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.
The multi-genre festival amalgamates comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret, visual art, music, interactive and more in a melting pot of artistic expression.
Ahead of the official festival dates, Adelaide Fringe will kick things off for 2024 with First Nations Cultural Tours of Adelaide Botanic Garden on Sunday 11 February.
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.
2024 Adelaide Fringe Ambassador and TV personality Adam Liaw said, “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!”
2024 Adelaide Fringe Ambassador Isaac Humphries said “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. 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.”
Program highlights for 2024 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 sellout 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.
• Nexus Arts
1% Percent of the Fringe program will be activating the regions, with events including Coober Pedy comedy night (Arabana/Kokatha Country), music at William Creek Hotel (Arabana Country), Coonawarra Fringe (Pinchunga Country), Port Augusta Fringe (Barngarla Country), Waikerie Fringe Market (Ngawait Country) Naracoorte Fringe Street Party (Ngarrindjeri Country) Loxton Mardi Gras Family Festival (Meru Country), and Dupang
Pangari (Coorong Spirit) Festival (Ngarrindjeri Country) bringing the magic of Fringe right across the State. Suburban metropolitan hubs will also activate across the Festival with dedicated programs, including Marion Cultural Centre and The Parks Theatre amongst many.
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.
There are hundreds of shows from local SA bands across many different venues such as The Jade, The Gov, Grace Emily and the Wheatsheaf.
More than 500 venues will be participating in Adelaide Fringe in 2024, including returning favourites The Garden of Unearthly Delights, Gluttony, Wonderland in Hindmarsh Square, Holden Street Theatres, Rhino Room and The Lab, along with last year’s new venue successes, the Yurt at the Migration Museum Courtyard, Fool’s Paradise (Victoria Square), and AC Arts in Light Square, which will feature a world-class dance hub including 4 world premieres and 3 Australian premieres produced by Lewis Major.
There are over 200 shows in the West End of the CBD including new venues to 2024 the Pink Flamingo in Festival Plaza, Infamous Circus in Ellis Park (Tampawardli), and The Inflatable Church in Light Square. Other new venue highlights include Enter Closer running a cabaret and comedy hub across multiple venues on Frome and Angas streets in the city (in the Dom Polski Centre, The Majestic Hotel Rooftop and WEA).
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.
2024 Fringe Ambassador Prinnie Stevens said, “I am over the moon to be an Adelaide Fringe Ambassador for 2024. As a performer, the Fringe Festival was my producer-debut. 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.
Adelaide Fringe Director and CEO Heather Croall said, “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. 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.”
BankSA State General Manager, Consumer and Business, Enza Ferraro said “BankSA & Westpac State General Manager, Consumer, Enza Ferraro said “BankSA is proud to support Fringe as Principal Partner for the 19th consecutive year, highlighting how important the festival is for South Australia. With one in every two South Australians attending the Fringe, in addition to interstate and international visitors, it provides a significant contribution to artists, local businesses and the economy. This year’s program is jam-packed, so we’re helping people see more shows with our 25%-off ticket offer for BankSA card holders, in addition to powering theMyFringe Planner online, which makes sorting through more than 1300 shows and buying your tickets easy.”
Minister for Arts, Andrea Micheals said, “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!”
Minister for Tourism Zoe Bettison said, “The 2023 February and March festival season was one for the record books reaching $906 million in visitor spend. As we unveil the program for Adelaide Fringe 2024, we are reminded of the dynamic and diverse spirit that defines not just this great festival, but South Australia as a whole. “We’ve already heard how this year’s festival season was a huge hit – with the Fringe having sold one million tickets for the first time and we are really looking forward to next year’s event. With more than 1300 shows, the program is set to captivate audiences and contribute significantly to our thriving tourism sector. We are proud to host Australia’s biggest arts festival right here in SA and invite everyone to immerse themselves in the extraordinary experiences that the Adelaide Fringe offers.”
Registrations to participate in Adelaide Fringe are still open. Tickets are now on sale www.adelaidefringe.com.au
