Behind-the-scenes theatre secrets revealed in new photographic exhibition at Festival Theatre Neville Cichon's exhibition delves behind the scene of the Festival Theatre and Her Majesty's. Picture: Noelle Bobrige Source: adelaidenow WANDERING backstage at the Adelaide Festival Centre, photographer Neville Cichon stumbled across a photo of Doris Day. As he ventured closer to the frame hanging on the wall of the Festival Theatre's sound control room, he saw she was not alone. The legendary American entertainer was surrounded by a shrine of quirky items, including a clapping Jesus - the type found on car dashboards - a cow and a battery operated lotus flower. Cichon says the knick knacks are gifts left behind by touring companies over the years, which staff keep near the picture of Doris Day to ward off "the evils of audio." The shrine, called "The Altar," was set up in the 1990s to protect a high-tech sound system that was playing up. "It (the photo) was a gift given to a sound person there because for sound check she would play Doris Day," Cichon says. The photo has this speech bubble coming out, as if Doris is talking about auditorium acoustics. It is just one of the backstage secrets Cichon uncovered during a two year behind-the-scenes photography project at the Adelaide Festival Centre and Her Majesty's Theatre. The freelance photographer and graphic designer will display his work in the Festival Theatre foyer from today, as part of the Festival Centre's 40th anniversary and Her Majesty's Theatre Centenary. Cichon, who undertook a similar documentary-style project at Jolley's Boathouse in 2007, says he took a simple approach to his photography to capture the feeling of the places he explored. "We have so much photography these days that is manipulated and we're unsure of what's real," Cichon of Hampstead Gardens says. I haven't touched anything, I haven't done any fancy lighting, this is exactly what it is. Cichon says he loves talking to people about their workplace and taking a closer peek at the everyday scenes that are often overlooked. It was the little details, like splattered paint, handwritten notes, brooms and ropes that he found fascinating and the most revealing of the venues' history. There's a lot of sailor references.... sailors were skilled at using ropes and pulleys and when they came into port would work in the theatre. So the history is reflected in the mechanic sort of side. Sometimes we probably have an expectation that it's a lot more modern but it's the nature of theatre that they still use the traditional way of things. Neville Cichon: Backstage Pass, Festival Theatre foyer, Adelaide Festival Centre, King William St, Adelaide, weekdays, 9am-6pm. Until April 7. Free. Details: adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au For more news on the city, pick up a copy of the City Messenger, read our digital edition online, or become a fan of our Facebook page.