The 2014 Adelaide Cabaret Festival’s Variety Gala Performance kicked off last night and marked the opening of the final year for Festival Director, Kate Ceberano.
The 2014 festival runs under the title “Not Your Usual Suspects” and includes 480 artists delivering 180 performances over the 16 days and nights of the event.
According the Ceberano she has “cultivated a motley crew of artists, musicians, singers and comedians who’ll rattle the bars” at the Gala night. The event, which was hosted by Musical Theatre star, Todd McKenney is a “tasting plate” of what the 16 day festival has to offer.
This year’s festival highlights will include well-known names such as Anthony Warlow and Rhonda Burchmore, but will boast a program of more “unusual acts”, in order to deliver the festival’s theme.
Adelaide Festival Centre CEO and Artistic Director Douglas Gautier says: “After months of meticulous planning [the] Adelaide Cabaret Festival is finally here. Audiences are in for three weeks of outstanding performances from local, national and international stars of the highest calibre.”
As always Barefoot’s reviewers will be on the ground covering a range of shows from the festival, so be sure to keep checking back to see what we’ve been up to! Some of the shows covered will include ‘Little Bird’ staring Paul Capsis and co-presented by the State Theatre Company, ‘Swing On This’, ‘Brian D'arcy James’, ‘Kathy Najimy’, and Adelaide's favourite Cabaret Festival returning act Mark Nadler.
The 2014 festival showcases 23 world premieres as well as a further 12 Australian premieres and Artistic Director Kate Ceberano says, “I have fulfilled my wish list of amazing artists to showcase at this year’s Adelaide Cabaret Festival. As I flick through the program I really do marvel at the number of amazing stars on show, as well as the depth of talent we’ve compiled in this incredible lineup. I feel confident that I am leaving a vibrant and relevant festival in the very capable and entertaining hands of Barry Humphries.”
Tickets are available via BASS on 131 246 or online at bass.net.au. Full program details can be found at adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au.
Not to be outdone, Adelaide's famous fringe event is running concurrently too. The Adelaide Cabaret Fringe festival has an exciting mix of local artists performing around town, so be sure to check out their program online at cabaretfringefestival.com. It’s that special time of year when Adelaide goes crazy for cabaret folks; get amongst it!
Paul Rodda
