Adelaide Festival Announces Discounted Student Tickets to Exclusive Extra Presentation of Sold Out SAUL

In exciting news for young arts lovers, the Adelaide Festival has announced a new round of discounted tickets especially for students to an exclusive presentation of Barrie Kosky's sold out masterpiece opera, Saul, on Wednesday March 1.

The last major dress rehearsal before the show's official Australian premiere on Friday March 3, this will be a unique opportunity for students to get a sneak peek at the flagship show of the 2017 Adelaide Festival, and witness Kosky and the cast in action on stage at the Festival Theatre.

From 12pm today (Monday February 27) via BASS and adelaidefestival.com.au , valid student card holders can purchase a ticket to the Saul dress rehearsal for just $50 plus transaction fee - a saving of up to 70 per cent on regular tickets.

The announcement comes a week after Joint Artistic Directors Neil Armfield and Rachel Healy announced the return of the Festival's 18 and Under Rush Tickets scheme, which allows teenagers to see selected shows for as little as $5.

Ms Healy said the decision to open up the Saul dress rehearsal to students was part of her and Mr Armfield's long term plan to encourage young audiences at the Festival.

"As a student, attending any final dress rehearsal is a thrilling behind-the-scenes experience, but the chance to see Saul before its sold out Australian season is a genuine run-don't-walk opportunity for students of every age and background. It really is an experience for everyone: sumptuous sets and costumes, a gripping narrative and sublime music," Ms Healy said.

"This opportunity is one more part of the Festival's commitment to students; we want to ensure that price is no barrier to coming along and experiencing the greatest works the Festival has to offer."

With Saul's four official performances on March 3, 5, 7 and 9 having sold out in December, this will be the absolute last chance to witness the epic Glyndebourne Opera Festival work that critics have called "flawless" (The Independent) and "blazingly alive" (The Telegraph), and which Kosky himself has described as "one of the great pieces of 18th-century music".

The Saul dress rehearsal is on Wednesday March 1, at 6.45pm for a 7.00pm start at the Festival Theatre.

General admission student tickets go on sale Monday February 27 at 12.00pm ACDT via BASS and adelaidefestival.com.au .

Offer limited to one ticket per person. Every ticket holder must have a valid student ID card. Tickets can be collected from the box office upon presentation of student card, any time up to one hour before performance time.

Patrons should note they are buying tickets to a dress rehearsal, not an official performance, however it will run in performance format. Patrons should note there may be stoppages for Mr Kosky to give notes and direct the cast. Patrons are advised portions of the presentation may differ from the official performance of Saul.

The 2017 Adelaide Festival officially opens on Friday March 3, with the premieres of major works Saul, Schaubuhne Theatre's Richard III and Canadian dance theatre production Betroffenheit.

The official Festival hub - the floating Riverbank Palais and surrounding Parc Palais on the Adelaide Riverbank - opens to the public a day earlier on Thursday March 2, with a swinging concert of 1920s music by Andrew Nolte and his Orchestra (general admission $39 + transaction fee) and free live entertainment in the rotunda.

The Festival's opening weekend will wrap up on Sunday March 5 with a free twilight concert in Parc Palais by music legend Neil Finn, with a crowd of up to 15,000 expected to attend.

Tickets to all Adelaide Festival events, including the Riverbank Palais program, are on sale now via BASS or adelaidefestival.com.au

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