50 years of Adelaide Festivals: Keith checks out all the action in the Adelaide City region of South Australia

For half century the Adelaide Festival has proven itself as one of the world's greatest Arts events - but where did it all begin? Rewind 50 years to a conservative city of just half a million people. We still had six o'clock closing but we were looking for a leap forward. The arts? Well no great venues for things like that so it was a bold move indeed to mount something like a festival in the tradition of Edinburgh.

Every even year since 1960 - we've launched ourselves into the artistic spotlight. And keeping track of it all is Jo Peoples, keeper of our priceless Performing Arts Collection. She showed us her giant scrapbook, bulging with clippings from day one.

Jo peoples, Performing Arts Collection: “Here’s an entry from August 30th 1958. A Festival of the Arts is to be held in Adelaide in March 1960 and a decision to this effect was reached at a meeting of a small committee in the Lord Mayor's room at the Town Hall yesterday afternoon."

In a way it was a 'coming together' of strange bedfellows - the 'cultured' mob from the arts fraternity joining forces with the capitalists in the form of the Adelaide Advertiser. The first poster was unveiled - the two 'As' for Adelaide and the Arts - or 'alcoholics anonymous' as some interstate wags put it. The festival idea was a hit and even interstate papers began to take notice. The Women's Weekly ran an 8-page colour spread. The press claimed Festival would put Australia on the world cultural map – and it did.

Opera, theatre, dance, classical and contemporary music, cabaret, Writers' Week - the list of festival attractions over the years goes on and on. It even attracted a visit from the Festival's very royal Patron, the Queen Mother.

Jo Peoples: “The Queen Mother’s visit helped cement in people's minds the huge success of this festival in Adelaide."

The Festival created a strong tradition of bringing innovative and sometimes daring performances from around the globe. Remember the row over Sir Robert Helpman's frisky ballet, 'The Display'? But it hasn't all been restricted to so-called 'high-end' programs – even a bit of jazz was allowed in with Dave Brubeck performing.

During the 1960s the Festival simply outgrew the city's existing venues so ambitious plans for a festival hall on Montefiore Hill where Carclew stands were drawn up. But there was a big problem - Ada Bonython, who lived at Carclew wouldn’t move.

But no matter, Premier Steel Hall returned from England and declared a festival theatre would be built on the Torrens instead - and it was. Opened in 1973, it's been a focal point ever since. The Festival's had its highs and its lows - who could forget Barry Kosky's flaming Hill's Hoist and his Red Square and what about Peter Sellers 2002 Festival? He resigned as director from overseas.

The festival is supposed to be challenging and that's the case again this year. The centrepiece of Paul Grabowsky's program for this festival is Le Grand Macabre - the Australian premiere of the so-called 'anti-opera' show created by the company that did the Barcelona Olympics opening ceremony.

This year's festival includes more than 250 performances and events at 33 different venues. The crowd favourite Northern Lights has returned - again illuminating our North Terrace landmarks but this year extending to the rear of Parliament house.

The Festival is in full swing and runs until March 14. Don't forget the Fringe either - it's on until March 14 as well.

Adelaide Festival Until 14 March www.adelaidefestival.com.au

Adelaide Fringe Until 14 March www.adelaidefringe.com.au

Published 28th February 2010