Australian stand-up and television comedian Kitty Flanagan has been appointed as the official Ambassador for the 2015 Adelaide Fringe.
Flanagan, who made her Adelaide Fringe debut in 2011, has entertained Australian and international audiences in a career spanning more than 15 years. With support from the South Australian Tourism Commission, she will promote the largest arts festival in Australia to a national audience in her role as the Fringe Ambassador.
Adelaide Fringe Director Greg Clarke said “Kitty is one of my favourite comedians and will make a brilliant Ambassador helping us with our national campaign to encourage people to visit Adelaide and experience something new”.
Flanagan was a copywriter for five years before a career in comedy beckoned. Following her debut on comedy sketch show Full Frontal, Flanagan has toured her stand-up shows internationally, featured in the UK television show The Sketch Show and has written for television and film. She currently appears on Network Ten’s The Project and the ABC’s Utopia.
Flanagan, who won the Best Comedy award at the 2013 Adelaide Fringe, said she was honoured to don the robes and responsibilities of the Fringe Ambassador.
“It’s a pretty easy gig because I genuinely think Adelaide is a great city, so it requires no effort at all to talk it up,” said Flanagan. “I have a theory about why the Fringe is such a success and it’s all down to the people of Adelaide. I have never witnessed such a passion for festivals.”
Flanagan is the third Fringe Ambassador following in the footsteps of comedian Paul McDermott and singer Katie Noonan. Fringe audiences will also be treated to a dose of Kitty’s signature off-beat, observational humour at her stand-up show during the month-long festival.
Mr Clarke anticipated the number of interstate and overseas visitors would increase in 2015 thanks to Flanagan’s involvement and the Fringe’s reputation for presenting “ground-breaking and diverse Australian and international work”. More than 11,000 interstate and overseas visitors attended the 2014 Adelaide Fringe, up by almost seven per cent on the previous year.
The 2015 Adelaide Fringe will run from 13 February – 15 March. The official program will be released and online ticket sales will open on Friday 28 November 2014. For more information, visit: www.adelaidefringe.com.au for details.
Image: Kitty Flanagan