“The Adelaide Fringe is all about discovering the unexpected,” Fringe Director and CEO Heather Croall said in a release about the 2017 poster that is designed by Jennifer Rimbault. “Every year we encourage audiences to take a risk on the unknown and we think Jennifer’s unicorn is the perfect embodiment of that Fringe message.”
The pop art-like poster depicts a black spotted unicorn over a green background and, with what appears to now be a Fringe staple under the directorship of Fringe CEO Heather Croall, the colour pink is a feature of the poster, as the eye of the unicorn is encircled by pink scribble.
A fantastic beast itself, the unicorn encapsulates the ethos of a festival that has been built on the spirit of adventure and discovering new things. Rimbault says that her design draws a parallel between the “mythical and magical” elements of the creature and arts festival. “The creature in my poster isn’t what people would expect, though – it is quirky and unusual, just like the Fringe,” Rimbault says.
Meanwhile, tickets to 40 festival-leading shows have been released to the public for sale, spanning across the Fringe’s wide range of live genres including comedy, dance, music, cabaret, circus and magic.
As has come to be expected from the Fringe, the shows represent a wide stable of styles and accessibility, including the critically lauded theatre show Woman on the Edge, comedians including Dave Hughes and Judith Lucy, as well as cabaret hits from home and afar including New York’s Amanda Palmer and Adelaide’s Anya Anastasia.
Likewise, the early release of tickets gives an insight into what could be next year’s most prominent venues. Just about every ‘Fringe hub’ from 2016 is set to return in 2017, including the Garden of Unearthly Delights, Gluttony, The Royal Croquet Club and the freshly minted The GC at the German Club. Aside from the ‘hubs’, unique venues will include the Migration Museum, the Salisbury Institute, Stamford Plaza and Adelaide Oval.
Rounding out the raft of today’s announcements is the Fringe’s unveiling of a new membership program designed to reward Adelaide’s most prolific show-goers and replace the TREv rewards program. Open to the public, Fringe Memberships will include perks such as express phone and box-office services, ticket discounts, and year-round giveaways.
“We want to reward our extended Fringe family with VIP services that enhance their Fringe experience and help them discover everything the festival has to offer,” Croall says. “By providing our members with regular updates and offers, we’re also ensuring year-round opportunities to help artists sell tickets to a dedicated membership audience.”
Membership is priced at $19.95 annually, with all proceeds going towards the staffing and service costs inherent in the program.
Adelaide Fringe Festival
February 17 until March 19
adelaidefringe.com.au
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