Fringe World Perth 2021. Who would have thought we would get here? (Great work Mark!) Yet here we are, with Fringe starting on the 15th January and we could not be happier.
Are you as excited as us? We bet you are- are you a bit overwhelmed too? There is a gamut of amazing talent to choose from- how lucky are we.
To help you out we have created this simple and easy guide filled to the brim with all our faves. We even put them in date order for you so you know who to book in with first… yes, we have your back. We aren’t sharing those with the biggest budget, we are supporting the smaller shows, those who are Perth locals or those who we simply know are amazing.
Here it is- the very best of Fringe 2021 from the Perth Happenings view!
A Cult for You
Most cult leaders need years to make mush of your mind. Father Hooroo will do it in an hour. WA comedian Matt Storer returns as the all-knowing, mystical seducer of souls, descended from Beyond to harvest disciples from FRINGE WORLD.
This award-winning show squeezes a cult’s life cycle into one hour but doesn’t lose any of the crazy. Experience all the madness of a cult without the part where you ruin your life.
Highly recommended by Pieta
15th to 30th January (excluding 18th) at 9.30pm
The Library at Girls School
BORN IN THE A.U.S.
Do you like saxophone? Do you like good music? Do you want to have a bloody great time!? This is the show for you! Air Guitar, head bang, or wail your heart out to an evolutionary selection of the world’s greatest rock’n’roll hits.
Born to entertain, the Perth Sax Rockers present an action-packed, high energy rockin’ extravaganza… with a twist! Every gut-wrenching lyric, every screamin’ guitar solo, and every rockin’ refrain like you’ve never heard them before. Presented by FRINGE WORLD Best WA Music & Musical 2020 Award Winners, this is an epic musical journey not to be missed!
15th to 18th January at Lotterywest De Parel Spiegeltent at The Woodside Pleasure Garden at 9.45pm
5th and 6th February at The Sewing Room at 8.30pm
Raise Your Voice for the Hilary Duff Film Re-Enactment Festival!
Hey now, hey no-ow!
With 13 shows and FOUR Hilary Duff film re-enactments, 2021 is your best chance ever to catch this nostalgic millennial sensation. Raise Your Voice, The Lizzie McGuire Movie, A Cinderella Story and Cadet Kelly are brought to life, celebrated and critiqued by one woman, her film degree, a bunch of wigs, and YOU!
A Fringe regular and fave!
15th to 29th January (excluding 18th and 19th) at 6:20 pm
Chemistry at Girls School
She is Strong
‘She is Strong’ is an intimate and immersive show, which welcomes you into the hidden world of circus women. Through circus, photography, and audio, multi-award-winning artists will present the honest stories that have inspired their strength. They will not only show their flaws, but they will celebrate them.
“There is a courage, strength and softness to this show that will inspire and delight” Around the Sound, 2020 From the Winners of the WA Circus Award at FRINGE WORLD Festival (twice) and Winners of Toronto Buskerfest (one of the largest Street Arts Festivals in the World).
15th to 24th January at 6.50pm
The Art Room at Girls School
Comedy Hypnotist Matt Hale – Bonkers!
Joyful. Crazy. Fun! The unmissable hypnosis show with a party vibe! A brand new show from popular fest fave (& 2020 Award Winner!). Enjoy from onstage or in the audience (you choose!).
If you thought previous years were ridiculously fun, this year we’ll go completely…Bonkers!
Comedy Hypnotist Matt Hale is back to share his modern brand of hypno laughs – no swinging watches & 100% chicken free!
“Can’t-miss if you want to belly laugh” UrbanList, 2020
“Absolute must-see” Perth Happenings, 2020
Perth Happenings reviews every year and we always love it!
15th January to 14th February – Various Locations and Various Times
Check here for a venue closest to you and to book
The Weird & The Beautiful
Everyone is beautiful, not all in the same way but in one way or another. Bringing clowns, magicians, and snake people; this vaudeville, world fair & old timey circus inspired burlesque show will bring you some weird but definitely beautiful acts from the Scarlet Bell Burlesque premier troupe of 2020/21.
15th January Upstairs at The Kalamunda Hotel at 8pm
22nd and 23rd January at Main Hall at Perth Town Hall at 8pm
It’s Not Me, It’s Definitely You: Songs of Amy Winehouse & Lily Allen
Dating has changed and so has breaking up, but everyone can handle the truth, right? Lisa Woodbrook knows what’s up, but let’s be real, dating ain’t getting any easier!
Join Lisa as she explores the evolving world of dating. From swiping right to ghosting, relentless Italian relatives wanting her married off and finding commitment in museums, Lisa has the right advice for those looking for love in the modern age.
Set to the soundtrack of Amy Winehouse and Lily Allen, and classics such as “Not Fair”, “Tears Dry on Their Own” and “Smile”, Lisa takes you through the obstacle course of meeting up, hooking up and breaking up!
15th to 25th January at 8pm
The Hat Trick at The Woodside Pleasure Garden
A Snake’s Tale
Cass is known across Perth as the ‘Snake Lady’, and she insists (even stomping her feet!) that she is actually part snake.
Meet some real live snakes and lizards, while helping Cass discover what makes a reptile a reptile in this interactive show for children. Will Cass still be able to claim her ‘Snake Lady’ title at the end of the show? Or is she just a trickster human in disguise? You decide!
