As I look over my year’s attendances, I saw less of the festivals – the Cabaret Festival, Fringe Festival and OzAsia in particular. State Theatre Company South Australia had a less impressive year than in 2023 but we owe much to Mitchell Butel for bringing such energy, generosity and variety in his six years as State Theatre’s AD. We wish him well in his new lead role at Sydney Theatre Company.

The second-tier independents remained quiet. Brink produced works under the State Theatre umbrella but we won’t see artistic director Steven Nicolazzo’s own projects until the new year. We are still lamenting the demise of RUMPUS last year and the defunding this year of the excellent Slingsby is a travesty.

Vitalstatistix featured in the Festival program in March and a salute goes to departing director Emma Webb for her tireless commitment. Theatre Republic, guided by Corey McMahon, again produced high calibre work in 2024.

Despite the chronically diminished activity (support for the arts both Federal and State remains woefully niggardly) 2024 has brought excellent and memorable performances and this survey accounts for only some of them.

But it must be said again that decades of neglect (compounded by the impact of COVID) have damaged the continuity and momentum for many artists – not only those beginning careers but also those well into their work lives.

This vocation is an honourable calling but it also brings a level of sacrifice and insecurity that needs remedy. Too many people are subsidising their art. We need live performance more than ever and we need to fully support and fund the army of gifted artists and creatives who enrich our experience and our imaginations.

I note again that many performances listed are solo works and so the supporting actor listings are sparse. Let us hope cast numbers (and opportunities) will start to grow again !

“When you hear music,“ jazz saxophonist Eric Dolphy once remarked, “After it’s over, it’s gone, in the air. You can never capture it again.”

In varying degrees that is true of all live performances. They have their moment, their season, and then are gone. Sometimes they remain vivid, but eventually, even excellent productions and outstanding performances drift into imperfect recollection and generalised hearsay. Maggie Smith once remarked- “Every performance is a ghost.”

I hope this website, for all its, sometimes, unwelcome opinions, is a useful record of some of the notable activity in Adelaide this year.

I want to thank all the companies and individuals who have generously invited me to performances in 2024 and to acknowledge your continuing commitment and achievement.

Several years ago when I posted my list of Best Of’s, among the many online comments and responses came the vinegary remark- “Who cares ?” The answer to that question is that I care. And audiences, friends of the artists, and their peers care. Outstanding work deserves to be recognised and warmly applauded. My admiration for all concerned is greater than ever.

Here is a list of my selections for this year – not in any rank order, and by no means all that deserve mention.

Best Adelaide Productions

I Hide in Bathrooms. Written and performed by Astrid Pill and Collaborators. Vitalstatistix. Adelaide Festival.

Julia by Joanna Murray-Smith. Directed by Sarah Goodes. State Theatre Company. Sydney Theatre Company and Canberra Theatre Centre production.

Symphonie of the Bicycle. Written and performed by Hew Parham. Directed by Chris Drummond. Brink Productions. State Theatre Company. State Educate.

Shore Break. Written and performed by Chris Pitman. Directed by Chelsea Griffith and Chris Drummond. Brink Productions and Adelaide Festival Centre.

The Almighty Sometimes by Kendall Feaver. Directed by Corey McMahon. Theatre Republic.

Jack Maggs by Samuel Adamson. Based on the novel by Peter Carey.

Directed by Geordie Brookman. State Theatre Company South Australia.

Best Touring Productions

Goodbye Lindita. Conceived and directed by Mario Banush. Adelaide Festival.

Qui a tue mon père (Who Killed My Father) by Eduard Louis and Thomas Ostermeier. Schaubuhne Berlin and Theatre de la Ville Paris. Adelaide Festival.

The Threepenny Opera by Bertolt Brecht, Elizabeth Hauptmann and Kurt Weill. Directed by Barrie Kosky. Berliner Ensemble. Adelaide Festival.

Antigone in the Amazon . Directed by Milo Rau. NTGent &MST. Adelaide Festival.

Best Fringe Productions

Grav by Owen Thomas. Performed by Gareth J. Bale. Presented by Fringe Management LLC and Joanne Hartstone and Bale and Thomas. Holden Street Theatres.

