Keith Conlon's Horrible History of Adelaide

South Australia has many well-loved icons; Humphrey Bear, the Police Greys, Violet Crumbles and the Malls Balls to name a few. Another well-loved icon, Mr South Australia himself, Keith Conlon, is performing at this year’s fringe, lifting the lid on some of Adelaide’s horrible history. Conlon, veteran broadcaster, former host of Postcards and current Chair of the South Australian Heritage Council has a lifelong interest in South Australian history and shares his knowledge in a fun and informative hour-long show.

Conlon on snare drum, along with offsider Kerin Bailey on keyboards, gives a horrible history lesson of the colony through story, song and audience participation. There are stories of the greats, from Robert Gouger (as well as an impromptu plebiscite on the correct pronunciation of the name) to Colonel Light to Edward Gibbon Wakefield. But it wouldn’t be a horrible history without including stories of the not so great and Conlon enlightens and delights with his anecdotes about some of the criminal element that was present in South Australia, even though the colony was free from convicts.

We take a historical meander down North Terrace through story, learning things we didn’t know we wanted to learn about the area now known as the city’s cultural precinct. All of these marvellous tidbits bring the history of the city to life. This show will refresh and expand your knowledge about the beautiful city of Adelaide and will prove to be as popular as Conlon’s previous Fringe success. So be quick to get a ticket if you can…it’s a nice (not horrible) night’s entertainment.

Jenny Fewster

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