A Thousand Words began as a simple idea: create a space to celebrate community theatre, school productions, fringe acts, and emerging talent. The only rule? Each review would stay under one thousand words—concise, thoughtful, and accessible.
What started as self-funded reviews—buying tickets, attending shows, and surprising theatre teams with feedback—soon became something more. Artists and companies responded with encouragement and gratitude, and over time the blog grew into a trusted voice in the Adelaide and South Australian theatre scene.
During Adelaide Fringe seasons, I sought out productions that caught my curiosity, purchasing tickets to support local artists while building a small but dedicated following on Facebook. As that following grew, opportunities began flowing back: artists and companies reached out, inviting me to review their work. Six months later, I’d launch an Instagram presence and refresh this blog with a new look, helping to connect more audiences with local theatre.
During the process, we needed to evolve from a 5-star rating system to a 10-star rating system to allow a bit of breathing space between reviewing scores.
While A Thousand Words has evolved from a personal “word-vomit” blog into a platform for reviews and opinion pieces, its focus remains the same: championing the creativity, effort, and spirit alive in our theatre community.
Looking ahead, I hope the site continues to grow as a hub for reviews, stories, and voices passionate about local performance. The stage belongs to everyone—and sharing those stories in words helps connect audiences, performers, and supporters in meaningful ways.
If you’d like your production reviewed, please visit our Request a Review page. If you share the same love for theatre and would like to contribute as part of the reviewing team, head to Become a Reviewer.
See you at the theatre!Andrew Broadbent
A Thousand Words