Adelaide Fringe: Venues Guide

Adelaide comes alive during the festival season with pop up venues all over the CBD

feature (adelaide) | Read in About 3 minutes
Published 24 Feb 2018
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The biggest outdoor venue is The Garden of Unearthly Delights (Rundle Park/Kadlitpina, 94) which is known for its world-class comedy lineup – and the trapeze that doesn’t fit in the tent! This year is also the first year the Garden has a theatre stage. The show really starts as soon as you step foot in the Garden, with roving acts and fancy dress the norm. Food offerings are always a huge highlight, as is the carnival area with rides and sideshows.

Across the road is Gluttony (Rymill Park/Murlawirrapurka, 43) with a strong circus and acrobat program and acts from across the world. Gluttony also has a great range of music, comedy and cabaret acts, and is home to the Spiegel Zelt – a gorgeous mini Spiegeltent and one of the oldest in the world! There are more performance venues than ever inside, and food and drink locations throughout thanks to its expansion this year.

Around the corner on Grenfell Street is The Producer’s Bar (235 Grenfell St, 103) which has been a cult Fringe venue for years. Its quirky layout and upstairs performance rooms, lovingly called the Niche, the Nook and the Cranny, make it one of the fringe-iest venues you’ll find. Host to a slew of comedy acts and a pick of theatre and music, there’s never a dull moment right through to the wee hours.

North of the river you’ll find the Royal Croquet Club, or RCC (Pinky Flat/Tarnda Womma, 122). Headed by a local Adelaide crew, their curated list of events includes theatre, circus, and cabaret. Dogs are more than welcome here, and get in early for Happy Hour every day from 5-6pm where tickets, drinks and food are going cheap. The Big River Motel stage inside will be host to 12 huge musical performances over the season and the Neon Forest is returning with an interesting new angle.

If theatre has a home at the Adelaide Fringe, it's arguably at Holden Street Theatres (34 Holden St, Hindmarsh, A). While not in the CBD, it's a quick and convenient tram ride northwest, and scenic enough surrounds to warrant spending at least a day there. Their excellent and frequently prize-winning theatre program is complemented by the venue's charming bar and sunny outdoor seating.

Right in the heart of the city is new outdoor venue GROUNDED (Victoria Sq/Tarntanyangga, 109), a family friendly venue run by Carclew Youth Arts Organisation. Filled with hands-on activities and performances suitable for all ages, GROUNDED culminates in the huge family festival SUPERMASSIVE (25 Feb).

RAJOPOLIS (54 Hyde St, 70) is another new face for Adelaide Fringe 2018. Located in Raj House on Hyde Street, RAJOPOLIS has a strong LGBTQI+ lineup including comedy, cabaret and immersive theatre. Expect the unexpected!

Head another block south and find The GC at the German Club (223 Flinders St, 96) with music, cabaret, and comedy galore. Get along early to grab a classic German schnitzel before seeing a show!