Hitting the high notes with the Adelaide Festival
Acclaimed global artistic director Ruth Mackenzie speaks to sa move about what makes the Adelaide Festival unique and shares some insight into the line-up.
History of greatness
Adelaide Festival brings some of the most acclaimed events, artists, authors and performances to Adelaide from 1–17 March. This is the first time Ruth has curated the program, and her world-class selections will continue in 2025 and 2026.
“When I started thinking about curating the program for this year’s festival, I started with the incredible tradition of the Adelaide Festival,” Ruth says.
“It was founded in 1960 with the ambition to be one of the world’s great festivals.
“The traditions and the values are about world-class excellence, but also about surprise, giving you not just the big stars of today, but the artists we think may be the big stars of tomorrow.”
Adelaide on the world stage
This year’s program boasts 16 world premieres, 12 Australian premieres and 23 South Australian exclusives.
“I’m the luckiest person in the world,” Ruth says.
“I sold my flat in London and I moved to Glenelg. I think sometimes we take for granted how amazing our home is. Not only do we have the Adelaide Festival, but we are inviting visitors from all around the world to come and discover the wonders of Adelaide and South Australia – our beaches, our food, our wine, our wildlife.”
More for less
This year’s Adelaide Festival has more than 100 free events, exhibitions and talks, which Ruth says makes the event more accessible.
“One of the great glories of the Adelaide Festival is Adelaide Writers’ Week,” Ruth says.
“You can see up to 160 writers from all around the world talking about the books they have written, debating and giving you the change to ask questions.
“Honestly, in the Southern Hemisphere, I cannot tell you of another opportunity to meet some of these great writers.”
Another important part of the festival line-up, Create4Adelaide is a new addition. For this event, Ruth handed her artistic directorial reigns to the young people of South Australia. The result is an exciting exhibition in the Botanic Gardens Conservatory focusing on climate change and featuring poignant artwork made by young people from across the state.
Ruth suggests visiting the Adelaide Festival website to explore the many exhibitions on offer; “All of them are free; all of them are fascinating.”
The importance of the arts
As a child, Ruth loved arts in all its forms, but her main talent was music. She sang in choirs and played in the old London Schools Orchestra.
“All children adore playing with art, and one of my missions as a festival director is to rekindle that creativity in everybody,” Ruth says.
“As a young singer, I performed in opera houses and concert halls in London. This opened my eyes to what the arts could be.
“It gave me my first sense of the inspiration and joy that music and the arts can give.”
Ready to make the most of Adelaide Festival?
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