY

To mark the diamond anniversary, a Fringe Walk featuring all its posters from previous years will be located on North Terrace from January 25.

A large-scale karaoke event called Giant Sing Along, complete with auto-tuned microphones, will be part of the activation of Lot Fourteen on the former RAH site every day of the Fringe, which runs until March 15.

Among the 361 locations with Fringe attractions are more than 100 new venues. Heritage sites Carrick Hill at Springfield and Ayers House on North Terrace also will host acts.

More than 60 per cent of shows will include regional and suburban performances, with Fringe hubs stretching from Gawler to Port Noarlunga and Whyalla to Mount Gambier. Other events will be mounted at Murray Bridge, Port Adelaide, Port Augusta, Tanunda, Marion Cultural Centre, Adelaide Airport and Flinders University.

Adelaide will also host the World Fringe Congress, a biennial conference for international festival industry professionals.

FULL PROGRAM AND TICKETS FROM 9AM at adelaidefringe.com.au