Adelaide Fringe

We were invited to a special media preview in The Garden of Unearthly Delights, celebrating 20 years as being part of the Adelaide Fringe. Director Scott Maidment introduced a few selected acts in the gorgeous Spiegeltent. First up was Mirko, direct from Berlin and part of the Blanc de Blanc Encore, with his newly developed…

Michael Shafar is a Jewish lawyer turned comedian who relates his cancer recovery in his stand up shows. We chatted ahead of his upcoming season at the Adelaide Fringe. How did your show go back at the Fringe – was it two years ago or last year? I mean it feels like it’s a decade…

The centrepiece of the 2022 Adelaide Fringe is set to be Sky Song, combining aerial drones with music from First Nations artists. Running for 31 nights at the Adelaide Showgrounds, the event will combine state of the art technology from Celestial with traditional Indigenous music. Narrated by the iconic Archie Roach, a swarm of drones…

Daniel Muggleton leaps out onto the stage at Adelaide Fringe, both noticeable and memorable for his bright red tracksuit. A fine fashion choice? Probably not, but if you Google “tracksuit comedian”, he is on the top of the list. So, it’s perhaps a wise one. The venue (Gluttony‘s Piglet) is probably not the best available…

A lone wanderer stumbles amongst a crew of meta-human misfits in a dystopian world, industrial, cyberpunk in the not-too-distant future. This is the Barbaroi and this is her initiation. The stage is stripped, stark, future industrial and feels like a movie set. A driving contemporary musical backdrop includes artists such as NIN, Radiohead and early…

As the audience assembles in the foyer of the Mill, yellow envelopes are handed out. The instructions are to write a question for the Fake-Fake Psychic and seal them within the envelope. We place them in a glass bowl near the stage as we enter. A statement is projected up on the screen. Words are…

The open-air MOA mini stadium at the rear of Gluttony was literally packed to the rafters. A dedicated crowd of followers of Hugh Sheridan were there to watch him strut his stuff in HUGHMAN. Bursting onstage, Sheridan soon spotted a Crows-guernsey-wearing man and pulled him on stage. Surprise. He’s one of the plethora of dancers…

My closing memory of Yas Queen is a rousing rendition of Queen’s “Somebody to Love” with the audience standing and cheering a stunning performance. The journey along the way was a roller coaster ride of emotion. The opening number was also strong, but a number of factors threatened to derail the show. There was the…

To say that it’s been a difficult time for the arts industry over the last year is an understatement. The Adelaide Fringe was one of the last events held in 2020 before Coronavirus hit and is now back in a far reduced capacity and social distance friendly way. Which doesn’t mean that everything is smooth…

Reuben Kaye is no stranger to Adelaide audiences. He is entertained and delighted us over several festivals and fringes. As emcee tonight, Kaye invites us down his late-night Kaye Hole with a group of fellow performers. The Kaye Hole is a safe place, except if you’re a straight heterosexual man who, for once, find themselves…

You may remember Paul McDermott from our television screens back in the eighties as one of the Doug Anthony All Stars. He’s not as stunningly attractive these days, but with his new bearded look, one could say that he’s still got a certain appeal – to other men with beards, perhaps. Forty years of entertaining…

Magic duo Sam & Justin (known as The Showmen) present the Adult Only Magic Show at Gluttony. The show is marketed as an incredible array of hilariously raucous comedy, mind-bending illusions and stunningly dangerous stunts. The fast-paced show has plenty of audience participation with free drink cards for those helping on stage. Not that many…

Amy Hetherington’s one-person stand-up show Don’t Feed The Ducks is a little of a misnomer. If you are expecting an hour of duck jokes, you’d be disappointed. There are duck jokes. But, there’s also a whole lot more to the show. From the moment that the audience are squeezed into the broom-cupboard sized Hell’s Kitchen at…

There was a good crowd in the Magic Mirror Spiegeltent for the final weekend performance of Rouge. Despite the increasing talk of COVID-19 in the press, audiences remained undaunted and expectant. The tent has a circular stage in the centre, with good views all round. The high fabric and glass covered walls gave the space…

As the audience is shepherded into the tiny downstairs Hell Fire space in the Rhino Room venue, they are greeted by a bearded man wearing nothing but a pair of white briefs. Smiling and friendly, he welcomes everyone with open arms. This is going to be a very intimate performance. Cam Venn explains the show…

