Meet the faces behind the scenes of Adelaide’s biggest festival
They’re not up in the spotlight - but they are the ones who ensure the shows go on. Meet the people who get the tickets sold and ensure the Fringe keeps breaking records.
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There’s so much that goes into putting on the Adelaide Fringe that the audience simply doesn’t see – and a magic team of people that make it all happen behind the scenes. We sat down and spoke to some of them about their roles in bringing Adelaide alive during Mad March.
ELLA HUISMAN
Ticketing Director
When did you discover the Fringe?
I’ve been part of the international Fringe family for more than a decade. My first job was at the Edinburgh Fringe in Scotland, where I worked in box office for a major venue. It was my first taste of the chaotic wonder of working for a Fringe. I was hooked.
I have since travelled between the Edinburgh, Melbourne and Adelaide Fringes, working in a variety of roles, from publicity to managing the beautiful Holden Street Theatres in Hindmarsh. Then I joined the Adelaide Fringe full-time, working in ticketing and digital operations.
What does this involve?
I oversee a brilliant group of very clever minds who roll out the ticketing for artists, and sales of tickets to our Fringe customers. We manage the box offices, call centre and the website.
We also develop and maintain the artist and venue registration platform, which connects venues and artists participating in the festival. This program powers all we do, and we are proud it was developed in-house, and we can work with other festivals that utilise the system.
What do you love about working at the Fringe?
Adelaide Fringe has big dreams – we are aiming to sell one million tickets over a Fringe by 2022. After a record year in 2019, when we sold 828,563 tickets, and sales this year up nearly 15% on the same time last year, 2020 looks like it will be a huge year, putting us on track to meet that target.
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Your hope this year?
I urge everyone to embrace the Fringe this year. Our reach is wider than ever, with events happening all over South Australia, so there’s ample opportunity to get involved.
One show you don’t want to miss this year?
Thunderstruck, an epic one man rollercoaster exploring how the traditions of bagpipes were rocked by a bin man from Pitlochry, and how he changed the life of one young piper, forever.
LUCA REGO
Marketing Assistant, RCC (Royal Croquet Club)
When did you discover the Fringe?
Growing up in Adelaide, life is full of circuses, corn-on-the-cob and Peter Helliar – so festival season was always a good time. At 15 I bought a ticket to see the acrobatic bath show SOAP and once I’d left, it blew my mind to think there was this weird and wonderful world in the heart of the CBD, where suits and briefcases normally rule. That was the day I fell in love with the ridiculousness of it all.
What do you do at the Fringe?
I work as a marketing assistant at RCC, a major Fringe hub based at Adelaide Uni.
How did you get the job?
I’ve had a bit of a love affair with RCC. I started out as an adoring fan, dancing until sunrise at the Panama Social Club in its inaugural year at Victoria Square in 2014, before swapping to the other side of the bar and slinging drinks. I was hooked. Earlier this year, I was lucky enough to pick up an internship through Adelaide Uni, and worked with some cool RCC artists, including Pussy Riot and Penny Arcade. After keeping in touch with the RCC marketing team after uni, they offered me the role.
What’s the biggest buzz working on the Fringe?
I love working closely with creative geniuses and watching their brains trip over themselves with brilliant ideas.
And the biggest challenge?
The biggest challenge is figuring out how I am going to see every show because the line-up is wicked. As the Fringe draws closer, the caffeine intake is increasing and the alarms are getting earlier, but it’ll be worth it when RCC rolls around because I will be soaking in art and Aperol.
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What is the most extraordinary thing that’s happened in your job?
Being asked to help plan a gay rave at Adelaide Uni every Sunday of the Fringe, where drag queens will take over classrooms and students will swap textbooks for techno.
How important is the Fringe to Adelaide?
Adelaide without the Fringe would make Mad March, Sad March. It’s a pillar of creative mayhem and part of our city’s DNA. I’m a festival lover. Always have been. And RCC is a month-long festival within a festival. Game changer.
What’s one show you don’t want to miss this year?
Frankenstein: How to Make a Monster, at RCC. Beatboxing theatre? Modern twist on a classic? Shut up and take my money!
RCC is a Fringe hub at the University of Adelaide.
APRIL WANGANEEN
Artist Ticketing Coordinator
When did you discover the Fringe?
When I was a teenager my sister and I would come into town during the Fringe to watch the Fringe Parade, street performers and enjoy the atmosphere. I attended my first ticketed event in 2018 – Gingzilla: Glamonster VS The World.
What do you do at the Fringe?
I am the Artist Ticketing Coordinator. My position involves proofing events before they go on sale on the Fringe website, and dealing with artists requests, including event updates, ticketing promo codes and general artist support. I also do some customer sales and inquiries.
How long have you been working at the Fringe?
I’ve been in my current, year-round position since October, 2018. Prior to that I was a FringeTIX Ticketing and Box Office Coordinator in the same department.
I started at the Fringe in October, 2016, on a short-term contract as the Artists and Events Assistant. Adelaide Fringe 2020 will be my fourth season.
