Adelaide Festival of Arts 2008: With Keith Conlon in the Adelaide City region of South Australia
Keith: The Adelaide Bank Festival of Arts is in full swing. It's two weeks of artistic inspiration, confrontation and chaos - the way it ought to be. This is the 25th festival and it's still the one the others can only dream about. This time about 850 performers are putting on 80 difference events around town.
Since the very first festival in 1960, the event has re-invented itself many times over. Half a century ago Adelaide was a very different place. The long serving conservative Sir Thomas Playford was still Premier, you couldn't buy petrol on Sundays, the pubs closed at six and homosexuality was illegal.
The Festival of Arts helped create a heady brew of artistic forces. What began as an event firmly anchored in the traditional, more conservative arts sector was soon moved along by a more contemporary artistic push.
It marked the beginning of a memorable era of social change that continued well into the 70s and one of the men who helped create the new mood was Labor Premier, Don Dunstan.
His turbulent political and private life is back on Adelaide's agenda as a stage play, 'Lovers and Haters' which had its world premiere in this year's festival.
We were given a behind the scenes look at a rehearsal for the Festival season. But what is it about the late Don Dunstan that his story can sustain a stage play?
Ron George, Writer: "He's one of the most entertaining politicians that Australia has ever seen I think. Who else comes close to him in terms of his notoriety, his colour, and also the fact that be put himself in such moral dilemmas? So you know, that's really the core of good drama - character and moral dilemma and you've got that in spades with Don."
Keith: SA born and raised Rob George and his co-writer, Maureen Sherlock couldn't leave out the pink shorts story. Nor did they overlook another colourful chapter in Don Dunstan's reign - the King Kanute moment at Glenelg. A soothsayer claimed a tidal wave was about to engulf the city. Hundreds, maybe thousands took it seriously and headed for the hills. Don Dunstan came down to the Bay and said 'it won't happen' - and it didn't!
The play also covers a darker side of the Dunstan era. A pivotal moment - a young homosexual law lecturer, Doctor George Duncan was chucked into the Torrens at night and he drowned. Questions came up - was there a police cover-up about who was here and why? Were there secret police files against gay men? It really blew up - Premier Dunstan sacked the police commissioner.
The show is a warts and all look at Don Dunstan's complex public and private life including his marriage to his second wife, Adele Koh who tragically died of cancer to a long running homosexual relationship and a tell-all book.
Social reformer, political performer, and even one time restaurateur, Don Dunstan's political career ended in ill-health in 1979
Rob George: "He's a person who divided people and we didn't want to write a play or put on a production that was there just for the lovers of Don. It's not a sycophantic piece it's a play that tries to look at both sides of this complex person..."
Keith: And it does - and in a way that's what the Festival of Arts is all about. To entertain, sure... but challenge and stir and excite as well!
Lovers and Haters continues at the Norwood Concert Hall until March the 15. Book at Bass or phone 131 246. The Festival continues all week too. Log onto for a full program.
'Lovers and Haters'
Until 15 March
Norwood Concert Hall
Bookings through Bass 131 246
www.bass.net.auAdelaide Bank Festival of Arts
Until 15 March
www.adelaidefestival.com.auPublished 9th March 2008
