The 2015 Adelaide Fringe has been the most successful yet with previous box office records set to be smashed by the time the event wraps up this Sunday night with the announcement of the Winners of the Fringe Festival Awards.
The 2015 Adelaide Fringe featured more than 4000 artists, 1058 shows and 376 venues. The program featured 121 cabaret shows, 37 circus and physical theatre shows, 328 comedy events, 33 dance shows, six film events, 226 music events, 109 theatre productions, 93 art exhibitions, 57 children’s events and 48 special events.
More than 2 million people are also estimated to have attended this year’s event, with ticket sales having increased by 20 per cent compared to last year, with an estimated 536,000 tickets sold across the four-week festival. For the first time in the Fringe’s history more that $10 million worth of tickets were sold through FringeTIX – which is great news for artists and presenters who receive the majority of ticket sale revenue.
Adelaide Fringe Director Greg Clarke, who oversaw his fifth and final Fringe this year, attributed the resounding success to an impressive program of extraordinary events, an extensive marketing campaign, new and expanded venues and amazing weather.
“This year’s Fringe has truly been the best yet,” said Mr Clarke. “The high calibre of shows from local, national and international artists have brought audiences out in droves who have embraced this year’s theme of Experience Something New.”
Through government and corporate support, the Fringe was once again able to deliver amazing free public events such as the Fringe Parade, the Fringe Funhouse in Rundle Mall, the Fringe Street Theatre Festival, The Sirens and Desert Fringe in Port Augusta.
A record 57,000 people lined King William St to see the spectacular Fringe Parade on opening night and a further 10,000 people descended on the East End to watch the world premiere of the stunning Sirens street ballet over the long weekend.
“The Fringe offers something for everyone’s tastes and budgets and we’re thrilled by the huge number of people who attended Fringe’s free events in the CBD and across the regions this year,” said Mr Clarke.
The outstanding quality of work presented in this year’s Fringe is evidenced by the 110 shows that were awarded four or more stars by The Advertiser. A massive 23 shows received five stars including cabaret smash hits Velvet, Meow Meow – Feline Intimate and Yana Alana – Between the Cracks, circus favourites Briefs: the Second Coming and La Soiree, theatre productions Blood at the Root and Eleanor’s Story and comedians Sam Simmons and Kitty Flanagan.
Mr Clarke also acknowledged Kitty Flanagan’s involvement as the 2015 Fringe Ambassador: “Kitty has been a wonderful advocate of the Fringe, singing its praises interstate to help us spread the word about what a wonderful experience the Adelaide Fringe is.”
The 2015 Adelaide Fringe Festival Awards Winners are:
BANKSA AWARD – BEST CABARET Yana Alana – Between the Cracks
BANKSA AWARD – BEST CHILDREN’S PRESENTATION Trash Test Dummies
BANKSA AWARD – BEST CIRCUS & PHYSICAL THEATRE Briefs: The Second Coming
BANKSA AWARD – BEST COMEDY Trygve Wakenshaw: KRAKEN
BANKSA AWARD – BEST DANCE Djuki Mala (The Chooky Dancers)
BANKSA AWARD – BEST MUSIC Tubular Bells For Two
BANKSA AWARD – BEST THEATRE Fake it ’til you Make it by Bryony Kimmings and Tim Grayburn
BANKSA AWARD – BEST VISUAL ART AND DESIGN Translucent Shadows
EMERGING ARTIST AWARD Penny Greenhalgh- POP POP
JOHN CHATAWAY INNOVATION AWARD Cadence
ERAN SVIGOS AWARD FOR BEST VISUAL ART Mira Oosterweghel- Uncomfortable Gesture
BANKSA PICK OF THE FRINGE AWARD VELVET
BANKSA TALKFRINGE AWARD Deception: More Deceit
ADELAIDE FESTIVAL CENTRE inSPACE:development AWARD The Awkward Years
MINTER ELLISON ‘FRINGE & BEYOND’ AWARD McNirt Hates Dirt
ADELAIDE CRITICS’ CIRCLE AWARD Smashed
THE PEACE FOUNDATION AWARD Blood at The Root by Dominique Morisseau
HOLDEN STREET THEATRES’ ADELAIDE FRINGE AWARD 2015 Antillia
TOUR READY AWARD – SUPPORTED BY MELBOURNE FRINGE The Colloquy of JG and the Girl – presented by Niki Rydon
UNDERBELLY EDINBURGH AWARD Cut by Duncan Graham and performed by Hannah Norris
Sam Simmons – Spaghetti For Breakfast
For more information, visit: www.adelaidefringe.com.au for details.
Image: Tim Grayburn and Bryony Kimmings – winners of Best Theatre Award for Fake it ’til you Make it – courtesy of Bryony Kimmings / Adelaide Fringe Festival