Adelaide’s arts scene keeps its cool as July serves up theatre, music and winter warmth

Adelaide’s arts and entertainment calendar for the middle of July is humming along with a mix of theatre productions, gallery openings and live music gigs, even as the city settles into the deep winter lull between the Adelaide Festival and the Fringe.

The State Theatre Company of South Australia is in the final weeks of its current season at the Dunstan Playhouse, with audiences catching shows before the company pivots to its 2027 program. Over at the Adelaide Festival Centre’s Space Theatre, independent troupe Slingsby is running a limited season of its acclaimed puppetry work, drawing families and theatre-goers alike to the venue on King William Road.

Galleries and gigs keep the winter calendar full

The Art Gallery of South Australia on North Terrace continues to draw crowds with its permanent collection and a series of paid-curator talks scheduled for weekday afternoons. Entry to the gallery’s main collection remains free, a draw for locals looking for a budget-friendly afternoon out. Across the city, the Samstag Museum of Art on Hawke Building at the University of South Australia’s City West campus is showing a new exhibition of contemporary Australian photography, running until late August.

On the live music front, the Crown and Anchor hotel on Grenfell Street, known to regulars as the Cranka, has a string of local and interstate acts booked for weekend shows throughout July. The venue, which survived a threatened demolition and redevelopment in 2023, remains a cornerstone of the city’s grassroots music scene. Over in the East End, the Exeter Hotel on Rundle Street is hosting its regular Thursday-night jazz sessions, with no cover charge.

Film and food add to the mix

The Mercury Cinema in Morphett Street is screening a curated season of Australian independent films through July, with a focus on works from South Australian directors. Tickets are $18 for general admission, $14 for concessions. The cinema’s bar is open before screenings, giving patrons a chance to warm up with a drink before the show.

For those looking to pair entertainment with a meal, a handful of Adelaide restaurants are offering fixed-price winter menus. The month-long promotion, run by the Restaurant & Catering Association, includes participants on Gouger Street and in the Adelaide Central Market precinct, with three-course dinners priced around $55 per person. The deal runs through July 31, though availability varies by venue.

The Adelaide Film Festival is not due until October, but the State Library of South Australia on North Terrace is running a free exhibition on the history of cinema in South Australia, featuring props, posters and projection equipment from the 1920s through to the digital era. The exhibition is open daily until September.