Joel Allan

In 2000, while on a student exchange, I discovered the magic of Disneyland Paris. Returning home, I made a plan to study Tourism Management at TAFE SA to land my dream job. After 6 months of study, I secured a position with Disney Cruise Line. However, due to personal reasons, I was forced to cut my time short, leaving me uncertain about my future.

In search of direction, I turned to one of my tourism lecturers who suggested volunteering with the Adelaide Fringe. I took a leap of faith and volunteered full-time for six weeks at Fringe HQ, working on the Youth Education Program. This opportunity rolled into others, including the Shorts Film Festival and a front of house position at The Garden of Unearthly Delights. With these new experiences under my belt, I contemplated a full-time career in the arts, securing my first arts job as a coordinator with Urban Myth Theatre of Youth.

Chasing bigger challenges, I relocated to Sydney and miraculously fell into TV and film, working on iconic shows like Home & Away, The Voice, and MasterChef. After another city move, I returned to festivals and events in Melbourne, taking on new roles such as venue operations manager, volunteer manager, guest coordinator, and programming assistant for some of Melbourne’s major festivals. After four intense years on the festival circuit, burnout brought me back home to Adelaide.

Since my return, I have only slightly slowed down, working on Adelaide Fringe, Adelaide Festival, managing my own queer events venue, and, since 2021, the Adelaide Cabaret Festival team. This journey, with all its highs and lows, has been an epic marathon, but I would not trade it for anything. I am currently a producer, but you never know what is around the corner, and that is what I love most about working in this industry!

Pronouns: He/Him

Content supplied by: Joel Allan

Edited for clarity by: Dahlia Opala

Photography by: Thomas McCammon

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