Adelaide Festival Centre wishes to acknowledge the sad passing of Barry Humphries AO CBE.
One of Australias most remarkable and memorable comedians, authors, and satirists who passed away yesterday at the age of 89.
Barry Humphries has had a long association with Adelaide Festival Centre in particular a special relationship with Her Majesty's Theatre which commenced in 1953 when a then 19-year-old Humphries performed in The Wind of Heaven as part of an Australian Universities Drama Festival. That performance heralded a long association with The Maj with Humphries, often describing it as his favourite theatre.
In 1965, Barry Humphries returned to Her Majesty's Theatre where he introduced his most iconic character, Edna Everage, in A Nice Nights Entertainment which also featured Sandy Stone and other quirky characters.
In 1993, Humphries honoured Her Majesty's Theatre with the Australian premiere of Look at Me When Im Talking to You which featured Edna Everage, Sir Les Patterson, Sandy Stone and new character, Daryl Dalkeith.
Humphries returned in 1999 to Her Majesty's Theatre with his show Remember Youre Out and in 2003 he performed his ninth show at the theatre, Back to My Roots which marked the 50th anniversary of Humphries first performance at the theatre. At the time, Humphries told The Advertiser that he and Dame Edna were both very at home in Adelaide and that Adelaide had played a small role in Dame Ednas success as it was the first city shed played after leaving the security of home, Moonee Ponds in Melbourne.
In 2007, Dame Edna and Barry Humphries once again performed at The Maj with the new show Back with a Vengeance. Edna was greeted by a foyer full of students from Sturt Street Primary all wearing blue wigs and diamond encrusted spectacles.
By 2013, Barry Humphries performed his last show at Her Majesty's Theatre having presented eleven shows there over the years.
In 2015, Adelaide Festival Centre welcomed Humphries back to Adelaide as Artistic Director of that years Adelaide Cabaret Festival. That year 350 artists performed in 46 sold out shows and at the conclusion of the Adelaide Cabaret Festival Humphries took to the stage to hand over the Artistic Director role to Ali McGregor and Eddie Perfect. At the time Humphries said that "my time as Artistic Director of the Adelaide Cabaret Festival has been the climax of my love affair with Adelaide."
Adelaide Festival Centre CEO & Artistic Director Douglas Gautier AM: "We have lost a great Australian artist.
Adelaide Festival Centre and Her Majesty's Theatre have had a strong and meaningful association with Barry Humphries since 1953. He was the patron of Her Majesty's Theatres recent and very successful redevelopment fund.
In 2015, we welcomed Barry Humphries as our Artistic Director of Adelaide Cabaret Festival, that was one of our most successful festivals to date which was testament to Barrys exceptional standing as an artist and the public regard for him."
The Hon. Hieu Van Le, AC, Chair Adelaide Festival Centre: "Adelaide Festival Centre is proud to have played a part in the remarkable career of Barry Humphries. His love and connection with Her Majesty's Theatre stemmed from the early days of his career. Later he became one of Her Majesty's Theatre champions, playing a key role in the recent renovation of this beloved theatre. In 2015 Barry Humphries delighted us all as Artistic Director of Adelaide Cabaret Festival.
We have honoured his service to Australian Culture with a flower display at his much loved Her Majesty's Theatre in Grote Street, Adelaide."