Often considered as the ‘Heart of the Arts’ the Adelaide Festival Centre is home to an eclectic range of cultural performances. The building was erected in 1973 on the banks of the River Torrens in support of the unity of South Australia and Adelaide communities and the thriving culture of the arts. It was under the architectural vision of John Morphett and the profound enthusiasm of the general public that the Festival Centre was built.
Building the Festival Centre
The Adelaide Festival of the Arts during the 1960s was beginning to expand beyond Adelaide’s available venues. In 1968 the Lord Mayor of Adelaide, Robert Porter and the Labour Premier Don Dunstan initiated a public appeal to raise the necessary funds to begin planning a Festival Hall and provide professional entertainment from all over the globe. The excitement and eagerness for a new Festival Centre meant funds were raised within a week with a surplus of money used to establish a world class collection of artworks to adorn the inside of the building. The effort had been made to include Adelaide in a recognisable South Pacific circuit of arts centres around Australia (such as the Melbourne Arts Centre, Perth’s Arts Centre and the Sydney Opera House). It would attract world renowned performances that would otherwise leave Adelaide out altogether. Construction began in 1970 under the architect John Morphett who designed a centre able to fit two thousand people in extravagant balconies and comfortable chairs. The orchestra pit was built to seat ninety musicians and the dressing rooms to accommodate one hundred and fifty performers. Morphett also designed a restaurant accompanied by bars. Special attention was also given to comfort to the handicapped and hearing impaired. The Adelaide Festival Centre is known for its white dome shaped rooves and block structures placed in the plaza.
Opening Night
The Adelaide Festival Centre was officially opened on 2 June 1973. It was deemed not only a magnificent theatre but:
A commitment by the people of Adelaide to the continuing success of their biennial Festival of Arts (The Canberra Times, 4 June 1973)
The achievement was highlighted further by the fact that it was built at a fraction of the cost and time of the unfinished Opera House and yet still rivalled its facilities. This point was picked up by media interstate in reporting of the new Adelaide Festival Theatre. Nonetheless, Adelaide’s new theatre of the arts inspired a greater appreciation for performance culture than ever before.
Overseas visitors described the new centre as a sight Adelaide should be proud of and “undoubtedly one of the most beautiful theatres in the world” (The Canberra Times, 4 June 1973)
Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam, opened the Adelaide Festival Theatre at a gala performance of Act Two, Scene One of Beethoven’s opera Fidelio and his Choral Symphony. A performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream followed two days later. The Playhouse, the Space and the Ampitheatre were open for performances little more than a year later. Queen Elizabeth II was present at the opening of the Plaza completion ceremony in March 1977.
The Festival Centre Today
Today the Festival Centre is home to some of Adelaide’s most lively celebrations. The Adelaide Cabaret Festival in June, the OzAsia Festival in September and the biennial Adelaide International Guitar Festival held in July are only a few of the events hosted by the centre. The Festival Centre is acknowledged as the place to go for music, dance, theatre and exhibitions. Its most recent development was in 2003 when the outside plaza was redesigned to include a bridge for pedestrians and a few new cafés and restaurants. Most recently, the South Australian Government announced a ninety million investment into the redevelopment of the Festival Centre. Focus on the plaza and building a larger carpark are the primary concerns. Upgrades to lighting, sound and stage equipment as well as new food and beverage facilities will enhance the centre’s role as the heart of entertainment in Adelaide. Redevelopment will likely take place in 2016.
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