The Fringe fairytale comes to life
Author: Abby Allen, February 2006

Our city of Adelaide switches into party and adventure mode this February as the second largest Fringe event in the world turns our usually quiet town into a vibrant, buzzing mecca for arts, laughs and surprising encounters. It is again time to linger in the Garden of Unearthly Delights, marvel at The Famous Spiegeltent and be swept up by the warm night time breeze that blows through the city sprinkling joy, magic and wonder on all in its path.
“There is never a dull moment at the Adelaide Fringe Festival,” Fringe director Karen Hadfield said.
“Within all the chaos there are moments of quiet and of surprise, nothing is predictable.”
“The festival is about people with open minds embracing all that is presented to them.”
And this year audiences will be presented with shows by artists from as near as St Peters and Mile End to as far as South Africa, Nepal, Mexico, Portugal and the Russian Federation.
“We have 84 international shows coming for the festival including some returning shows and big name comedians,” Karen said.
“We shall not disappoint.”
The Adelaide Fringe is an open access event featuring small community amateur groups through to top professional artists.
“No one is excluded and we try to make it as easy as possible for audiences to engage with the artists,” Karen said.
“We also encourage cutting edge new work so not everything you see is finished and polished. You can’t make work in a vacuum and the audience feedback is vital to the development of these shows. So you are in fact, going on a journey with the artists and helping to shape their work.”
Highlights of the 2006 Adelaide Fringe Festival include the return of Pluck – a huge sell out show from 2004 featuring a string trio who mix classical music with slapstick comedy.
Andrew Dawson from the UK will present his show, Absence and Presence, a very moving, non-vocal, gesture and movement driven piece, which tells the intimate story of his relationship with his late father.
A hip hop duo from Melbourne, Sister She, will bring their brand new show to the Fringe and Baba Brinkman will present the Rap Canterbury Tales, adding a beat to the Chaucer classic.
The Fringe also incorporates an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) Arts Program that will reveal the wealth and intensity of Indigenous art and culture. Various contemporary and traditional art forms will be featured including music, theatre, comedy, visual art and dance.
Wreckology is another exciting element of Fringe 06. It’s an innovative visual arts initiative that will provide an open-air studio in public view, in which artists will generate contemporary works, furniture and wearable art from used, found, salvaged and recycled materials.
There will be ample entertainment for young people at the Adelaide Fringe with the Youth & Education Program (YEP) providing a stellar showcase of local, national and international arts companies producing work for young people. YEP is programmed specifically for secondary and primary school students and offers performances, experiences and workshops in theatres and in schools.
The dazzling Opening Night Parade and Party will again electrify the streets of Adelaide on February 24. Join the thousands who will watch the parade on its route form Botanic Road to Rymill Road, finally disassembling in Rymill Park for the fabulous free party.
Another free Fringe event is Fringe at the Port – an exciting day of music, comedy, cabaret, theatre, visual arts and buskers in Port Adelaide. And don’t miss the Gala 4 Kids, an extremely popular variety show suitable for the whole family.
“All the action is far more spread out this coming Fringe,” Karen said.
“There will be a lot of activity in the west end and the east end as well as Marion, Golden Grove and even Roxby Downs. It really is a state wide event.”
This year, Fringe Alley in the east end will be a thriving spot for Fringe goers encompassing the Fringe Club at Higher Ground, the box office, markets and lots of exciting art. There will also be a smaller, more intimate Fringe hub called Sideshow Paradiso in Rymill Park.
So scope out the city this Fringe season from February 24 to March 19. See some shows, wander through the parklands, mingle with strangers, soak up the vibrant vibe and discover why the Adelaide Fringe has such a tremendous worldwide reputation.
The full Fringe program will be released on January 25 and tickets go on sale on the 30th. For more information visit the website www.adelaidefringe.com.au


  Back