Adelaide Festival 2022 program launched on campus

The Adelaide Festival program for 2022 has been launched on the University of Adelaide’s North Terrace campus.

This, the 37^th Adelaide Festival (4–20 March 2022), encourages us all to return and enjoy live performances once again from a community of world-class artists from across Australia and the globe.

The 2022 program offers 71 events in theatre, music, opera, dance and visual arts, including uniquely local programs, Adelaide Writers’ Week, UKARIA Chamber Landscapes and WOMADelaide. The showcase includes nine world premieres, six Australian premieres and 17 shows playing exclusively in Adelaide.

The University of Adelaide continues its sponsorship of the Festival for the fourth year, and is a presenting partner of Watershed: The Death of Dr Duncan, which recognises an essential chapter in our state’s history.

Dr George Ian Ogilvie Duncan was a University of Adelaide law lecturer whose drowning 50 years ago led to a fundamental change for Australia’s gay community. The crime, still unpunished, and linked to an alleged police cover-up, revolted mainstream Australia and led to South Australia becoming the first national jurisdiction to decriminalise homosexuality.

Performed as an oratoria (large musical composition for orchestra, choir and soloists), Watershed: The Death of Dr Duncan, will feature some of Australia’s most acclaimed creative talents: librettists Alana Valentine and Christos Tsiolkas; composer Joe Twist; director Neil Armfield and choreographer Lewis Major.

Based on 30 years of research by local historian Tim Reeves, the long-awaited artistic response to a landmark tragedy is a joint commission between Adelaide Festival, Feast Festival and State Opera South Australia.

The University is also the presenting partner for the Australian premiere of dance-theatre production, Juliet & Romeo, a hilarious sequel to Shakespeare’s iconic love story. And in the Festival’s farewell, the University’s Elder Conservatorium Chorale and Graduate Singers feature alongside Adelaide Symphony Orchestra in Prayer for the Living, an uplifting Sunday-twilight choral finale.

As always, the 2022 Adelaide Festival program includes free events as a gift to the people of our city, state and visitors. This year, these include opening event, Macro; the soaring Skywhales installation; the Climate Crisis and the Arts forum; Cupid’s Koi Garden in Mount Barker; and Groundswell, a fascinating interactive soundscape in Rundle Mall.

More information on the 2022 Adelaide Festival and program can be found at: https://www.adelaidefestival.com.au/