England and Son by Ed Edwards. Performed by Mark Thomas. HST Edinburgh Fringe Award 2023. Holden Street Theatres.

The Tumour Play by Peter Beaglehole. Directed by Craig Behenna. Electric Dreams.

Seven Little Wonders. Directed by Dave Brown. The PaperBoats.

Best Cabaret/ Music Theatre

Miss Saigon. By Claude-Michel Schonberg, Richard Maltby Jr &Alain Boublil. Directed by Laurence Connor. Cameron Mackintosh, in association with GWB Entertainment.

The Threepenny Opera by Bertolt Brecht, Elizabeth Hauptmann and Kurt Weill. Directed by Barrie Kosky. Berliner Ensemble. Adelaide Festival.

Luzia. Cirque du Soleil. Wayville Showground.

A Life in Notes. Patti LuPone. Written by Jeffrey Richman. Directed by Scott Wittman. Adelaide Cabaret Festival.

Chicago. By Kander & Ebb & Bob Fosse. Original direction Bob Fosse. John Frost and Jones Theatrical Group.

Best Lead Performances (Female)

Justine Clarke . Julia by Joanna Murray-Smith. Directed by Sarah Goodes. State Theatre Company. Sydney Theatre Company and Canberra Theatre Centre production.

Astrid Pill . I Hide in Bathrooms. Written and performed by Astrid Pill and Collaborators. Vitalstatistix. Adelaide Festival. Bathrooms

Abigail Adriano. Miss Saigon. By Claude-Michel Schonberg, Richard Maltby Jr &Alain Boublil. Directed by Laurence Connor. Cameron Mackintosh in association with GWB Entertainment.

Emily Liu. The Almighty Sometimes by Kendall Feaver. Directed by Corey McMahon.Theatre Republic.

Ahunim Abebe. Jack Maggs by Samuel Adamson. Based on the novel by Peter Carey. Directed by Geordie Brookman. State Theatre Company South Australia.

Best Supporting Performances (Female)

Tamara Lee . The Almighty Sometimes by Kendall Feaver. Directed by Corey McMahon. Theatre Republic.

Anna Steen. The Almighty Sometimes by Kendall Feaver. Directed by Corey McMahon. Theatre Republic.

Ansua Nathan. The Puzzle by David Williamson. Directed by Shannon Rush. State Theatre Company South Australia.

Jacqy Phillips Jack Maggs by Samuel Adamson. Based on the novel by Peter Carey. Directed by Geordie Brookman. State Theatre Company.

Best Lead Performances (Male)

Hew Parham. Symphonie of the Bicycle. Written and performed by Hew Parham. Directed by Chris Drummond. Brink Productions. State Theatre Company. State Educate.

Chris Pitman . Shore Break by Chris Pitman. Directed by Chelsea Griffith and Chris Drummond. Brink Productions and Adelaide Festival Centre.

Mark Saturno. Jack Maggs by Samuel Adamson. Based on the novel by Peter Carey. Directed by Geordie Brookman. State Theatre Company South Australia.

James Smith. Jack Maggs by Samuel Adamson. Based on the novel by Peter Carey. Directed by Geordie Brookman. State Theatre Company South Australia.

Best Supporting Performances (Male)

Chris Asimos. The Puzzle by David Williamson. Directed by Shannon Rush. State Theatre Company South Australia.

Simon Chandler. The Almighty Sometimes by Kendall Feaver. Directed by Corey McMahon. Theatre Republic

Nathan O’Keefe. Jack Maggs by Samuel Adamson. Based on the novel by Peter Carey. Directed by Geordie Brookman. State Theatre Company South Australia.

Dale March. Jack Maggs by Samuel Adamson. Based on the novel by Peter Carey. Directed by Geordie Brookman. State Theatre Company South Australia.

Best Scenic Designs

Renee Mulder. Julia by Joanna Murray-Smith. Directed by Sarah Goodes. State Theatre Company. Sydney Theatre Company and Canberra Theatre Centre production.

