Barry Humphries Announces his 2015 Adelaide Cabaret Festival Programme

With much celebration Australia’s favourite octogenarian Barry Humphries has launched his programme for the 2015 Adelaide Cabaret Festival.

Barry Humphries. Image by Greg GormanWith the moniker “putting the “F” back into Festival” (after having famously demanded no performer utter the F-word during a performance) the living legend also says (quizzically) “There are no rules” but goes on to coo “other F words of this year’s Adelaide Cabaret Festival are fabulous, funny, frisky, fantastic and, of course, Fedora!”

2015 marks Mr Humphries’ debut as artistic director, promising “beauty, wit and astonishment” from an assortment of music, story telling, comedy and those who are becoming regular CabFest performers. Presented and produced by the Adelaide Festival Centre, the 2015 programme features more than 350 artists in 152 performances over a fortnight from the Queen’s Birthday long weekend (June 5) and ending June 15.

Now in its 15th year the Festival is the largest Cabaret Festival in the world. With 50 international artists as well as 300 Australian artists, including 192 South Australian performers. Humphries’ Festival will showcase 18 world premieres, 6 Australian premieres and 15 Adelaide premieres, with 6 of those shows exclusive to Adelaide.

Douglas Gautier Adelaide Festival Centre
Douglas Gautier Adelaide Festival Centre

Douglas Gautier (Adelaide Festival Centre CEO & Artistic Director) says, “Adelaide Cabaret Festival goes into overdrive under the direction of the great Barry Humphries.  Our loyal audiences are in for a feast, with a wide-ranging program that includes not only international stars of Cabaret, but many home grown performers – including some that began their careers with the Adelaide Cabaret Festival many years ago”

While Mr Humphries himself added, “I’m thrilled to be able to present to you the 2015 Adelaide Cabaret Festival programme, which I do hope will excite and titillate your senses.  I’m delighted to be presenting some of the best local, national and international artists on the Cabaret scene – some are very good friends of mine – Sir Les Patterson, whom I manage, will be making an appearance, while gigastar Dame Edna will make the trip over from Moonee Ponds.”

[pull_left]Our loyal audiences are in for a feast . . . gigastar Dame Edna will make the trip over from Moonee Ponds[/pull_left]

“Other artists I look forward to meeting for the first time, having admired them from afar.  I look forward to seeing my Adelaide friends in June as we spend the month devouring everything Cabaret.”

Hosted by Meow Meow and backed by the Adelaide Art Orchestra, the popular Variety Gala Performance will open the festivities on Friday June 5.

Other highlights include the world premiere of Peter & Jack, curated and narrated by Mr Humphries and starring world-renowned baritone Teddy Tahu Rhodes, a cappella sensations The Idea of North and South Australian soprano Greta Bradman.  Accompanied by the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, this production pays tribute to two legends of Australian music, Peter Dawson and Jack O’Hagan. Comedian Adam Hills will deliver a single performance of his new show, Clown Heart. While Bernadette Robinson is reunited with Simon Phillips to perform an Adelaide premiere of Pennsylvania Avenue, a celebration of iconic singers who have been deeply connected with the White House – as performers, friend or something more intimate.

Celebrated Netherlands artist, Laura Fygi will present her own sultry renditions of famous Jazz, Bossa Nova and Latin hits, singing in English, French, Portuguese and Chinese. Two of Australia’s finest opera singers, Antoinette Halloran and Dimity Shepherd, join Cabaret star Ali McGregor and Burlesque performer Imogen Kelly in Opera Burlesque, an evening of allure, humour and of course singing. The Glenn Miller Orchestra will come together with the Moonlight Serenade Singers and the Broadway Swing Dancers to honour the ANZAC centenary with an evening of nostalgic tunes. Their show includes music and songs from The Great War, as well as classic Glenn Miller hits, including Chattanooga Choo Choo and In the Mood.

Returning CabFest favourites include American Cabaret star Storm Large, with the Australian premiere of her show Taken by Storm. Lady Rizo, New York City’s multi-award winning Cabaret superstar lands again in Adelaide again with Unescorted and Eddie Perfect presents Songs from the Middle, a show about coming of age set in the middle of Port Phillip Bay with equal parts nostalgia, peace-making and personal exorcism. Trevor Ashley will return in I’m Every Woman, as he channels the world’s legendary divas and their cavalcade of smash hit songs.

Dame Edna
Dame Edna

At the personal request of Mr Humphries Meow Meow will present an intimate cabaret performance and world premiere that features songs from the characters of Weimar Germany.  My Vagabond Boat features the music of composers Friedrich Hollaender, Kurt Weill and Cyndi Lauper.
Direct from New York, the Karrin Allyson Quartet are set to win hearts with their astounding versatility – with a musical repertoire that includes bebop, Brazilian, blues and ballads. Alan Broughand and Casey Bennetto are back as The Narelles, presenting the often comic musical hits and misses of a band that never was. Front man for Australian band The Cruel Sea and The Beasts of Bourbon,Tex Perkins is back with fellow Dark Horses – Charlie Owen, Joel Silbersher, Murray Paterson, Stephen Hadley and Gus Agars.

Fresh from appearances at Edinburgh’s Fringe, Adelaide’s own Daniel Koek appears in Bringing Him Home with His West End Story, a series of personal songs and stories from a decade in musical theatre on the world stage.  Daniel will perform highlights from his leading roles including West Side Story, Chess, South Pacific and his second studio album HiGH.

The final night of the Festival features Love Songs For Sir Les, a one-off event that has been especially created for the 2015 Festival.

Adelaide Festival Centre’s youth arts membership program GreenRoom have a range of special offers to Adelaide Cabaret Festival for 16 to 30 year olds, including heavily discounted tickets to a variety of shows.  For more information on the GreenRoom program visit www.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/greenroom

All other Tickets are on sale through BASS 131 246 (select 2 at the prompt for Adelaide Cabaret Festival bookings) or at  www.adelaidecabaretfestival.com.au

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