Fringe Parade spectacular to unveil a giant Disco Cuttlefish

Adelaide Fringe ParadeThe 2014 Adelaide Fringe will kick off with a mighty explosion of colour and light this Friday 14 February with the iconic Fringe Parade. The theme this year is Two Colour Collision and each section of the Parade will feature a different combination of two very bright and bold colours that will be highlighted with stunning lighting effects.

From 7.00pm spectators will be treated to pre-Parade entertainment by buskers, 100 roller derby skaters and tunes from DJ TR!P before more than 700 Fringe artists, in a whirl of elaborate and colourful costumes, strut their stuff up King William Street from North Terrace to Victoria Square from 8.30pm.

Fringe Designer Ali Jones and Fringe Parade Director Roz Hervey have created a visual spectacular to celebrate the Fringe’s opening. The Parade finale will feature a sensational fireworks display that will erupt over Victoria Square.

“Everyone attending this year’s Parade will be treated to a feast of the senses with 25 of the most amazing Fringe designed floats, six extraordinary moving fire sculptures and more than 200 sparkling lights all moving along the street to a pumping soundtrack of great dance music,” says Adelaide Fringe Director and CEO Greg Clarke.

Highlights include the beautiful Bickfords Fruit Garden Picnic float, the Coopers float featuring a stunning dress made completely from Cooper’s beer cans, Fringe Ambassador Katie Noonan in her mesmerising live projection dress, the BankSA float featuring Fringe Club host Fez Faanana in a ring of LED lights and a stunning float that features aerialist Bianca McKail.

The Parade will also feature a number of community floats including an incredible new Kaurna fire float, a giant skipping girl surrounded by 25 young performers from Cirkidz and a glamorous Hollywood-style float featuring members of Restless Dance Theatre, Tutti, Company@ and No Strings Attached Theatre of Disability.

“I’m especially excited by the giant 13m long Disco Cuttlefish float that features an amazing flashing electric light show of kaleidoscopic colour,” says Mr Clarke.

“We wanted to create a creature unique to South Australia and were inspired by the uniqueness and beauty of the giant cuttlefish that inhabits the gulf waters of South Australia. As the theme of this year’s Fringe was about colour we were entranced by how this magnificent creature has a colourful flashing effect on its skin.”

“After the Parade we invite everyone to explore and discover the many Fringe venues that will be open late including Tuxedo Cat, Royal Croquet Club, Tiki Tai, Gluttony, The Big Slapple, the Garden of Unearthly Delights, La Boheme, The Jade Monkey and the Rhino Room,” Clark added.

This year, a record 966 Fringe shows being held in more than 350 venues across the city, suburbs and regions.  For 31 summer days and nights audiences can choose from a massive program that features 107 cabaret shows, 25 circus shows, 112 theatre productions, 269 comedy events, 32 dance shows, 4 film events, 198 music concerts, 113 art exhibitions, 41 children’s events and 65 special events.

For more information, visit: www.adelaidefringe.com.au for details.

Image: a parade entry from 2013 – courtesy of Adelaide Fringe