Premier, arts chiefs say Fringe, Adelaide Festival could pump $100m into CBD

Adelaide’s festival season could pump upwards of $100m into the city, providing a vital boost to both the economy and morale. But you must book your tickets early.

People need to vote with their feet and book their tickets early for both Fringe and Adelaide Festival shows, to ensure our CBD regains its heartbeat, Premier Steven Marshall says.

The State Government and festival organisers are counting on big turnouts to help the city – and particularly the hospitality industry – rebound from a quiet holiday season overshadowed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr Marshall said the timing of this year’s festival season was significant for the city and state.

“South Australia’s world-famous festival season is on our doorstep and that means more people in our CBD spending money and creating jobs,” he says.

“After a challenging summer, it’s absolutely vital the entire state gets around our festival season like they never have before – in a Covid-safe way of course.”

Fringe director Heather Croall agrees said artists were raring to get back on stage and she urged audiences to book early to show their support

Premier Steven Marshall has appealed for people to vote with their feet and get right behind this year’s Adelaide festivals. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes.

Adelaide Fringe director and CEO Heather Croall says Fringe artists can’t wait to hit the stage this year and she hopes the community gets out and supports them. Picture: Kelly Barnes

This year’s Fringe is a long-awaited chance to “shake off the confinement of the past year, it will be a perfect time to get out and celebrate, support the artists and hospitality sector and catch up with friends,” she said.

Adelaide Festival artistic directors Neil Armfield and Rachel Healy, who have curated an international program of dance, opera, theatre and music, against all odds, said they could not wait for the “combined festivals to take over the city again and to welcome tens of thousands of visitors from around Australia on their annual pilgrimage to experience the great artists of our generation”.

The festivals boast more than 1000 shows across 31 days and nights, and are expected to pump upwards of $100m into the local economy across four weeks.

Mr Marshall said the festivals also coincided with a relaunch of the Great State Vouchers scheme, which he said would “help sell even more tickets for our festivals”.

“There’s a reason why we’re the most liveable city in the country and I urge every South Australian to get behind our artists, hospitality businesses and especially our city as we embark on Frantic February and Mad March 2022,” he said.

Festival shows are being advertised as “Covid safe” and, unless there is an unlikely softening of restrictions, everyone over 16 will need to show proof of double vaccination for all Adelaide Festival events. At the Fringe, some, but not all, shows and venues will require the same.

Eryn Jean Norvill in The Picture of Dorian Gray - a centrepiece of the Adelaide Festival program. Picture: Daniel Boud.

Today’s SAWeeekend is a Special Festive Season edition which focuses on:

THE centrepiece of the Festival’s theatre program, the groundbreaking The Picture of Dorian Gray.

A REMARKABLE range of “immersive theatre” experiences, which reflect the “virtual” times in which we are now living.

Australian model and actor Bridget Gao-Hollitt is about to go big in a US series and is appearing at the Fringe. Picture: Kristina Yenko.

Australian model and actor Bridget Gao-Hollitt.

OUR next big thing in model turned actor Bridget Gao-Hollitt, who has just filmed her first major role in a US series, and will perform at the Fringe

A NUMBER of deeply personal shows, ranging from Henry Naylor’s “Afghanistan is Not Funny” to Eleanor Stankiewicz’s “Nanna-stasia”.

The Fringe starts on February 18

The Adelaide Festival kicks off on March 4