The 1970 Adelaide Festival of Arts was held from 6 - 28 March, 1970.

The seventies brought about changing times and directions. By 1970, Fringe had become the word to express non-official drama, music and art events held during the Adelaide Festival.

There was a huge growth in both official and unofficial 'Fringe' activity during the 1970 Festival. In 1970 there is evidence that shows the rise of 'The Fringe' in its own right –  not yet as an organised identity but certainly there was huge support for an independent 'Fringe'.

One of the main generators of the movement to create a recognisable Fringe was through media coverage. For example, an article in The News, February 20 1970 stated:
"Something nude... something naughty... something nasty... that's what Adelaide audiences will get from three plays to be staged at the forthcoming Festival of Arts. And if you can believe what you hear, all three productions will be offering something, new, something experimental and something uniquely creative. Hip-hip hooray... the mere thought shoots adrenalin into my system."

In the unofficial Fringe there can be seen many wonderful offerings which made 1970 a real Fringe year. There was a strong core of Theatre productions including: Pacific Rape, directed by Colin Ballantyne - the only new Australian play staged at the 1970 Festival, Weslo at the Sheridan Theatre, Flinders Street Revue, Curse My Fatal Beauty, Chamber Theatre of Adelaide, The Maids, Total Eclipes, Showboat and several more.

There were also three large scale musical offerings from The Adelaide Organ Society, Adelaide Harmony Choir and the Adelaide Singers; an Opera Production from Pro Opera; four Ballet and Dance performances from Australian Dance Theatre and the SA National Ballet Company; Film at the Arts Theatre and 43 unofficial visual art exhibitions and collections in and around Adelaide.

What’s on in Adelaide - A guide to events in and around Adelaide during the Festival produced by the South Australian Government Tourist Bureau – published these performances and exhibitions under Fringe Events – Independently organised.

Sources:
Martin Christmas, Briefing paper 'fringe activities' to Focus 76, 2009
"The Open Platform – From Fringe to Focus in Pursuit of the Adelaide Fringe Festival", Martin Christmas, Adelaide, 1999.
Martin Christmas, Attachment 2, 2009: Press Clippings 1960 -78
What’s on in Adelaide - A guide to events in and around Adelaide during the Festival produced by the South Australian Government Tourist Bureau – Issued 27 February, 1970.