What's on in South Australia
InReview
The Come Out Children’s Festival and Opera SA’s production of the seductive Don Giovanni both open in Adelaide this weekend.
Other events include free open-air screenings in the city of the Eurovision Song Contest, the Kernewek Lowender Cornish festival on the Copper Coast, a concert at Ayers House celebrating Adelaide songs, and a showcase of mountain-themed short films.
Masquerade
Australian playwright Kate Mulvany’s adaptation of author Kit Williams’ fantastical tale Masquerade has its official opening at Her Majesty’s Theatre tonight (Friday) as part of the Come Out Children’s Festival. The State Theatre and Griffin Theatre Company co-production stars Adelaide actor Nathan O’Keefe as bumbling Jack Hare, charged with delivering a love message from the Moon to the Sun. Myth and reality blur when his journey becomes entwined with the story of a seriously ill child. Season continues until May 31.
Come Out Children’s Festival
This nine-day festival features events, performances, exhibitions, films, workshops and other activities. It opens today (Friday) with an event that will see 1600 shool children walking across the Adelaide Oval Footbridge singing “Eagle Rock”. A “Big Family Weekend” at the Adelaide Festival Centre on Saturday and Sunday will include a story tent, Frozen sing-along, Cirkidz workshops and a silent disco. For information about other Come Out events, see InDaily’s interview with the festival’s creative producer or visit the official website.
Don Giovanni
“Audiences will step back in time to an era of grandeur with wanton debauchery pitted against religious strictness, as Don Giovanni ruffles morals, maidens, mistresses and madams,” says State Opera of South Australia’s artistic director Timothy Sexton of the company’s latest production. Opening at the Festival Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre, on Saturday, the opera stars Grant Doyle in the title role, with Douglas McNicol as Giovanni’s long-suffering attendant Leporello. Performances continue until May 30. Details here.
Kernewek Lowender Cornish festival
Maypole dancing, a Cornish pasty bake-off, street procession, comedy night and concerts are among events being held as part of this annual celebration on Yorke Peninsula’s Copper Coast. The festival – a celebration of the region’s Cornish heritage, which dates back to the copper mining boom – continues until May 24, with the full program of events online. You can also read more about it in this InDaily travel story.
Eurovision Song Contest
Free screenings of the Eurovision Song Contest semi-finals in Vienna will be held at the Westpac House courtyard (91 King William Street) this weekend. Supported by Splash Adelaide, the events will include pre-show live performances and a food and bar service provided by Jack Ruby’s (from 4.30pm today/Friday and from 5pm on Saturday), with the semi-final screenings from 7.30pm. Adelaide Fringe director Heather Croall will be MC.
Banff Mountain Film Festival
This touring festival is at the Capri Theatre in Goodwood on Saturday and will feature mountain-themed short films shot in places including Alaska, Argentina, Patagonia, France and Scotland. One quirky film tells the story of an 88-year-old man who has skied more than 2500 days during the past 79 years. This trailer gives a taste of the footage featured. There are two three-hour sessions at 3pm and 6pm.
Little Big Shots
An international film festival for kids, Little Big Shots is at the Mercury Cinema on Saturday and will feature shorts, animations, documentaries and child-produced films. There are sessions throughout the day aimed at different age groups between three and 15. More information here.
Cosi fan Tutti
Touring repertory opera company Co-Opera describes Mozart’s Cosi fan Tutti as a “delicious confection of misunderstandings, devious dealings and, of course, true love”. It is presenting two BYO cabaret-style performances at the Thomas Edmonds Opera Studio, Adelaide Showgrounds, on Saturday and Sunday.
Adelaide Songs Concert
This concert at Ayers House on Saturday celebrates Adelaide’s history and identity with the performance of 20 songs inspired by the city, plus poems, narration and visual projections. Songwriters involved include Keith Preston, Alan Hartley, Jo Ankor and Dave Greenslade, with musical support from Brillig (pictured), St Cuthberts Choir and others. Part of the About Time SA History Festival, the event will be narrated by Carole Whitelock, with performances at 2.30pm and 7.30pm. More details here.
About Time SA History Festival
South Australia’s rich and colourful history is the focus of hundreds of events around the state this month, including cemetery tours, bar yarns, open days, workshops, exhibitions, film screenings, concerts and bus trips. This weekend’s events include a West Terrace Cemetery Crime and Punishment tour (Sunday morning), Three Dollar Day at Adelaide Gaol (all day Sunday) and an Art Deco Delights Tour of the Adelaide CBD (Sunday). The full program is online.
Small Gods – Bakehouse Theatre
Small Gods was the 13th novel in fantasy author Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series, with the main targets of his wit being religion and intolerance. Unseen Theatre Company’s production, based on an adaptation by director Pamela Munt, is described by InDaily’s reviewer as a “rip-snorting saga” that sweeps its audience along on a wave of politics, battles, plots, passion and flights of fantasy. It’s playing at Bakehouse Theatre until May 30.
Basil Sellers Art Prize 4
This touring exhibition at the Samstag Museum of Art features work by artists who participated in the most recent Basil Sellers Art Prize, which explores Australia’s obsession with sport and sporting culture. The 2014 prize was won by Indigenous artist Tony Albert. Other artists whose work is on display include Shaun Gladwell, Narelle Autio, Rob McLeish and Khaled Sabsabi. The exhibition continues until July 3.
Lynley Dodd – A Retrospective
This exhibition at the State Library of South Australia celebrates the work of children’s author and artist Lynley Dodd. It comprises more than 50 original artworks from Dodd’s books, including the Hairy Maclary series, the Schnitzel Von Krumm series, Slinky Malinki and Scarface Claw. The retrospective continues until June 14.
On screen
See InDaily’s reviews of the latest films screening in Adelaide:
Touch
Mad Max: Fury Road
A Royal Night Out
Unfriended
Banksy Takes New York
Boychoir
The Age of Adaline
One-Eyed Girl
Support local arts journalism
Your support will help us continue the important work of InReview in publishing free professional journalism that celebrates, interrogates and amplifies arts and culture in South Australia.
Donate Here
Comments
Show comments Hide comments