Meet 2024 Adelaide Fringe Ambassador, Prinnie Stevens

Pop soul cabaret artist, Prinnie Stevens returns to Adelaide Fringe in 2024 with her new show, Lady Sings The Blues Volume 2, paying homage to the greats including Billie Holiday, Diana Ross and Whitney Houston to name a few.

Additionally, Prinnie steps into the spotlight as one of the Adelaide Fringe Ambassadors for the 2024 season, sharing her passion for giving a voice to everyone.

Prinnie Stevens rests her chin on her fingers, looking towards the camera, sitting on a sofa chair beside a window covered by sheer curtains. She is wearing a sequined maroon-coloured dress and white elbow-length gloves with a white flower in her hair. Prinnie Stevens. Photo: Anastasia Comelli, Adelaide Fringe 2023

How did your journey to performing and music begin?

I started out as a singer/dancer from a very young age. Had my first big break out of high school landing the understudy role of Mimi in RENT the musical, understudying the incredible Christine Anu. I went on to do many musicals and was even nominated for a Helpmann award. After the success of a 70s musical with “Kathy Sledge” from Sister Sledge, she took me back to America and put me in a girl group with her daughter and nieces where we were signed to SONY in New York City. After the girl group, I came back to Australia itching to go solo, and went on The Voice and that changed my life! I went on to do Pop RnB music with Universal Music and then eventually found my way back to musical theatre, taking lead roles in The Bodyguard, HAIR the musical and Thriller LIVE on the West End. More recently I have taken all of those influences and written my own show, 'Lady Sings The Blues', that combines all my talents and love for the women who have changed the face of music.

You’re a seasoned performer at Adelaide Fringe, what keeps you coming back?

The thing that keeps me coming back is the capability to be able to produce shows that are unfiltered stories to the incredible Adelaide audiences who are spoilt for choice during the Fringe season. Adelaide is so electric during the Fringe and I love the hub of artists and performers, it's such an incredible sense of community. I have made some of my best friends right here at the Adelaide Fringe—Hugh Sheridan and Kween Kong to name a few.

As an ambassador for one of Australia’s most renowned arts festivals, what message do you hope to convey as a Fringe Ambassador?

The biggest message I try to spread is that every voice matters. In a world with so much conflict at the moment, it is so important that we stop, and listen to each other in order to get past the things that have stopped us from growing in the past. Our role as artists is so important at times like this, because we have the opportunity to speak through music and change people and move people forever.

Based on your own experiences, what advice would you give to up-and-coming performers looking to make their mark in the arts world?

I would encourage any budding performer or producer to be a part of the Adelaide Fringe festival and utilise all the infrastructure that has been placed before us. The logistics of budgets and seminars are all there to be utilised, I never knew I could produce shows! And now it has taken over my everyday life. The Fringe gave me the tools I needed to be able to cross over in a world that allowed me to not rely on someone else’s opinion of me. Take a leap of faith because every voice should be heard and every voice has something to say and you will change lives in the process.

Tickets to Prinnie Stevens presents Lady Sings The Blues Volume 2 can be purchased here: http://adlfrin.ge/WP24-Prinnie

Meet 2024 Adelaide Fringe Ambassador, Isaac Humphries

Professional Basketballer and Cabaret Singer Isaac Humphries will make his Adelaide Fringe debut in 2024, taking you on the rollercoaster journey of his life through song.

After coming out as the only openly gay male professional Basketball player in the world, Isaac wants to share the moments he came to terms with a lot about himself and share the songs that helped him ‘unearth’ who he is today. From heartfelt originals to toe-tapping covers, his soaring tenor notes, stories and beautiful piano melodies will make you shed a tear, dance and laugh out loud!

Find out why he is excited to be performing at Adelaide Fringe.

Isaac Humphries smiles and leans his cheek on his hand, sitting in an armchair beside a window overlooking the sand dunes and ocean. He is wearing a patterned white shirt and navy jeans. Isaac Humphries. Photo: Jenny Kwok, Adelaide Fringe 2023

This is your first time performing at Adelaide Fringe. How are you feeling about it?

