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Adelaide Festival 2025

Innocence

By Kaija Saariaho. Directed by Simon Stone.
Opera
Festival Theatre
4 shows

Accessibility

Reserves and Prices

Innocence comes to Adelaide for its highly anticipated Australian Premiere following sell-out seasons at the likes of Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, London’s Royal Opera House and San Francisco Opera. 

In modern-day Finland, a joyous wedding celebration takes a shocking turn when the darkest of secrets is revealed and a young bride faces an impossible decision. Acclaimed as a “masterpiece” by the New York Times, Innocence draws us into the complex journey shared by a community recovering from inconceivable tragedy. 

Directed by Simon Stone, Kaija Saariaho’s final opera is one of the most important written this century and a new page in the history of opera. 

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Part Scandi-noir thriller, part Ancient Greek drama… [Innocence is] raw, uncompromising and utterly gripping

— Limelight

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Stunning. Simply brilliant and unlike anything else I had ever experienced … anyone who watches it will be changed by the experience

— Daily Express UK

Interview with Simon Stone, Stage Director


Accessibility
Recommended for ages 16+
Runtime

Presented by

Adelaide Festival Hero

For more than 60 years, audiences have delighted in an outstanding mix of internationally acclaimed theatre productions, an eclectic array of world-class musicians, breathtaking dance pieces, renowned writers and striking visual arts displays.

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Credits

By Kaija Saariaho 

Original Finnish Libretto by Sofi Oksanen & Multilingual Libretto by Aleksi Barrière 

Conducted by Clément Mao-Takacs 

Directed by Simon Stone 

Dates

Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun

Mon 24 Feb

Tue 25 Feb

Wed 26 Feb

Thu 27 Feb

Fri 28 Feb

Sat 01 Mar

Sun 02 Mar

Mon 03 Mar

Tue 04 Mar

Wed 05 Mar

Thu 06 Mar

Fri 07 Mar

Sat 08 Mar

Sun 09 Mar

Performance Location: Festival Theatre

The Festival Theatre stage, looking out to the auditorium. The stalls, dress circle and grand dress circle are visible. The house lights are on.

The most direct way to enter the Festival Theatre is from King William Road, near the cor­ner of Elder Park, or Fes­ti­val Plaza. 

You can also walk from North Ter­race via the laneway along­side SkyC­i­ty Casi­no or by cross­ing the foot­bridge from Ade­laide Oval.

Access

If you require an acces­si­ble drop off area, use the dri­ve through zone just off King William Road, approx­i­mate­ly 100 metres north of the car park entrance. This is are is acces­si­ble when trav­el­ing north on King William Road. When King William Road is closed for major events, the near­est acces­si­ble drop off area is on the west side of Ade­laide Fes­ti­val Cen­tre, along­side Fes­ti­val Dri­ve under the River­bank Footbridge.

Taxi services

There is no for­mal taxi rank on King William Road, but taxis can use the dri­ve through zone just off King William Road, approx­i­mate­ly 100 metres north of the car park entrance. This is acces­si­ble when trav­el­ing north on King William Road. 

The near­est taxi ranks are locat­ed on North Ter­race, out­side the Casi­no and Rail­way Sta­tion, and on King William Street next to Run­dle Mall.

Car parking

There are two car parks adjacent to Adelaide Festival Centre (Please note, Adelaide Festival Centre does not own or operate the car parks):

Adelaide Convention Centre Riverbank Car Park

  • Open: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
  • Location: Festival Drive (adjacent Montefiore Road), Adelaide
  • Entry: Festival Dr via King William Rd (Height: 2.0m) | Festival Dr via Montefiore Rd (Height: 2.0m)

Once you've parked, the eastern lift will take you to the promenade level where it's a short walk to the theatre. There is no direct access from this car park to Festival Theatre.

Go to ACC website

Festival Car Park

  • Open: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
  • Location: Festival Drive (adjacent King William Street), Adelaide
  • Entry: Festival Dr via King William Rd (Height: 2.20m) | Festival Dr via Montefiore Rd (Height: 2.20m)

There is no direct lift or pedestrian access from Festival Car Park to the Dunstan Playhouse complex.

Go to Festival Car Park website

Public transport

Accessible by many forms of public transport including trains, buses, the tram (stop at Railway Station) and a free bus service that operates on a loop throughout the city and North Adelaide with stops on the corner of King William Road and North Terrace.

Go to Adelaide Metro website

We want to make your vis­it as enjoy­able as pos­si­ble and offer many ways to assist if sup­port is required.

Accessible seating

In the Stalls, row W has remov­able seats to accom­mo­date patrons who wish to remain seat­ed in their wheel­chair or trans­fer to a the­atre seat. 

Lifts

Lifts are locat­ed either side of the Fes­ti­val The­atre audi­to­ri­um with access to all levels. 

Toilets

Accessible toilets are available at all Adelaide Festival Centre venues.

Assistance animals

Every theatre and event/function area of Adelaide Festival Centre is assistance animal friendly. 

Audio assistance

Festival Theatre has hearing loop facilities, limited to particular seats in the venues.

Audience members who require hearing assistance are now able to enjoy the show via the Beyerdynamic Hearing System. Please advise the oper­a­tor at the time of booking. 

Find out more about our access services

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