Support the smaller, local venues of Adelaide Fringe
Adelaide Fringe is not just about the big destinations, like Fool’s Paradise, Gluttony and The Garden. Shows hosted in smaller, local venues are helping their communities to build year-round audiences and thrive.
Across the city, suburbs and through the state’s regions, there are hundreds of Adelaide Fringe venues hosted by local artists, small businesses and community groups.
Being in the audience at one of these local venues has a considerable trickle on effect to the local businesses, community, jobs and economy, as well as indirectly supporting local producers.
Adelaide Fringe artist and venue manager Lisa Waite said seeing a show is sometimes as much about discovering a new venue as it is about the performance.
“The venue creates an experience that hugely contributes to what the people are there to see,” she said.
Adelaide Fringe is the biggest arts festival in the southern hemisphere, and having it reach beyond the city is about ensuring accessibility to the program.
“Audiences are able to experience Fringe in their local neighbourhood [and] on top of that, it’s a great experience for communities to be involved in Adelaide Fringe,” Waite said.
By including these smaller, local venues in their Adelaide Fringe experience, audiences are helping local businesses and families to connect and boost the economy of the local area or region to continue to thrive post-Fringe.
Behind the scenes, there are teams drawn from the communities, “working really hard” in the lead up to, during and after each show.
Taking part in Adelaide Fringe is a way to broaden their reach, said Waite.
“They get a great opportunity to build audiences, promote activities they may be doing all year round and get in front of new audiences who might be looking for certain types of events on our Fringe website.
“Most importantly, it’s about building community, audiences and awareness of locations.”
Maple & Pine
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Near Jamestown and on the traditional lands of the Ngadjuri and Nukunu people, Bundaleer Forest is Australia’s oldest timber plantation and home of the community-run Maple & Pine.
Income from the venue is used by the Bundaleer Forest Community Areas Association to keep the recreation areas of the plantation open to the public, including a picnic ground and scenic walking trails.
With soaring trees above and around, it is a favourite for weddings, health retreats… and now, Fringe shows.
What Would Gary Do? WWGD is a comedy show inspired by the late 90s – early 2000s phenomenon of What Would Jesus Do? – but with a twist.
Presented by Marc Ryan (aka The Beautiful Bogan), a comedian for 12 years and a mental health advocate for the past 4, the story touches on heartfelt and sometimes darker themes, but is ultimately uplifting and filled with hope.
Coming to Maple & Pine as part of its world premiere performance season, Thunderstruck: A Night of Classic Rock is an electrifying fusion of contemporary dance and genre-defying violin.
Award-winning Australian choreographer and director Lewis Major, a rising star in contemporary dance, collaborates live with Blue Violin, founder and first violinist of the Boston String Quartet.
What Would Gary Do?
Saturday, 15 March at 7pm
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Thunderstruck: A Night of Classic Rock
Thursday, 27 March at 11am and 8pm
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Port Lincoln Hotel
As if the salty, fresh air is not enough to tempt anyone over to Port Lincoln, a comedy show in the swish surrounds of the hotel’s Lincoln Ballroom will certainly do the trick.
Port Lincoln Hotel is an integral part of the region – involved with local clubs and community groups, and showcasing the locally caught fresh seafood, local produce and Eyre Peninsula wines.
The family-owned hotel (part of the Hurley Hotel Group) overlooks the Port Lincoln foreshore – but keep your eyes on comedian Jason Pestell.
His show Jason Pestell: Kmart (K hub) is Life is touring the regions during Adelaide Fringe, as he searches for life’s answers in competitively priced homewares.
Have you ever gone crazy over an $89 vacuum? Drunk the sweet nectar of Australia’s Choice Cola? Ate crinkle cut chips from the world’s finest restaurant Holly’s?
He has.
Jason Pestell: Kmart (K hub) is Life
Friday, 14 March at 8pm
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The Popeye Boat
For those who grew up in Adelaide, a ride on the heritage-listed Popeye Boat stands as the highlight of every preschooler’s trip into the city.
This family run business and its passionate, locally staffed team of skippers and deckhands/bartenders bring their enthusiasm for the outdoors and the state to every cruise.
Passengers can expect to pick up some nuggets of insider knowledge while enjoying the views.
As an adult, there are plenty of reasons to again jump aboard during Adelaide Fringe.
Glitter Boat offers a party and cruise along the Karrawirra Parri / Torrens River with DJAYDRIAN and friends spinning the tracks with everything from disco to pop.
Whether you are in it for the scenic river views or the dance floor moves, this is the one boat party you will not want to miss.
Prefer to sit and sip? Kangaroo Island Spirits x Popeye gin tasting river cruise is probably your thing. Or, if you are hosting family and friends, or needing a little self indulgence, High tea on the Popeye river cruise should tick every box.
Glitter Boat
Friday and Saturday during Adelaide Fringe
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Kangaroo Island Spirits x Popeye gin tasting
Thursday, Friday and Saturday during Adelaide Fringe
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High tea on the Popeye river cruise
Sunday, 23 March at 3pm
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Table Top Warfare Adelaide
Table Top Warfare Adelaide is a gaming haven in the heart of the city and the venue for another Fringe event.
Opened last year, the shop offers an impressive collection of board, trading card and role-playing games, while the expansive play space is usually home to a community of gamers battling it out.
But during Adelaide Fringe, another kind of magic will be happening.
The venue’s gaming atmosphere provides the perfect backdrop for families to join The Cardboard Blacksmith and craft their own legendary gear – with inspiration literally lining the walls.
The event is designed to bring out the inner adventurer in everyone, and kids can create their very own cardboard weapon, shield, armour and familiar (a trusty animal companion made from cardboard) in a space where epic battles unfold daily.
The Cardboard Blacksmith: A Family Event
Sunday, 23 March at 11am, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm
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Photo: Flickr/denisbin
Hart’s Mill, Port Adelaide
Head north-east from the city to get milled and thrilled in Port Adelaide.
Hart’s Mill – the heritage-listed, 5-storey, 19th century flour mill on the Port’s waterfront – has, for a few years now, been a focus for community events.
So, it makes perfect sense that it should also host something for Fringe.
The precinct includes the Flour Shed, a vast, modernised indoor space, where the local teams in the Murder City Roller Derby will burn up the floor in a carnival-themed comp.
With a battle cry on their Facebook page of ‘Hitting hard & playing harder since 2010’, expect this temporary skating rink to offer more bumps and grinds than the Hindmarsh Rollodrome in the 80s.
Murder City Roller Derby’s Carnival of Carnage
Saturday, 15 March. Doors open at 5pm, first whistle at 5.30pm
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