State Theatre gives emerging playwrights a chance to shine
Six emerging playwrights will have works in State Theatre Company’s 2025 program, which also features hit musical Kimberley Akimbo.
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Six emerging South Australian playwrights will have their works performed as part of State Theatre Company’s 2025 program, in a new festival called Great Australian Bites.
Singing stars Marina Prior and Casey Donovan will also join forces with actor Christie Whelan Browne in the new Tony award-winning musical Kimberley Akimbo at Her Majesty’s Theatre in July.
The 2025 season is the last here for artistic director Mitchell Butel, who will take on the artistic director role at Sydney Theatre Company from next year.
“It’s a season that’s full of works about making a change and making a difference,” Butel said.
Great Australian Bites, at Norwood’s Odeon Theatre next November-December, will feature new plays by Piri Eddy, Anthony Nocera, Sarah Peters, Alex Vickery-Howe, Nicola Watson and Alexis West.
Other season highlights include Emily Steel’s new political comedy Housework, Looking for Alibrandi, a return season of The Dictionary of Lost Words, The Glass Menagerie, and Dear Son, based on the book by Thomas Mayo.
Full program and tickets at statetheatrecompany.com.au
MUSICAL STROLL ALONG NORTH TERRACE FOR CHAMBER FESTIVAL
Free chamber music festival On The Terrace will return with live performances at major Adelaide gallery, museum and creative locations on November 3.
More than over 40 intimate pop-up concerts will be held along the North Terrace cultural precinct on Sunday, November 3, from 11am to 4pm.
Acts taking part include the Stringybark Quartet, Kegelstatt Ensemble, Soundstream and the Poco Tutti choir, at such venues as the SA Museum, Art Gallery, State Library and Migration Museum.
Windsong Quintet will be joined by baritone Emlyn O’Regan and percussionist Andrew to
perform the world premiere of composer Jodie O’Regan’s work Elegy For A Grieving Ocean at the SA Museum’s Pacific Cultures Gallery.
“For several years of the pandemic I lived in Encounter Bay, where I had the
profoundly moving experience of seeing whales for the first time and was inspired to
write a piece about the history of whaling in the region,” Jodie O’Regan said.
“This is a story of naive destruction, subsequent loss and renewed hope.”
A full timetable of performances is available at chambermusicadelaide.com.au
A WILD FLIGHT AT THE OPERA
Modern opera Flight, which tells the story of passengers and crew stuck in an airport terminal during a wild storm, will have an exclusive Adelaide season next year.
The Scottish Opera production will be presented by State Opera of South Australia at Her Majesty’s Theatre from May 8 to 10.
State Opera artistic director Dane Lam said Flight, by English composer Jonathan Dove, masterfully blends humour and misfortune.
“Flight captures the essence of humanity in its most vulnerable state, reminding us of our shared experiences,” Mr Lam said.
“It’s a beautiful blend of comedy and pathos.”
The true story behind Flight, of a stateless refugee who lives in the departure lounge, also inspired Steven Spielberg’s 2004 film The Terminal, starring Tom Hanks.
An earlier production of Flight was one of the centrepieces of the 2006 Adelaide Festival program.
The new version will feature English countertenor James Laing, Anna Voshege, Samuel Dale Johnson and Teddy Tahu Rhodes, backed by the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra.
Book at stateopera.com.au
DRAGON LIGHTS WAY TO OZASIA FESTIVAL ON RIVER TORRENS
A gigantic illuminated dragon has surfaced on the River Torrens footbridge for the opening of the OzAsia Festival on Thursday.
The Hong Kong Dragon, designed by OzAsia artist Vivian Ho, also helps guide audiences between the Festival Centre and this weekend’s Moon Lantern Trail across the river at Pinky Flat.
Adelaide based Punjabi singer Parvyn will launch her second solo album Maujuda – which means “to be present” – with a concert party at Nexus Arts on November 8.
“If I was a kid, this is what a dragon would look like in my dreams,” Parvyn said.
The singer, who previously fronted Melbourne band The Bombay Royale, fuses genres to create her unique sound, and says the new album explores themes of migration.
“For this record, it’s been a lot of rock, some jazz as well, and then a bit of disco,” she said.
“It’s about recognising where I’ve come from, in terms of my ancestral place … but then reconciling what that means living on this land of Australia.
“OzAsia is such an important part of the festival calendar … There’s nothing else like it. It really does bring together so many different elements.”
The festival, which features shows including Por Por’s Big Fat Surprise Wedding, A Passage to Bollywood and Filipino drag queen Taylor Sheesh, runs until November 10.
WOODBLOCK PRINT CHOSEN AS 2025 ADELAIDE FRINGE POSTER
A woodblock print titled Are We Nearly There Yet and featuring quirky geometric characters created by UK artist John Pedder has won the 2025 Adelaide Fringe poster competition.
It is the first time a woodcut design has been selected as the Fringe poster in its more than 60-year history.
“For me, there’s a connection with these characters and the Fringe poster competition brief of ‘One for All and All For One’,” Mr Pedder said.
“The print reflects the many arts disciplines that visitors will experience.”
Mr Pedder, who is based in Sheffield, will also hold an exhibition of his work at next year’s Fringe, which runs from February 21 to March 23, as part of his $10,000 prize.
The artist hand carves his woodblocks and makes the prints in his backyard studio, and says the poster depicts a range of boldly coloured characters of all ages and genders, each with their own story.
A number of Fringe shows are already on sale ahead of the full program launch on December 6.
SA ICON GETS AN EYE-POPPING MAKEOVER
One of the River Torrens’ famous Popeye boats has become even more eye-popping, thanks to a makeover by Adelaide artist Alice Lindstrom.
The collage artist received the second Ramsay Art Boat commission to create her work, titled River Tapestry, which adorns the roof and hull of the iconic cruise vessel.
“The colour palette for the boat’s artwork was inspired by the rich, warm hues of golden hour on the river,” Lindstrom said.
“As the sun sets, the sky glows with soft pinks, deep oranges, and vivid reds.”
The project is backed by the philanthropic James and Diana Ramsay Foundation and craft organisation Guildhouse, and launched its first Art Boat design by Carly Snoswell last year.
Lindstrom said she remembered being “very excited” to go on Popeye rides when she was a child.
“Now I’ll be able to take my own children along and show them my artwork on the boat.”
The Popeye boats are State Heritage icons and have been taking tourists for trips on the Torrens since 1935.
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