The Adelaide Festival has been presenting world-class Australian and international theatre companies and artists as well as some of the world’s best musicians, dance performers, writers and visual art events for over 60 years. It is an annual 4-week event in March, featuring numerous Australian and world premieres.
In 2022 the Girgensohn Foundation supported the development of the new oratorio Watershed: The Death of Dr Duncan as part of the Festival’s Commissioning Circle. (Composer Joseph Twist, Libretto Alana Valentine and Christos Tsiolkas, Director Neil Armfield, Conductor Christie Anderson)
The drowning of Dr Duncan 50 years ago in Adelaide triggered an alleged police cover-up, wide reaching scandal and national outrage pioneering gay law reform. Watershed is a haunting and soul-stirring experience with special importance to Adelaide but its thought provoking impact will almost certainly be felt in many more locations around the world in the future.