Adelaide festival 2019

The **Adelaide Festival 2019**, curated by Artistic Directors **Neil Armfield** and **Rachel Healy**, featured a diverse program encompassing theatre, opera, classical and contemporary music, dance, and **Writers' Week** 【1】【3】. While the directors stated they do not select works based on a predetermined theme, they acknowledged that artists often share preoccupations in response to global events 【5】【6】.

Key themes and topics present in the 2019 festival include:

*   **Migration and Displacement**: This was a recurring idea across the program, notably highlighted in the theatre production "Manus," which explored the human impact of offshore detention regimes 【4】【6】.
*   **Social and Political Issues**: Writers' Week featured discussions on political themes, with speakers addressing topics such as human rights and contemporary political figures 【2】.
*   **Arts and Culture**: The festival showcased a wide range of artistic disciplines, including opera, classical and contemporary music, theatre, and dance 【1】【3】.

The 2019 festival was noted as the most successful edition in its 59-year history 【9】【10】. Armfield and Healy's tenure as Artistic Directors was extended multiple times, with their original two-year term eventually lasting through to 2023 【7】【8】.