Wendy Todd Symphonie of the Bicycle. Written and performed by Hew Parham. Directed by Chris Drummond. Brink Productions. State Theatre Company. State Educate.

Meg Wilson. The Almighty Sometimes by Kendall Feaver. Directed by Corey McMahon. Theatre Republic

Ailsa Paterson. Jack Maggs by Samuel Adamson. Based on the novel by Peter Carey. Directed by Geordie Brookman. State Theatre Company South Australia.

Also- The Puzzle by David Williamson. Directed by Shannon Rush. State Theatre Company South Australia.

Best Lighting Designs

Alexander Berlage. Julia by Joanna Murray-Smith. Directed by Sarah Goodes. State Theatre Company. Sydney Theatre Company and Canberra Theatre Centre production.

Wendy Todd. Symphonie of the Bicycle. Written and performed by Hew Parham. Directed by Chris Drummond. Brink Productions. State Theatre Company South Australia.

Mark Shelton. The Puzzle by David Williamson. Directed by Shannon Rush. State Theatre Company South Australia.

Nic Mollison . The Almighty Sometimes by Kendall Feaver. Directed by Corey McMahon. Theatre Republic

Nigel Levings. Jack Maggs by Samuel Adamson. Based on the novel by Peter Carey. Directed by Geordie Brookman. State Theatre Company South Australia.

Best Music Scores/Sound Design

Steve Francis. Julia by Joanna Murray-Smith. Directed by Sarah Goodes. State Theatre Company. Sydney Theatre Company and Canberra Theatre Centre production

Will Spartalis. Symphonie of the Bicycle. Written and performed by Hew Parham. Directed by Chris Drummond. Brink Productions. State Theatre Company South Australia

Jason Sweeney The Almighty Sometimes by Kendall Feaver. Directed by Corey McMahon. Theatre Republic

Hilary Kleinig. Jack Maggs by Samuel Adamson. Based on the novel by Peter Carey. Directed by Geordie Brookman. State Theatre Company South Australia.

Andrew Howard. Jack Maggs by Samuel Adamson. Based on the novel by Peter Carey. Directed by Geordie Brookman. State Theatre Company South Australia.

Best Classical and Contemporary Music Performances

Joep Beving. Illuminate.

Vikingur Olafsson. Adelaide Festival.

Angela Hewitt. Chamber Music Adelaide.

Adelaide Chamber Singers. Elemental. Conducted by Carl Crossin.

Jean-Efflam Bavouzet . Harris International Piano Series.

Best Touring Music Performances

The Necks. The Gov.

Dirty Three. Hindley Street Music Hall.

Herbie Hancock. Festival Theatre

Qais Essar. OzAsia. Space Theatre.

Best WOMADelaide Performances

Yussef Dayes

Gilberto Gil

Arooj Aftab

Pt Tejendre Narayan Majumdar & Ambi Subramaniam0

Most Intriguing Performances

Tree of Light. (Work in Progress) Slingsby. Adelaide Festival

Little Murmur Choreographed by Aakash Odedra and Lewis Major. Performed in Space Theatre by Subhash Viman Gorania.

Scored in Silence. Devised and performed by Chisato Minamimura. OzAsia. Space Theatre

The Resistible Rise and Fall of Arturo Ui by Bertolt Brecht. Directed by Christopher Hurrell. Flinders University Drama Centre.

Productions/Events I Regret Not Seeing

Private View. Restless Dance Theatre. Created by Michelle Ryan and the company with Carla Lippis. Adelaide Festival. Winner of the 2024 Ruby Award for Best Performance in a Festival.

And dedicated to the memory of the much-loved Roz Hervey.

Guuranda. Written and directed by Jacob Boehme. Adelaide Festival.

Candide. Music by Leoonard Bernstiein. Book by Hugh Wheeler after Voltaire. Directed by Mitchell Butel. State Theatre Company South Australia and State Opera South Australia.

Moss Piglet. Co-created by Clare Watson and Elena Carapitis. Windmill Theatre.

Best wishes for 2025. Our artists have been amazing but these remain difficult times. They need our admiration and support. Even more.

Murray Bramwell

December 12, 2024.