Making his debut as Festival Director, Reuben Kaye is taking no prisoners in his quest to cement the reputation and longevity of Adelaide Cabaret Festival.

Programming the Gala on the same night as an Adelaide Crows match at the adjoining Adelaide Oval was bold, an arts shirtfront to the sporting gods. Judging by the full house in the stalls, it worked.

Kaye’s commitment to Cabfest is unquestionable. He is a proud Adelaide boy. He might make jokes about the City of Churches also being the City of Serial Killers and putting the “meth into Methodists”, but he gets Adelaide. Kaye got his start at the 2015 Cabfest and his debt of gratitude is the reason he unashamedly touts this program as something he has created for the people of Adelaide.

Reuben Kaye, Ursula Yovich, Em Rusciano, Tara Tiba, Mahalia Barnes, Dylan Adler and Vidya Makan. Photo © Claudio Raschella

The primary purpose of the gala is to showcase as many acts as possible and sell tickets. However, the risk for the gala is that it can become a catwalk for an MC rather than a show in and of itself. No chance...