Adelaide Fringe hub Gluttony introduces vaccine mandate for 2022 festival season

One of the Adelaide Fringe’s biggest hubs has become the latest major venue to announce it will allow only fully vaccinated people through the gates.

Adelaide Fringe hub Gluttony has become the first major festival venue to announce its audiences will need to be fully vaccinated to attend next year’s event.

Gluttony director Daniel Michael said the vaccine mandate will ensure the health and safety of its guests at Rymill Park and provide 100 per cent capacity for shows during the February 17- March 20 program.

“We want to do everything we can to make sure that when our artists perform … they can sell as many tickets as they can,” he said.

“And people need certainty about what we’re going to do, whether they’ve chosen to be vaccinated or not. I think customers need to know what they’re getting themselves in for.”

Gluttony director Daniel Michael. Pic Mark Brake.

Supplied Editorial Gluttony Bars. Photo Helen Page

Mr Michael said he expected other major Fringe hubs to follow their lead, as the Adelaide Fringe launch their 2022 program tomorrow.

“I can’t speak for other Fringe venues but it would be likely that a lot of them would have the same approach as us,” he said.

“I would warn anyone if they’re going to buy tickets to any Fringe venue, it’s buyer beware if they’re not vaccinated.

“It’s going to be an interesting season. I imagine there will be people who object strongly but I think that they will be in the minority.”

Gluttony, which will also launch its program tomorrow, is expected to have a capacity of about 10,000 people across its 14 venues.

Gluttony Covid Marshals Roshni Hurdowar quartermaster, Rowan Edwards event manager and Kat Waterman site foreperson in an open are stage area with Covid measures including hand sanitiser, cleaning products, QR codes, checkerboard seating and separate entrances and exits. Picture: Tom Huntley

Fringe performers (L-R) Felicia Lannan from Boss Squad, Christopher Politis from Matador, Joanna Arul Tropeano from Jackson Vs Jackson, Timomatic from Disco Wonderland and Bettie Bombshell from After Hours Cabaret Club in The Octagon in Gluttony. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe.

The Adelaide Festival and Fringe have previously said they will consider requiring audience members to be double vaxxed, but will wait to follow the State Government and SA Health mandates on vaccination requirements.

The Adelaide Festival Centre has just announced only fully vaccinated patrons will be allowed to enter its venues, including Festival Theatre, Dunstan Playhouse, Space Theatre, Artspace and Her Majesty’s Theatre, from December 29.

The mandate will also apply to upcoming Adelaide Festival events in March next year.

In October, world music festival WOMADelaide became the state’s first major event to announce it will require full Covid vaccination for guests over the age of 16 when it returns to Botanic Park in March.

Major stadiums and venues including Adelaide Oval, Coopers Stadium and the Adelaide Entertainment Centre followed suit last month with their own vaccine mandate for spectators.

The Adelaide Oval Stadium Management Authority introduced their policy on November 18, affecting all patrons aged 12 and over.

For Adelaide Oval, the mandate applies to game day patrons, all function and events guests, all visitors to the stadium, all RoofClimb and Adelaide Oval Tour participants, as well as all suppliers and contractors, with unvaccinated attendees facing a three-year ban.

Originally published as Adelaide Fringe hub Gluttony introduces vaccine mandate for 2022 festival season