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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2023-05-02 Daily Xml
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Humphries, Mr Barry

The Hon. A. MICHAELS (Enfield—Minister for Small and Family Business, Minister for Consumer and Business Affairs, Minister for Arts) (14:08): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. A. MICHAELS: It is with great sadness that I rise to speak on the recent passing of Australian artist and comedian Barry Humphries. Often referred to as a comedic genius and a great performer, Barry was known for his sharp wit, eagerness to comedically offend and his many alter egos. Barry Humphries was a household name not only in his own right but also in the name of his many alter egos, with Dame Edna Everage perhaps being even more well known than he was.

He was a character who poked fun at the royals to their face and mercilessly mocked the Australian way of life, often receiving standing ovations and belly laughs in return. In addition to much-loved Dame Edna, Barry also brought to life the personas of Sir Les Patterson and Sandy Stone.

While many around the world mourn his passing, we are provided with an opportunity to look at the monumental impact Barry Humphries had not only in Australia but around the world. Having lived a portion of his life in London, Barry became somewhat of an Australian ambassador for arts in the UK.

Although he was born and raised in Melbourne, Barry had a long and meaningful relationship with our state and our city. It was well known that Barry adored Adelaide's Her Majesty's Theatre, where he played a vital role as an adviser on the theatre's recent redevelopment. What many people do not know is that this theatre was also the venue for the beginning of his love and admiration for Adelaide.

Her Majesty's is where a 19-year-old Barry performed in Adelaide for the first time, as part of the Australian Universities Drama Festival. After this, he performed on his own 11 times at the theatre. Often referring to this theatre as his favourite, his love is still deeply reciprocated with many South Australians leaving tributes at the theatre in the days following his passing.

Barry's relationship with Adelaide continued as his Dame Edna persona grew in popularity. Fifty years after first performing in Adelaide at Her Majesty's, Barry returned with Dame Edna's one-woman show at the Adelaide Town Hall. It was here that Edna spoke of her love for our city, claiming it as her second home.

Barry was known as a fabulous entertainer who pushed boundaries and deliberately sought to shock his audience. It was this reputation and widespread popularity that led to his appointment as Artistic Director for the Adelaide Cabaret Festival in 2015. In true Barry fashion he described this artistic director experience as, 'The climax of my love affair with Adelaide.'

That season of the Adelaide Cabaret Festival was one of the Adelaide Festival Centre's most successful ever. Barry's contribution to South Australia's arts community did not go unnoticed. He had an incredible talent and a passion for comedic theatre, which really set the foundation for those who followed.

On behalf of the government, the arts and cultural community and the wider South Australian public, I extend our deepest condolences to Barry's family, friends and colleagues. He will be missed but never forgotten.

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