Following it’s highly successful debut season at the 2024 Adelaide Fringe, the stunning light show, Sleep’s Hill Tunnels, received a nomination in the Best New Event category at the prestigious 2024 Australian Event Awards for its unique approach to blending history with modern artistic expression.
Sleep’s Hill Tunnels captivated audiences as a one-of-a-kind immersive experience during this years Adelaide Fringe. Set in the state heritage-listed 377-metre-long tunnel in Panorama, South Australia, this exclusive event allowed attendees to explore a hidden piece of Adelaide’s history.
The event proved to be a big a hit, selling 20,868 tickets, placing it among the top ten highest-selling shows at Adelaide Fringe 2024.
The old tunnel was opened to the public for the first time in 150 years for the collaborative project between the Adelaide Fringe, event production company Novatech and Illuminate Adelaide.
Sleep’s Hill Tunnels owner, Dave Munro, says opening the historic tunnel to the public was very emotional and beyond rewarding.
“The opportunity to share the tunnel and receive positive feedback from families, railway enthusiasts, and art lovers alike has been overwhelming,” he said.
“We’re thrilled to be nominated for such a prestigious award!”
Taking a break from the February heat, visitors were welcomed into the cool, dark tunnel to be immersed in a series of instalments that relate to the tunnel’s history from the old steam train railway connecting Adelaide to Melbourne, to a flourishing mushroom farm.
The tunnel was filled with projections of historical photos and films, screens with animations, a mirror room and time lapse footage of fungi enchants from projections on the ceiling from various artists – each separated by a series of curtain light traps, allowing you to fully enjoy each installation before proceeding to the next one.
Director and CEO of Adelaide Fringe, Heather Croall says that the nomination is a testament to the team’s creativity and vision.
“This nomination highlights Adelaide Fringe’s role in supporting groundbreaking events that push boundaries and attract audiences from around the world,” she said.
The Australian Event Awards celebrate and recognise excellence across the nation’s event industry, with the Best New Event category spotlighting innovation, creativity, execution, and overall impact of new events.
The recognition for Sleeps Hill Tunnel adds to Adelaide Fringe’s legacy, previously taking out this same award in 2022 for its signature project, Sky Song. The next Adelaide Fringe season will run from Friday, 21 February 2025 – Sunday, 23 March 2025.
The winners will be announced at the 2024 Event Awards Ceremony & Symposium on the evening of Wednesday, 23 October.
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