Garden of Unearthly Delights still growing in Covid-era Fringe
It’s been two decades since the Garden of Unearthly Delights was tacked onto the edge of the Fringe. Now the heart of the festival reveals how it will handle its second Covid year.
Entertainment
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Twenty years after it began with two tents in Rundle Park, Adelaide Fringe hub The Garden of Unearthly Delights is throwing a month-long birthday party to celebrate its milestone.
The festival favourite has released a sneak peek of its 20th anniversary program, headlined by the world premiere of The Purple Rabbit, starring Georgia Rose, and the return of sellout hit show Blanc de Blanc Encore, featuring Adelaide-born singer-dancer Melanie Hawkins.
This year’s Covid-safe Garden hosted just four socially distanced venues, which will be doubled to eight for next year’s February 17 to March 20 event.
It’s still unclear if patrons will need to be double vaccinated to enter the venue, with a Garden spokesman saying they will be following all State Government Covid-19 guidelines.
Garden co-director Michelle Buxton said what started as a “side hustle” in the front corner of Rundle Park has now grown to become the “heart of the Adelaide Fringe”.
“The Garden has been a launch pad for many new Australian performers over the years and we continue supporting the arts and artists by providing artists with great venues with access to a world-class audience,” she said.
“Each year we scour the country and the globe for outstanding talent to showcase at Adelaide Fringe and I encourage everyone coming to The Garden to challenge themselves and see at least one show they know nothing about.”
Other highlights at the Garden include Reuben Kaye and his show The Butch is Back, magician Dom Chambers and circus troupe Gravity and Other Myths.
There’s also an all-star line-up of comedians led by Ross Noble, Stephen K Amos, Arj Barker, Akmal, Joel Creasey, Georgie Carroll, Jimeoin and The Umbilical Brothers.
Tickets go on sale at gardenofunearthlydelights.com.au from December 2, with the full program announced on January 13.
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