Adelaide Festival Centre Reopens After Major Theatre Upgrades

The renovations include the opening of Angry Penguin restaurant.

Image Naomi Jellicoe

After what seems like forever, the extensive redevelopment of Adelaide Festival Centre is now finished, with South Australian Minister for Arts the Hon. Andrea Michaels MP, Adelaide Festival Centre CEO Kate Gould and Adelaide Festival Centre Trust Chair the Hon. Karlene Maywald opening the renovated Centre today.

Everything from the seating and foyers to staging and lighting has been upgraded, with the first shows taking place in the now open Centre on Friday 27 Febraury, with Festival Theatre playing host to a new version of Anton Chekhov’s masterpiece The Cherry Orchard, the Dunstan Playhouse hosting German theatre director Thomas Ostermeier’s History of Violence and Space Theatre showcasing Re-shaping Identity, a contemporary dance performance from China.

As part of the upgrade, the ground floor of the Festival Theatre foyer has been renamed the Ian and Pamela Wall Foyer in recognition of the paris contirubtions to the arts, while the new restaurant Angry Penguin opens in Adelaide Festival Centre. Executive Chef Alex Katsman is in charge, serving up European dishes with local ingredients. Bookings open now.

More than 200 construction workers were involved in the redevelopment, as designed by COX Architecture, with the upgrades including:  

• New auditorium seats in Festival Theatre, Dunstan Playhouse and Space Theatre

• New foyer and auditorium lighting in all three theatres

• New stage flooring in Dunstan Playhouse and Space Theatre

• Improved pedestrian access to Adelaide Festival Centre with a new lift and staircase

• New auditorium and foyer carpet in Dunstan Playhouse and Space Theatre 

• New foyer furniture in Dunstan Playhouse and Space Theatre

• Refurbished Festival Theatre dressing room wet areas

• Upgraded Banquet Room, including new ceiling and paint

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Speaking at the opening, South Australian Premier the Hon. Peter Malinauskas MP said, “South Australia is proud to be the festival state, and this extensive redevelopment ensures that Adelaide Festival Centre will remain the Heart of the Arts in our state, continuing to foster local talent and attract world-class productions for many years to come.” 

The Hon. Andrea Michaels MP, South Australian Minister for Arts added, “The Malinauskas Government is committed to cementing South Australia’s legacy as a world-class arts, cultural and creative capital for the future. This upgrade will ensure generations to come can enjoy the power of the arts." 

Adelaide Festival Centre CEO Kate Gould said, “I am delighted to welcome back our audiences to experience the beloved Adelaide Festival Centre as we re-open with greater accessibility and comfort for both our patrons and our artists.”

The public is also able to be immortalised in Adelaide Festival Centre history with personalised seat plaques available to purchase for the refurbished seats in both Festival Theatre and Dunstan Playhouse. For more details, visit adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au.

For more information about the redevelopment of Adelaide Festival Centre and what is playing, visit adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au.

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