Adelaide French Festival Announces Program

A decadent program of music, theatre, performance and visual arts as well as food, fashion and family fun has been unveiled for Adelaide Festival Centre's 2019 Adelaide French Festival.

The three day celebration runs January 11 - 13, and features two world premieres, 15 Australian premieres and more than 20 premieres especially for Adelaide French Festival.

The 2019 festival will focus on the beautiful French region of Brittany, with a range of musicians, artists, designers and chefs showcasing the region's rich and unique culture and connections to the sea.

Adelaide French Festival Creative Director Rebecca Pearce said: "We're thrilled to welcome some of the very best artists from France as we celebrate the return of Adelaide French Festival in 2019. The festival program has something for everyone from Francophiles to those just discovering all that French culture has to offer. We are excited to bring a number of Australian Exclusive performances just for Adelaide. Come and immerse yourself in this feast of French art and culture, sumptuous food and wine, workshops and free family activities over one weekend."

Today's program launch follows a successful first edition of Adelaide French Festival earlier this year.

Adelaide Festival Centre CEO & Artistic Director Douglas Gautier said it's about celebrating Australia's relationship with France: "Adelaide French Festival is Australia's leading multi-arts French festival. It's a wonderful opportunity to promote just some of that country's sparkling and spirited creative arts to new and wider audiences, which further strengthens engagement between France and Australia."

The 2019 program showcases 67 International Artists and more than 60 Australian artists. Highlights include:

-Breton chef Nathalie Beavuais from Le Jardin Gourmand will create an authentic French seafood dinner showcasing the flavors of Brittany exclusively for the festival.

-Sonic Seasoning - Adelaide's Zephyr Quartet will team up with The Smelly Cheese Shop for a sensory experience, pairing cheese, wine and music to explore if melody can enhance taste, in an intimate setting on the Dunstan Playhouse stage.

-Breton fashion designer Pascal Jaouen presents his stunning embroidery collections for the first time in Australia, detailing the patterns and motifs of his native Brittany in an exhibition especially for Adelaide French Festival.

-Australian exclusive contemporary photographic exhibition by French artist Charles Freger featuring the changing face of women across generations, wearing the costumes and headdresses of the region of Brittany.

-L'Apres-Midi D'un Foehn - ordinary plastic bags are brought to life by a mysterious ballet master as they swirl on currents of air.

-Australian exclusive presentations for young children and families - Breton music artist Jesse Lucas' show Reverie takes toddlers and their parents on a sonic journey and Lumieres is an interactive music work by Ellie James performing a live soundtrack.

-Australian premiere of moving image video works by Breton video artists Sylvie Ungauer, Thomas Daveluy, and Marcel Dinahet.

-Australian exclusive contemporary dance work Mon Chi Chi, a stunning piece about love and life by Company Wang Ramierz.

-So Frenchy So Chic's boutique outdoor festival of contemporary French music at Pinky Flat.

This year, Adelaide French Festival will also offer audiences the chance to win a trip to Brittany to continue to indulge in all the beautiful region has to offer. Details will be announced later.