Vincent Namatjira exhibition to be highlight of Tarnanthi festival

The great-grandson of an iconic Aboriginal artist will have his own major exhibition as part of Adelaide’s Tarnanthi festival.

Vincent Namatjira, the great-grandson of iconic Aboriginal artist Albert Namatjira, will have his own career-spanning exhibition in Adelaide as part of next month’s Tarnanthi festival.

The first-ever survey of the Western Aranda artist’s work, titled Vincent Namatjira: Australia in Colour, will run at the Art Gallery of SA from October 20 to January 21, before going to the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra next year.

Artist Vincent Namatjira with his work Going Out Bush, projected on the Art Gallery of South Australia facade. Photo: Sia Duff

“I believe in the power of art, the power of the paintbrush,” 40-year-old Namatjira said.

“I know that art can change lives – it changed mine – and I hope that art can change the world too.”

Vincent has also selected works by Albert Namatjiri from the gallery’s collection for display.

While his paintings offer a wry and satirical look at history, politics and leadership, rather than mimicking his great-grandfather’s watercolour landscape style, Vincent said he was proud to be continuing the Namatjira legacy.

“Painting is in my blood … Albert Namatjira changed the face of art in Australia. I feel his influence when I paint, especially when I paint our Country.”

Artist Vincent Namatjira and his work will feature in the 2023 Tarnanthi Festival, at the Art Gallery of South Australia. Picture: Supplied by AGSA

Tarnanthi will feature work by more than 1500 contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists in 36 exhibitions and events at 27 venues around SA from October 20 throughout November.

It includes the Tarnanthi Art Fair, with works from around the country for sale at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on October 22-23 and through its online store.

Tarnanthi will open with a free concert by Dan Sultan at the Art Gallery’s North Terrace forecourt on October 19.

Miss Saigon musical Adelaide tickets on sale

Award-winning musical Miss Saigon is coming to Adelaide for a summer season with tickets on sale at midday on Monday.

Cameron Mackintosh’s acclaimed new production of Boublil and Schönberg’s award-winning musical will grace the stage at Festival Theatre from January 2 for a strictly limited season.

Tickets for the Adelaide season will go on sale at midday on today (Monday September 11) through Ticketek.

The winner of 70 major theatre awards including three Tony Awards, two Olivier Awards and four Drama Desk Awards, Miss Saigon has been seen by 38 million people, performed in 15 different languages in over 32 countries and 350 cities.

Miss Saigon’s Australian cast is led by Seann Miley Moore as the Engineer, Abigail Adriano as Kim, Nigel Huckle as Chris, Kerrie Anne Greenland as Ellen, Laurence Mossman as Thuy and Kimberly Hodgson as Gigi.

Abigail Adriano (Kim) in the Australian production of Miss Saigon. Picture: Daniel Boud

Abigail Adriano (Kim) and Nigel Huckle (Chris) in the Australian production of Miss Saigon. Picture: Daniel Boud

Kerrie Anne Greenland (Ellen) in the Australian production of Miss Saigon. Picture: Daniel Boud

Torben Brookman, director of GWB Entertainment said he was thrilled to be working with Cameron Mackintosh to bring this production to Adelaide.

“After witnessing the opening night of this production in Sydney recently, Adelaide audiences are in for an absolute treat with the best production of this incredible show that I’ve ever seen – the heat will be on in Adelaide this summer,” he told GLAM Adelaide.

“Our extraordinary cast have received incredible rave reviews at the Sydney Opera House and the production is only touring to Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide before it leaves Australia – what a treat it will be for audiences to experience it first at the Adelaide Festival Centre, where my recent production of Mary Poppins was sold out, with nightly standing ovations. Don’t miss out!”

Nick Afoa (John) in the Australian production of Miss Saigon. Picture: Daniel Boud

Arts Minister Andrea Michaels said: “It’s wonderful to welcome Miss Saigon to Adelaide. I look forward to this new production delighting South Australian audiences in the Festival Theatre in the new year.”

Miss Saigon following a young Vietnamese woman named Kim who is orphaned by war and forced to work in a bar run by a notorious man known as the Engineer. There she meets an American G.I named Chris, who she falls in love with. But they are torn apart by the fall of Saigon.

For three years Kim goes on an epic journey of survival to find her way back to Chris who isn’t aware he is the father of her son.