As the current incumbent, David Sefton, prepares to present his fourth and final festival during his tenure, the next Artistic Directors of the Adelaide Festival have been announced, and for the first in the festival’s 55 year history, two people will share the role. While one of the new co-directors is an Adelaide native, the pairing draws on an artistic partnership that was first forged in Sydney over twenty years ago.

Former Director of Performing Arts at the Sydney Opera House, Rachel Healy, will share the Artistic Directorship of the Adelaide Festival with celebrated theatre director Neil Armfield. The pair will direct three festivals from 2017 to 2019.

As a child growing up in Adelaide, Healy cites her early exposure to theatre at the annual festival as a key formative experience. “I don’t think you can underestimate the impact the Adelaide Festival has had on my life and career,” she said. In recent years Healy has made her biggest impact on the arts in New South Wales, where she is currently executive manager of culture for the City of Sydney.

Neil Armfield’s exceptional credentials as a multi-award winning theatre, opera and film director makes him an obvious candidate for Artistic Director of...