What attracted you to the organisation?
I used to work in hospitality but wanted a change. I was drawn to the Fringe because there is a nice balance of office work, and being out and about during the festival season.
When will the work start to crank up?
We deal with a lot of artists leading up to and during the Fringe.
Our first busy period, with the early ticket sale rounds and the full program launch, occurs before Christmas. Then it starts to pick up again just after New Year and continues until the end of Fringe.
I work three days a week until the Fringe starts on February 14. During this time my role will be mainly artist and customer inquiries. When the Fringe starts I will be full-time, still mainly dealing with artist and customer queries, and helping out wherever I’m needed. My hours are pretty standard as I have children.
What’s the biggest buzz working on the Fringe?
I love watching it grow every year, and the people I work with.
And the biggest challenge?
The most challenging thing is trying to stay focused on the repetitive tasks, such as proofing ticket prices.
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How important is the Fringe to Adelaide?
I think the Adelaide Fringe is good for many reasons. It’s a great platform for new artists, it’s a festival that caters to every age group, and it brings in tourists.
What’s one show you don’t want to miss this year?
I have two – I would like to take my daughters to Petit Circus and Chasing Smoke.
SONAL PATEL
Artist and Venues Coordinator
How did you end up working at the Fringe?
This is my third Fringe and my third year in Adelaide. I’ve been working on festivals for 20 years, across Australia, the UK and New Zealand. Adelaide is so lucky to have a vibrant festival that takes over the whole city, and offers something to every taste and budget.
What do you do at the Fringe?
As artist and venue co-ordinator I sit within the artists and venues team, with five amazing colleagues, helping more than 7000 artists and 350 venues navigate their Adelaide Fringe journey.
The Fringe is an open access festival. This means if you want to put on a show at the Fringe, you can – there are no restrictions.
If you’re a nine-year-old and have a play to perform, you can. Want to put on a show where the audience travels next to you on a bike? Yep, you can. Do you run a surf lifesaving club and want to rent it out to artists to perform in? You most definitely can.
We connect artists with venues, put on workshops and panels, and provide a friendly ear when artists need some advice.
What’s the biggest buzz working on the Fringe?
As part of my job I also look after the Fringe Awards, and the Artist Fund grants. Thanks to the generosity of our partners and donors, I have the privilege of handing artists awards and money, giving me just about the best job at Fringe, because I get to see some of the best work.
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Your tips this year?
My tips for this year include some of our previous winners – A Migrant’s Son, Refugee Stories and Secret Recipes, FEMME. You could see an award-winning show we’ve brought from another festival, such as YUCK Circus, HarleQueen or Far Far Away.
If you’re interested in the next big thing, check out our Artist Fund recipients – The Terminator, Wilbur the Optical Whale, or The Ironing Maidens. And if you’re looking for a free event, come and join us at the Giant Sing Along, or Yabarra: Dreaming in Light.
This year, 60 per cent of the program will happen outside the city centre, so there could be a show just around the corner from you. Enjoy the discovery – you could be about to have a Fringe experience that will stay with you for life.
ELIZABETH MURRIE
Marketing Co-ordinator, Holden Street Theatres
What do you do at the Fringe?
I am the marketing co-ordinator at Holden Street Theatres; this will be my third Fringe working at Holden Street. I mainly tackle marketing-related projects, working on things like social media, copywriting, the website, newsletter, design, and organising printing and distribution. However, the job has taken me on many unexpected journeys – I’ve been involved in media speed-dating, and danced with a Holden Street sign as part of the Fringe opening night.
When will the work start to crank up?
Our planning starts each year in June. Registration is a crazy time and things get busier as we head into the program launch in November. Then there’s a lot to do before Christmas, so we’re ready to distribute our marketing material in January, and get the venue ready for the Fringe’s February start date. Between all this, there are weekend working bees, and plenty of late nights.
What do you love about working at Holden Street?
It’s so much fun. I love the people – the workers, our fabulous volunteers and the wonderful array of artists. I love the atmosphere at the venue, and of course I love the shows. As an avid theatregoer I love to see all the new shows that come in from around the world, and a few returning favourites.
How important is the Fringe to Adelaide?
It’s incredibly important because it brings culture and colour to our city. It brings world class acts, as well as giving local talent an opportunity to showcase their work. During Fringe there is no place in the world I’d rather be.
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What do you love most about the Fringe?
The shows. Sometimes they are big and showy, sometimes they’re small and intimate, but they’re all a piece of someone’s soul placed on display for you. No matter how good or bad a show might be, there is something incredibly brave and beautiful in that.
One show you don’t want to miss this year?
Drink Rum with Expats. It won Holden Street’s Edinburgh Fringe Award, and will be a wild, rollicking night of drinking, laughter and charm, while delving into the European refugee crisis, Brexit, and how it affects everyday Europeans.
Holden Street Theatres is in Hindmarsh.
The Fringe runs from February 14 to March 15.