A sheep that becomes half-human, an imagined Russian mega-state, and a boys' choir founded in the 13th century - it's all part of the diverse offering at the 2023 Adelaide Festival.
The full program for the 17-day extravaganza was revealed on Wednesday, with 52 events in total and shows from 18 countries on the bill.
"It's the first festival back to full strength... we have got our full range and line-up of artists from around the world, and of course audiences from around the world," artistic director Ruth Mackenzie said at a recent sneak peek of the program.
Among the shows new to Australia is Dogs of Europe, a hit play by Belarus Free Theatre that imagines the year 2049, in which Russia has formed a brutal super-state.
It's a political act in more ways than one: as the company is one of the leading voices of resistance in Belarus, every member of the troupe lives in political exile.
Also from Europe is Belgian collective FC Bergman's The Sheep Song, the absurdist tale of a sheep that strikes a bargain to become part human - but then encounters the brutalities of human existence.
From closer to home the Sydney Theatre Company team behind the hit show The Picture of Dorian Gray is staging another gothic adaptation, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
One of the more controversial shows is likely to be a stage adaptation of the critically-acclaimed novel by Hanya Yanagihara, A Little Life.
Ivo van Hove's adaptation with Internationaal Theater Amsterdam has received mixed reviews overseas, while the novel, which runs to 800 pages, has been labelled trauma porn.
That's just some of the offerings for theatre buffs - there's also opera, dance and music, including a solid program of free events.
The music slate includes more than a dozen acts, from singer Lorde to the acclaimed Kronos Quartet, and the Spanish boys' choir Escolania de Montserrat performing in Australia for the first time.
Founded in the 13th century, it's the oldest existing boys' choir in the world and reputedly one of the best.
Celestial by the Adelaide Chamber Singers is also on the bill for choral fans, as well as a free performance of the song cycle Spinifex Gum by Marliya, a Cairns-based ensemble of Indigenous teenage singers.
Tickets for the 2023 centrepiece, Giuseppe Verdi's Messa da Requiem, are selling strongly according to organisers.
The production by acclaimed choreographer Christian Spuck will feature more than 200 performers and is the Ballett Zurich's first visit to Australia.
Former festival directors Rachel Healy and Neil Armfield initiated the 2023 program before incoming artistic director Ruth Mackenzie took up the reins alongside Kath Mainland.
The Adelaide Festival runs from March 3-19 2023.
