Adelaide Festival Centre is celebrating its 50th Birthday this year and everyone’s invited!
The First 50 podcast hosted by Adelaide’s very own cabaret icon Libby O’Donovan features a monthly episode exploring the careers of artists who have graced the stages of AFC. Two episodes have already been released featuring South Australia’s own Robyn Archer and another with didgeridoo virtuoso William Barton. Episodes are available to listen to here or on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Other episodes will feature Adelaide Guitar Festival Artistic Director Slava Grigoryan and musical theatre royalty Todd McKenney and Rhonda Burchmore who fondly remember starting their careers at AFC in the 80s. The podcast is presented by AFC and produced by local agency Solstice Podcasting.
William Barton and Libby O’Donovan – The First 50 Podcast – Photo by Cassie Ackerman
On its birthday proper on 2 June, AFC will hold a concert at Festival Theatre, followed by an after-party celebration with DJ’s and an exciting new lighting installation by local visual artists in and around Festival Plaza. In the same month a commemorative coffee table book will be available to purchase, featuring 50 of the most influential, inspiring, and famous friends of AFC.
As the proud presenters of major festivals, AFC will pay homage to the 50th Anniversary through special programming at each festival, starting with DreamBIG Children’s Festival in May and The BIGGEST BIG Family Weekend on 20-21 May. Adelaide Cabaret Festival has announced an all-star line-up of Artistic Directors who will each play a role in this year’s festival in June, including Julia Holt, David Campbell and Lisa Campbell, Kate Ceberano, Eddie Perfect, Ali McGregor, Julia Zemiro, Alan Cumming and Tina Arena.
The Cabaret Collective Artistic Directors 2023
Adelaide Festival Centre CEO & Artistic Director Douglas Gautier AM: “Adelaide Festival Centre is the heart of the arts in South Australia. It was strongly supported by the South Australian Community 50 years ago and continues to be a place where arts and culture flourish. We look forward to celebrating our 50th with the entire community through a year-long season of public events, that represent our rich history and the bright future of arts. We invite you, our friends and colleagues, to join the celebrations!”
Host of The First 50 podcast and South Australian performer Libby O’Donovan: “For fifty years Adelaide Festival Centre has been at the forefront of innovative Australian theatre and a major performance destination for acts across the globe. Throughout the First 50 podcast, I have had the pleasure of hearing from many incredible artists who have performed at Adelaide Festival Centre – all who attest that this is a place where the pure magic of theatre comes alive.”
Walk Of Fame award recipient and South Australian artist Robyn Archer: “I have sung, performed, and directed on every stage and in every nook and cranny of Adelaide Festival Centre. Fifty years on Dunstan Playhouse is still my very favourite venue anywhere: I’m proud to be treading its boards again during this year of celebration.”
Robyn Archer and Libby O’Donovan – The First 50 Podcast – Photo by Simon Rogers
The Hon Andrea Michaels MP, Minister for Arts: “Adelaide Festival Centre is a South Australian icon, and it is incredibly special to be celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. For 50 years, Adelaide Festival Centre has been home to extraordinary and thought-provoking performances and its success is testament to the pioneering vision of Labour Premier Don Dunstan. Premier Dunstan, alongside Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, opened the Adelaide Festival Centre as the very first major performing arts centre in Australia with a transformative impact on our state. It’s going to be a big year with performances from local and international stars and I encourage everyone to experience the magic of Adelaide Festival Centre’s 50th year for themselves.”
AFC was the first major arts centre built in Australia, opening on 2 June 1973 by Australian Prime Minister at the time Gough Whitlam along with South Australian Premier Don Dunstan and Lord Mayor of Adelaide, Robert Porter. The first performance was a classical gala concert at Festival Theatre. Its iconic architecture, designed by architect John Morphett, took almost three years to construct.
Adelaide Festival Centre 2022 – Photo by Rob Brown
AFC is one of the Australia’s most active arts centres and presents a wide range of festivals, performances, exhibitions, major musicals, and arts activities for the community. It has emphatically placed itself as the heart of the arts in South Australia.
More on Adelaide Festival Centre’s history here.