Tim Minchin, Bob Downe and Willsy for Adelaide Cabaret Festival 2021

Tim Minchin, Bob Downe and Anne “Willsy” Wills are among performers starring in two new headline shows, announced today as part of Adelaide Cabaret Festival 2021.

Tim Minchin, will return to Adelaide Cabaret Festival with the encore of his award-winning show BACK – performing on the festival’s opening weekend, on Saturday June 12 and Sunday June 13 at Festival Theatre. Adelaide will be the first stop of the show’s national tour.

The show features “Old Songs, New Songs, F*** You Songs”, hinting at a set list of material from all corners of Minchin’s eclectic – and often iconoclastic – repertoire.

Tim Minchin: “I love Adelaide, and I can’t wait to bring “BACK” back for another spin. I first played the Adelaide Cabaret Festival in 2004 – at the late-night slot in the foyer of Festival Theatre. Since then, Adelaide has been home to so many huge moments for me: comedy shows in tents, musicals in arenas, filming Upright, orchestra shows and festival openings... I always adore my time there.” 

BACK was Tim’s first Australian tour since returning to the country after almost a decade of living overseas and was seen by almost 69,000 Australians after a seven-year absence from the stage. tour also saw him pick up a Helpmann Award for Best Australian Contemporary Concert. 

Minchin wrote the music and lyrics for Matilda the Musical, which won a record 7 Olivier Awards, 13 Helpmann Awards and 5 Tony Awards. It has already played in over 50 cities worldwide.

In an exclusive world premiere, audiences will be transported back to the golden age of variety television in Adelaide Tonight with Bob Downe and Willsy, who will recreate South Australia’s iconic tv entertainment show, live on stage almost every night of the festival at The Famous Spiegeltent.

The hour of tea-time entertainment will feature an ever-changing weekly line-up of artists including cabaret gems, iOTA, Mama Alto, Thando, Yana Alana, Trevor Ashley and Michael Griffiths. Be prepared for big tunes, bigger laughs, and cheeky cabaret.

Bob Downe, the comic creation of Mark Trevorrow, has been an Adelaide regular since 1986. Winner of multiple Green Room cabaret awards, Bob is a television veteran, from Countdown and Mardi Gras to The Project. 

Anne Wills is the winner of 19 Logie Awards - one more than Graham Kennedy! Willsy has been making audiences laugh with her effervescent wit and trademark oversized earrings since she first graced Australian screens in 1965.

Adelaide Cabaret Festival Artistic Director Alan Cumming said: “Australia and cabaret are synonymous for me. My first visit in 1989 was to tour a cabaret show. The year before that I had been wowed by the talent of the Oznost group of performers at the Edinburgh festival.

“One of them was Bob Downe, and Bob’s alter-ego Mark and I have stayed friends ever since so I am thrilled to welcome him and the amazing Willsy in Adelaide Tonight! - a celebration of everything Australian and Adelaidian and showbiz and cabaret!

“And that Australian spirit which I associate with the very spirit of cabaret itself is personified in Tim Minchin, a stunning polymath performer of such wit and tenderness and spunk.  

“It's so exciting for me to shine the spotlight back on to Aussie talent, a form of homage and thanks for all I have learned and enjoyed from them over the years. Tim and Bob and Willsy are legendary Australian tent poles of the Adelaide Cabaret Festival 21 marquee, and there are more to come!!”

Tim Minchin – BACK

Adelaide Festival Centre’s Festival Theatre

Saturday 12 June and Sunday June 13 at 7:30pm

Pre-Sale Tickets available to Adelaide Cabaret Festival e-news subscribers on

Monday, February 22 at 11am. Subscribe at adelaidecabaretfestival.com.au

Adelaide Tonight with Bob Downe and Willsy

The Famous Spiegeltent at Adelaide Festival Centre

Friday 11 June – Saturday 13 June at 6pm, Thursday 17 June – Sunday 20 June at 6pm,

Wednesday 23 June – Saturday 26 June at 6pm

Tickets on sale Monday, Feb 22 at 11am at adelaidecabaretfestival.com.au

The Adelaide Cabaret Festival gets underway from 11 -26 June 2021.

Full program launch on 12 April 2021. 

adelaidecabaretfestival.com.au

Image: Tim Minchin - Photographer: Damian Bennett.