Bursting at the seams with more than 1,300 shows, next year’s Adelaide Fringe is going to be a kaleidoscope of the talented, the wonderful, and the outright whimsical, set to transform Adelaide into a utopia of discovery and culture across February and March.
“To say we are excited about the 2024 season is an understatement. In 2023 we sold a million tickets – a first for any arts festival in Australia,” said Adelaide Fringe Director and CEO Heather Croall.
“Next year’s program is looking spectacular and I hope we can reach this incredible milestone once again. We are gearing up for another bumper year, thanks to all the participants, the State Government, all our Festival Partners and donors,” said Croall.
The 2024 program boasts 23% percentage of international shows, a 5% increase on the 2023 season, signalling the global reputation and pull of Adelaide Fringe. There are 703 South Australian shows making up more than half the program and illustrating once again, the strength of South Australian talent in the Adelaide Fringe.
There is a strong program of First Nations shows in Adelaide Fringe 2024 across various genres with headliners including Marlon Motlop, Frank Yamma, Zenadth Kes Meriba Wed, Dupang Pangari (a camping festival and corroboree by Uncle Moogy) and the returning comedy sensation, Aboriginal Comedy Allstars.
This year’s Fringe Ambassadors include Professional Basketballer and Cabaret Singer Isaac Humphries performing at Wonderland Spiegeltent, Adelaide Fringe Icon Prinnie Stevens doing shows in Gluttony, and TV’s favourite Aussie Chef Adam Liaw who will be doing two nights of SBS’s The Cook Up live on stage from the Woodville Town Hall.
“I’m excited to be an official Fringe Ambassador this year, but I think I’ve been an unofficial ambassador for years already. Fringe brings Adelaide alive like no other festival and I’m so excited to be a part of this year!” said Adam Liaw.
“I am beyond thrilled to embark on this journey as an Adelaide Fringe Ambassador for 2024, a festival that epitomises the global art and culture scene,” said Isaac Humphries. “I’ve been a fan and attendee of Fringe for years and can’t believe I’ve been given the opportunity to represent this festival that I love so dearly.
To see my own show in the program at Australia’s biggest arts festival alongside some of the stars and icons I’ve been looking up to over the years is an absolute dream. A massive thank you to the Fringe team for letting me fly the flag this year as an Ambassador, I can’t wait to champion the festival to every single person I can,” said Humphries.
2024 Adelaide Fringe Program highlights include:
- The Dome – an immersive, planetarium-style cinematic experience in Freemasons Hall, featuring the Dark Side of the Moon – an immersive experience with the full Pink Floyd album.
- Natural Wonders – an outdoor art gallery under the stars hosted in Adelaide Botanic Garden from the second weekend of Fringe, featuring strong installations and projections by local South Australian artists Alex Frayne and Katrine Penning, Liam Somerville and Michael Ellingford (who wowed us with Noise Nature in Botanic Gardens in a previous year), light and installation duo “Harsh Realities” and Ngarrindjeri woman, Nicole Gollan’s piece called The Spirit Lives On.
- SAGE 2024 – Adelaide’s most exciting event for video game developers, players and fans – and everyone in between! Presented by the South Australian Film Corporation.
- The Inflatable Church on Light Square where you can get married or renew your vows with some Fringe fun.
- YOAH Circus – an Australian premiere from Japan’s most talked about contemporary circus company.
- LIMBO – The Return. The debut of the latest work from the creative producers of the critically acclaimed BLANC de BLANC, THE PARTY and of course, LIMBO.
- Beatles Dub Club – the Australian premiere of the Glastonbury smash-hit, opening weekend only.
- Robo Bingo – presented by Fox Dog Studios arriving fresh from their sell-out season in Edinburgh Fringe.
- In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats – an interactive VR spectacular that takes you back and puts you in the shoes of rave culture pioneers.
Fresh to Adelaide Fringe from the team behind Adelaide’s celebrated LGBTQIA+ venue Mary’s Poppin comes one-day Music Festival, Poppin Out at the old Adelaide Gaol. The event is expected to attract 3000 attendees and features performances from pop royalty Cece Peniston along with the legendary Sneaky Sound System, Drag Icon Anetra and 2023 Fringe Ambassador Kween Kong.
Sidebyside Festival – an Adelaide-based music festival presenting local, national and international artists on the forefront of disco, house and techno will be calling Adelaide Fringe home in 2024 with the event set to take audiences by storm in the Western parklands.
In 2024 Adelaide Fringe in partnership with the Australian Performing Arts Market (APAM) will present an industry-facing Australian Circus and Physical Theatre event to be held during the upcoming season of Adelaide Fringe.
Titled Leaps and Bounds, the two-day event will include pitch sessions for visiting festivals and presenters, along with a program of exchange, round-tables, and networking. This event is expected to further invigorate the Adelaide Fringe Honey Pot Program, an arts marketplace that happens alongside Adelaide Fringe and facilitates opportunities for Fringe artists to connect with industry, programmers and curators from around the world.
“I am over the moon to be an Adelaide Fringe Ambassador for 2024. As a performer, the Fringe Festival was my producer-debut,” said 2024 Fringe Ambassador, Prinnie Stevens. “Since that day, my life has changed forever. I unlocked a talent and a passion for storytelling.”
“Growing up in an industry where artists were told what to wear, how to sing, what to say and how to act. I had finally found a voice and a freedom that I owe to this festival!”
“I’m so passionate about not only creating a safe space for myself, but to open that same door for others. I believe strongly that black and brown stories need to be told by black and brown people. Allowing them the voice and platform to share it,” said Stevens.
“It’s fantastic to welcome back Adelaide Fringe for 2024 with an exciting program packed full of new shows, events and experiences for South Australians and visitors to enjoy. I can’t wait for us to do it all again in 2024 and maybe even set a new record!” said Minister for Arts, Andrea Micheals.
The 2024 Adelaide Fringe Festival runs 16 February to 17 March. For more information and full program, visit: www.adelaidefringe.com.au for details.
Image: Aerial Artists Adelaide, Aerialicious at Fool’s Paradise, 2023 – photo by Missy Smiley