I'm very excited! I love to perform anywhere anytime. But to have a show in Adelaide Fringe is a bit of a milestone for me and my music career. I feel very honoured to stand alongside some incredible world class acts and share a very personal side of me that doesn't always get shown in my basketball life.

Do you have any fond memories of Adelaide Fringe?

None from growing up as I am from Sydney, but my first Fringe experience was seeing my fellow ambassador and great friend Prinnie Stevens in her show in 2021 and I loved it. I immediately knew it was something I wanted to eventually be a part of.

When did you start getting into singing and when did you realise you wanted to make this a career?

I was a singer and performer before basketball came into my life. When I started to play basketball around 13 years old, my life took a very different direction and music was put on the backseat for a while. Then I started to gig again and learn new instruments so I could play anywhere, anytime and I started to find a balance. It's taken me about 10 years, but I have finally found a very nice balance between basketball and my performing life. There is a way to go with my music and I am continuing to write and release music as much as I can. Just like anything, nothing happens overnight and I am prepared to keep going on this really fun and fulfilling journey that I have found myself on.

From being surrounded by Fringe did you always have a desire to perform at Australia’s biggest arts festival?

While playing for the 36ers in my first two seasons, I came to understand the excitement and importance Adelaide puts on Fringe. So of course I wanted to be a part of something so loved. It's been on my list for a while now and again, I'm just so excited to be a part of it all and give back to such a great city in a different way this time.

As a basketballer and a singer do you find that these two worlds clash?

No, I don't find them clashing. There are actually a fair few similarities. One stand out has been the pressure and excitement of performing in front of a big crowd has always helped me in both worlds. I think the way I have combined the two yet kept them quite separate has worked well for me and my situation.

How do you bring your love of basketball and arts together?

Both involve so much passion and I have been able to learn how to direct those emotions into both music and basketball. I find I am now a much more immersive performer on stage as well as a more interactive basketball player with the crowd and showing my love and passion externally in both fields.

Tickets to Isaac Humphries - Unearthed can be purchased here: http://adlfrin.ge/WP24-Isaac

Meet 2024 Adelaide Fringe Poster Winner, Rebecca Davis

The poster competition is synonymous with the Adelaide Fringe, expressing the vibrant, bold and magical spirit of the festival that transforms our state every year.

Each year the competition attracts hundreds of keen artists and designers from across the globe, looking to take the next step in their careers.

Rebecca Davis looks towards the camera and is smiling. She is wearing a fluorescent green shirt and colourful skirt, with round, red-framed glasses. Rebecca Davis. Photo: Jenny Kwok, Adelaide Fringe 2023

Artist, graphic designer and illustrator Rebecca Davis took out this year’s competition with her artwork ‘All In’, which showcases the diversity within Adelaide Fringe.

What does Adelaide Fringe represent to you?

Fringe represents a freedom to participate, watch or wander. It’s often cheeky, lively and surprising. It’s an opportunity for artists to perform, test new material, be seen and get paid for their efforts. It’s accessible and collaborative - anyone can get involved. And the long summer evenings and atmosphere just bring people together.

What prompted you to submit an entry into the Adelaide Fringe Poster Competition?

I’ve been entering the Fringe competition for a few years now. It challenges me creatively and it’s different from the graphic work I do in my full-time job, and I love that anyone can enter! There’s such a great range of entries every time.

Can you talk us through your poster for Adelaide Fringe and the inspiration behind it?

The 2024 competition theme was ‘Arts Unlimited’. I had used a few of my characters in past entries and decided to introduce some I hadn’t used. The poster is a celebration of collaborative characters - kooky, passionate and committed - ‘All In’ is the poster title. The ‘spotlights’ are a nod to theatre, their overlapping colour mixing, acknowledging the visual arts and the juggling balls double up as performance skills and musical notes. The black piano keys could be a step to a new career.

Where did the inspiration of all the animals come from?