Dystopia is a dark fantastical production set in a post-apocalyptic future Earth. The opening screen shows a static montage of bomber planes, skulls, wartime destruction. This sets the scene for the performance to come. The audience catches glimpses of the characters, an elfin ballerina, a doll, lone guitarist, a zombie troupe and more. The lone…

Rip, Drag and Ruminate is a collection of short works from the Adelaide College of the Arts 3rd Year Dancers. Six pieces were presented. The opening sequence by Isobel Stolinski, “To Whom it May Concern”, dealt with art censorship and scrutiny. The Acid Arab soundtrack helped to create an uplifting message which contrasted with the…

Level 5 of the RCC played host to an insane collection of classic Japanese punk rock last week. Friday night saw the Jet Boys joined by a last minute addition to the Fringe, the 5,6,7,8’s, consisting of Sachiko and Yoshiko “Ronnie” Fujiyama, two sisters from Tokyo, for Tokyo Jet Daze Opening the night early were Adelaide…

Level five of the RCC is effectively the old Adelaide Uni Bar. There are still the same issues if you walk up the wrong stairs. You go straight past security ending up at the back of the venue only to get told to walk back down and go up the other stairs. Despite advertising opening…

Walking into Barbaroi is like walking into a familiar street scene from an early 80s movie. The Ukiyo circus tent is set up in an industrial way, with lighting that makes it feel dark and mysterious. There are six characters in this show who are introduced video game style: a bearded juggler, a bare-chested circus…

The trio from Head First Acrobats, Tom, Cal and Rohan were back for a funny and sexy show of skill and acrobatics in their show Elixir which played to full houses at the Adelaide Fringe. [print_gllr id=11932] For more details about the show, which played at Gluttony during the Fringe, head HERE. ———- This content…

A highlight of this year’s Adelaide Fringe was Grace. The show starred British comedian Katie Reddin-Clancy who presented a solo stand up comedy about Alfie, who steps out on stage as Zora. There are costume changes galore as all personalities from the world of show biz make their way on stage. A fast-paced but bittersweet comedy that…

Aphrodite is the Goddess of Love and Beauty and was born from the foam in the waters of Paphos, on the island of Cyprus. She supposedly arose from the foam when the Titan Cronus slew his father Uranus and threw his genitals into the sea. How does this tie in with a play about consumer…

Carclew has been a youth arts hub for young adults for many years and offers a range of opportunities for the under 26. The #nofilter Fair and open day was a way to showcase some of the arts on offer, including visual arts and music with Emma Rowe releasing a new single and video. Headspace…

The Naked Magicians are just exactly as you would expect – two guys who strip down and perform magic tricks to a mostly female audience. This is no place for a guy’s night out, but there are probably plenty of “girl’s nights” in the audience. Endlessly touring Australia, the pair just wrapped up a run…

Aphrodite’s Voodoo showcases chanteuse Jennifer DeGrassi with her live band and some special guests. Set in the beautiful Royal Croquet Club on the northern banks of the River Torrens, the Plaza Parlour tent is an intimate Bedouin style space that is perfect for the dark and mysterious journey to come. The voice of Anais Nin…

The Talents of Darkness is billed as an “unforgettable experience of the unusual” and it lives up to that name. Hosted by drag queen Bebe Tricx, the show is a collection of short acts from five diverse performers. Bebe Tricx begins by inviting an audience member on stage to break a light globe and then…

A word of warning; if you have a phobia or are allergic to pop corn then Tom Flanagan’s show Kaput is not for you. For everyone else though, read on. Kaput is a show in the mold of the ageless slap-stick style, from comics such as Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton to more modern day…

Thursday night marked Grand Opening Night at the Garden of Unearthly Delights with free performances, fireworks and much excitement. The newly installed venue known as The Box showcased  a selection of  artists from The Fun House, magician Kevin Quantum and New York ska trio Too Many Zooz among many others. Let the Adelaide Fringe begin….

Fresh from touring the UK, the maestro of feel-good comedy returns to Australia next month. Stephen’s show The Laughter Master will bring hilarious tales and stories of finding laughter in this crazy world we inhabit. Is it all just doom and gloom in the headlines? Establishing himself as a household name in Australia over the last…