The Adelaide Festival presents a jam?packed program across every genre for its
50th anniversary, with over 250 performances, events and exhibitions in 33 venues
throughout Adelaide during February and March 2010.

Artistic Director, Paul Grabowsky said:

“Having performed at Adelaide Festivals over the years and having attended many more as a patron, I feel truly honoured to be entrusted with Australia’s largest multi?arts festival in its 50th anniversary year. The Adelaide Festival is the holy grail of arts festivals and my vision for 2010 has been to create a festival that will capture the hearts and minds of the people of Australia.”

With numerous shows celebrating an Australian or world premiere and others being
performed exclusively as part of the Festival program, the 2010 Adelaide Festival is a
celebration of local and international artists and events.

The Festival opens on a high with Ligeti’s masterpiece, Le Grand Macabre, one of the
most important operas written in the last 50 years. A stunning production filled with
outrageous wit, wildly virtuosic vocal writing and astonishing filmic events, this riotous
piece is directed by Barcelona's La Fura dels Baus – the company that famously created
the Barcelona Olympics opening ceremony.

Theatre lovers are treated to the famed Irish Theatre Company Druid, presenting their
multi?award winning production of The Walworth Farce by acclaimed playwright Enda
Walsh, along with one of the world’s hottest theatre companies from New York ?
Elevator Repair Service ? with a must?see production of William Faulkner's
heartbreaking 1929 novel, The Sound and the Fury.

The world premiere, Ngurrumilmarrmeriyu (Wrong Skin), brings together Australia's
award?winning director Nigel Jamieson with the unique YouTube sensations The Chooky
Dancers from Elcho Island, in a new theatre piece inspired by Romeo and Juliet.

One of Europe’s most exciting contemporary dance ensembles, the French Compagnie
Montalvo?Hervieu, presents its energetic and joyous production Good Morning Mr
Gershwin ? a vibrant fusion of contemporary dance, hip hop, tap and break dance, set to
the irresistible music of the legendary George Gershwin.

Shanghai choreographer and superstar Jin Xing performs her latest groundbreaking
work, Shanghai Beauty. A former Colonel in the Chinese Army while a man, as a
woman Jin Xing is a major figure in Chinese contemporary dance.

Nine?time Grammy Award winning Wayne Shorter – one of the most unique and
influential jazz saxophonists and composers performing today ? and his quartet will
perform for one night only.

Audiences will be treated to a musical feast of Motown hits with The Sapphires. Set in
the 1960s, The Sapphires is the story of the McCrae sisters. Directed by Wesley Enoch, it
features a talented cast including Christine Anu and Casey Donovan.

One of the finest contemporary music ensembles in the world today, the London
Sinfonietta, presents two momentous programs exclusive to Adelaide, including a
special Adelaide Festival commission, featuring the manikay songs performed by the
Young Wägiluk Group from South East Arnhem Land.

Acclaimed productions, Food Court by Back to Back Theatre, and The Life and Death of
King John by The Eleventh Hour, make their Adelaide debuts in 2010. The Festival also
celebrates the artists and companies of Adelaide with world premieres by The Border
Project, Slingsby, Australian Dance Theate and Leigh Warren & Dancers.

World leaders in pyrotechnics – Groupe F – come direct from France for a spectacular
free community event to mark the opening weekend of the 2010 Festival.

The curtain falls on the Adelaide Festival’s 50th anniversary with a history?making
performance of Mahler 8: Symphony of a Thousand to mark the 100th anniversary of
this choral symphony.

The 2010 Adelaide Festival will be held from 26 February – 14 March 2010.
For further information, visit the Adelaide Festival website at adelaidefestival.com.au.