I had already started dabbling in collage and then I did this terrific online class during Covid - it was light hearted and looked fun. It brought me so much joy. About 6 months later I decided to commit to the 100 day challenge on Instagram. Every day for 100 days you commit to your art practice and choose a theme. I chose to create simple characters. I covered a range of subjects to keep things interesting including dogs, budgies, and then I explored bringing inanimate objects to life (a corkscrew and other household objects) – then all my animal characters appeared. So many! And they took me to the finish line of my 100 days.

What does it mean to you to have your artwork as a major part of the branding for Australia's biggest arts festival in 2024?

I’m honoured and thrilled for this incredible opportunity to share my work. And I’m so excited for it to play a hugely significant visual part of the 2024 Adelaide Fringe, and that it’s happening in my home town is really special. I hope people enjoy it and that it makes a huge contribution to the atmosphere and the success of the shows.

Check out the Menagerie of Characters from Rebecca’s ‘All In’ poster on display at the Adelaide Airport from Friday 9 February to Sunday 17 March. More details here: http://adlfrin.ge/WP24-MoC

Meet 2024 Adelaide Fringe Ambassador, Adam Liaw

Adam Liaw needs no introduction, but this year he has another title to add to his name; Ambassador for Adelaide Fringe 2024.

Bringing ‘The Cook Up with Adam Liaw LIVE’ to Fringe this year, the renowned cook, writer and broadcaster is excited to share the comfort, anticipation and happiness of food live on stage.

Adam Liaw is holding chopsticks and trying to grab a floating prawn, while other food dishes are floating around him like they're caught up in a gust of wind. There is a green background, and Adam is smiling. Adam Liaw. Photo supplied.

Given your background in engaging audiences through food and storytelling, what unique elements will you bring to your own performances or presentations at the Fringe?

Food, festivals and fun are all part of the same equation for me. Adelaide as a city is expert at all of these things, so combining them into one show is really exciting. Over the years The Cook Up has grown a fantastic list of great friends, incredible performers and talented cooks, and bringing some of that talent into the energy of a live show is going to be fantastic!

As you step into the role of an ambassador for the Adelaide Fringe, what aspects of this journey are you most excited about?

When people ask me about Adelaide – in any context – I tell them about Fringe. If people visit Adelaide during Fringe time, they get to see the real Adelaide because I truly believe Fringe is the heart and soul of the city. For me to be involved both behind the scenes and on-stage as part of an event that I’ve been attending since I was a kid is kind of a dream come true.

As a Fringe ambassador what would you say to someone who has never been to Adelaide Fringe?

Get out of your comfort zone. If you’ve never been to a comedy show before, just go and see one. If you have no idea about dance, pick a dance show and book it. If a show sparks even the slightest amount of interest in you, just take the plunge. The great thing about Fringe is that the shows don’t expect you to be an expert. The more you participate in Fringe, the more you’ll get out of it.

You’ve been an attendee to Fringe for years now, do you have a favourite Fringe memory you can share with us?

I’m showing my age now, but the first year of the Garden of Unearthly Delights and the Spiegeltent in 2000 was a revelation. I was working in the city at the time and we walked down there nearly every single night after work for a drink, the atmosphere and a show or two. I remember thinking I’d never seen the city so alive before, and to see what it has evolved into now nearly a quarter of a century later is truly spectacular.

In your role as ambassador, how do you envision contributing to the growth and evolution of Adelaide Fringe, and what impact do you hope to have on both the festival and the broader arts community?

I travel a lot and when I’m outside of Adelaide and tell people that Fringe is the biggest arts event in the Southern Hemisphere, the response is always a gobsmacked surprise. It’s hard to imagine an event as huge as Fringe and with such a stellar international reputation is still something of a hidden gem to many in the Eastern states right here in Australia. I really want to change that.

Tickets to The Cook Up with Adam Liaw LIVE can be purchased here: http://adlfrin.ge/WP24-Adam

More information from the 2024 Adelaide Fringe edition of WeekendPlus: