There’s something in the air in Adelaide this year — a buzz that feels electric, inclusive, and impossible to ignore.
Feast Festival, the city’s beloved queer arts and culture celebration, is back with its biggest programme in more than a decade. With more than 100 events spanning theatre, drag, cabaret, visual arts, and community programmes, Feast is proving it’s more than just a festival — it’s a hub for creativity and connection.
For Tish Naughton, CEO of Feast, the scale of the programme is exhilarating. “It’s been such an emotional and creative ride,” she says. “We’ve got over 100 events this year — from drag, cabaret, theatre, and visual art, to our community picnic and youth programmes. The scale is incredible, but the heart of it is still the same: connection, visibility, pride.”
The 2025 programme is Feast’s biggest since 2013, reflecting years of work building relationships with artists, producers, and local communities. Over 50 per cent of this year’s events are brand-new works or premieres created specifically for Feast, like Oily Rag Theatre’s walking tour 'The Dark Side Of Carrington Street West', which explores Adelaide’s local drag performers, pioneers, and iconoclasts through a theatrical lens. At the other end of the spectrum, 'Aqua Splash' offers a welcoming movement class in a pool, celebrating all genders and abilities — a reminder that Feast’s programming is as diverse as the city itself.
Poster art by Oscar Arrais
Collaboration has been key to this growth. Partnerships with organisations like Vitalstatistix and the Adelaide Festival Centre’s inSPACE programme provide artists with development opportunities, mentorship, and performance spaces. “We’re not presenting the work ourselves — we’re a platform,” Naughton explains. “By collaborating with these organisations, we can give artists the support they need to create new work and bring it to audiences.”
Regional engagement has also expanded significantly. Councils across South Australia are supporting events and community gatherings, including Pride picnics in four regions. “It’s about connection,” Naughton says. “These events give people outside the city a chance to experience the festival, meet others, and find community. It’s not just about shows — it’s about bringing people together.”
Feast also champions South Australian artists, providing a stage for local talent and helping to cultivate sustainable creative careers. “Most people move away to pursue arts opportunities,” Naughton says. “Feast gives them a platform here in South Australia, helping the city retain incredible artists and celebrate their work.”
'Me, My Dad And The Holy Ghost'
From theatre and performance to niche offerings like Dungeons & Dragons nights and erotic poetry, Feast’s eclecticism is one of its defining strengths. Naughton credits the festival’s broad scope to its deep engagement with the community. “You have to be part of the communities you serve,” she explains. “Everyone has different interests, and Feast is big enough to include them all.”
The festival’s visual identity also reflects its commitment to creativity and inclusivity. This year’s cover artwork, created by emerging artist Oscar Arrais, incorporates repurposed materials and collaborative design elements, turning the programme itself into a celebration of artistic experimentation. “It’s one of the most important things we do,” Naughton says. “We want to platform emerging artists and make their work the hero of the festival.”
Behind the scenes, organising Feast is a monumental effort. Naughton describes year-round planning, from volunteer recruitment and ticketing to marketing, design, and fundraising. “It’s the most intense thing I’ve ever done,” she says. “We’re publishers, marketers, administrators, liaisons — all to make the festival possible.” Despite the challenges, she finds the process rewarding, particularly when seeing artists’ and volunteers’ dedication to the community.
'New New Fire Island'
Looking forward, Feast aims to continue expanding its reach and fostering collaborations across South Australia’s festival landscape. Naughton sees the festival as a connector, linking queer and wider arts initiatives throughout the state. “Many people are isolated,” she says. “Feast creates safe spaces and opportunities for connection, not just during the festival but throughout the year.”
As audiences flock to the events, the impact is clear: Feast is more than a festival. It’s a celebration of creativity, inclusivity, and the power of the arts to bring people together. From local premieres to community gatherings and bold artistic experimentation, Feast continues to show that Adelaide has a festival for everyone — and everyone has a place at Feast.
Adelaide's Feast Festival is on from 1-23 November.
