Adelaide Festival Centre’s Walk of Fame officially opened on Friday, with international sensation Tim Minchin and a host of world-class entertainers joining in the celebrations.
Todd McKenney, Greta Bradman, Rhonda Burchmore, Slava Grigoryan and Nancye Hayes joined SA Premier Jay Weatherill and Adelaide Festival Centre CEO & Artistic Director Douglas Gautier to unveil the Walk of Fame, which runs along the northern promenade of Adelaide Festival Centre from King William Road to the Adelaide Riverbank Bridge.
“The Walk of Fame celebrates the artistic history of Adelaide Festival Centre. It also encourages locals and visitors to walk along the Riverbank and take in the sights – from the Convention Centre to the Festival Centre, Riverbank Bridge and Adelaide Oval,” said Premier and Minister for Arts Jay Weatherill.
“South Australia has contributed numerous names to the national and international performing arts stage and so it’s fitting that Adelaide Festival Centre is the place to honour them, and many more, on the brand-new Walk of Fame.”
The stellar line-up of stars performed in two Walk of Fame Gala Concerts on Friday, along with a star-studded list of entertainers including James Morrison, Niki Vasilakis, Beccy Cole, Peter Combe, Paul Blackwell and Garry Stewart’s Australian Dance Theatre.
Some of the South Australian Walk of Fame stars invited to the opening celebrations included media legend Anne Wills, singer Rachael Leahcar, entertainer Raymond Crowe and the founder of the Australian Dance Theatre, Elizabeth Dalman.
The Walk of Fame is a key element of Adelaide Festival Centre’s redevelopment, rejuvenating the northern promenade area including brand new Festival Theatre foyers and the new Star Kitchen and Bar. More than 130 stars who have graced Adelaide Festival Centre stages over the years since its opening in 1973 now have their names engraved in tiles along the Walk of Fame, including John Farnham, Julie Anthony, Olivia Newton John and Dami Im.
“Seeing so many well-known names together really brings home the number of great artists who have graced the stages of Adelaide Festival Centre over the years,” said Douglas Gautier AM, Adelaide Festival Centre CEO & Artistic Director. “This is our ongoing opportunity to honour them publicly, and to celebrate and preserve our history with support from the South Australian public.”
“In addition to performers, designers, composers, playwrights, and directors are also represented. The show must go on, and Adelaide Festival Centre’s Walk of Fame is a tribute to those who have helped us to do that for over forty years.’’
Each Walk of Fame star is a stylised illuminated starburst and a mobile phone app will provide interpretive information, ‘what’s on’ at Adelaide Festival Centre and integrated ticketing options, and further biographical information on each recipient.
Three names from each year since Adelaide Festival Centre opened were selected for the Walk of Fame. The names were chosen in three ways: Public Vote, Critics’ Choice and Adelaide Festival Centre Trust Award. The walk will grow with the public voting for their favourite performer again at the end of each year.
For more information, and the full list of Walk of Fame Inductees, visit: www.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au for details.
Image: Premier and Minister for Arts, Jay Weatherill and Adelaide Festival Centre CEO & Artistic Director, Douglas Gautier AM, are joined by some of the stars included in the Walk of Fame – photo by Kelly Carpenter