A Snake’s Tale runs 16-24th January at the Woodside Pleasure Garden with $19 tickets (or $16 for groups 6+) from the FRINGEWORLD website.
If you can’t make it to the festival, hire Roaming Reptile Education to come to you for your birthday parties, schools, and childcare centres. Visit roamingreptileeducation.com.au for more information and to book.
A massive hit with the kids!
16th – 24th January at 3:30 pm
The Hat Trick at The Woodside Pleasure Garden
Goat King Writers Club Live
Goat King Writers Club is the loosest storytelling podcast in the land from a couple of guys who don’t let grammar or sobriety get in the way of a good yarn. For the first time, hosts and best friends comedian Sean Conway and musician/artist Nathan Hull, under the watchful eye of American Brian Gara, will record their podcast live.
Goat King Writers Club has garnered a cult like following with their mix of Hunter S Thompson’s illicit substances abuse/drinking, crazy writing style, and mind bending kindergarten style artwork.
See their ridiculous storytelling, bonkers artwork, some spicy 99 word stories from their 99 Random Word Cocktail Shaker, and the world premiere of their new project Man On The Moon.
We are very much looking forward to this- we have no idea what to expect!
17th, 24th and 31st January and 7th February at 8pm
The Laugh Resort
The Laugh Resort 9 at 9
Get bang for your buck sampling 9 of the fest’s finest comedians in 90 minutes of lols at Perth’s longest-running comedy club (est 1991).
Never the same lineup; get along each Wednesday and see 30+ acts this month at the Club where Hughesy, Claire Hooper, Joel Creasey and even Jim Jefferies started out in comedy.
Plus, show your Laugh Resort ticket at The Shoe for 20% off drinks & food.
Always a solid show where you can find your new favourites!
Wednesday 20th, 27th January and 3rd and 10th February at 9pm
The Laugh Resort, Yagan Square
NEXT STOP: Reality
NEXT STOP: REALITY is about taking risks in the face of fear. Meet Harriet, an Australian artist on her way to an important interview. Join her on her first London train ride as she navigates the underground lines, learns the unwritten rules of the tube, and discovers that some rules are meant to be broken! When Harriet gets stuck at the red signal she realises she’s in for a bumpy trip, but what happens in the tunnel takes her on a journey she wasn’t expecting.
Presented by a kickass creative team including producer Rhianne Coffey, dramaturge Teresa Izzard and sound designer John Congear. This solo show from writer and performer Madelaine Page is the perfect mix of vulnerable storytelling, social commentary comedy and high energy fun!
30th January to the 14th February (not including Tuesdays) at 9pm
2.04 at Girls School
Scarlet Affaire: Late Night Lust
Lust and torment are delicacies best served through the burlesque beauties of Scarlet Bell’s Premier Troupe in this returning show after it’s success in 2020. You’ll be entertained as the Troupe brings their best to the stage with a degustation for the senses… the main meal of sultry and sexy with a side of raunchy undressing!
Bring a loved one, or even a first date perhaps? Bring a crush, a loving partner, a BF or FWB even, just bring someone along to share in the lust and longing. Join us on a journey that will leave you sated, but begging for just one more serve…
5th, 6th and 12th February at 10.10pm
Mezzanine Bar at Cheeky Sparrow
What Makes A Musical A Musical…A (Musical) Cabaret
Have you ever wondered what goes into making a musical? Forget what you think you know, and join the hilarious award winning performers from Grey Lantern in the WORLD PREMIER of What Makes a Musical a Musical – A (Musical) Cabaret! in an affectionate comedic romp poking fun at our favourite musical stereotypes.
The multi award winning team at Grey Lantern Productions is thrilled to present their brand new, hilarious WA musical, What Makes A Musical A Musical – A (Musical) Cabaret at the Subiaco Arts Centre. The show invites the audience into the Author’s brain to witness the creative chaos that goes into the creation of a musical, and explores the formulas used in modern day musical theatre.
9th, 11th, 12th and 13th of February at 8pm
Sh*t We Like To Sing
Join eight of Perth’s most beloved performers (or so we’d like to think), as we smash top tier musical theatre numbers. Heathers. Chicago. Rent. High School Musical. Dogfight – and more!
In this self-indulgent cabaret, we’ll make you cry – if you have a heart, laugh – both with and at us, and applaud… please? Grab your tickets now because this all singing, all dancing extravaganza is not a show you’ll want to miss.
8th, 10th and 12th of February at 6pm
Main Room at Connections Nightclub
ARCANA: The Order of the Divine
Arcana: The Order of the Divine explores life-influencing themes as the Order of the Divine guides you on a soul’s sensual journey to enlightenment. Through a sultry, dynamic showcase of burlesque, music, and circus, Arcana may awaken secret desires, evoke side-splitting laughter, and arouse the senses as the Order of the Divine explores the mystique of some of the most significant major Arcana tarot cards in this World Premiere.
Surrender to the night, as your destiny is in the hands of the Order of the Divine.
An assortment of some of Perth’s best- look forward to this one.
9th to 14th February at 9:45pm
Lotterywest De Parel Spiegeltent at The Woodside Pleasure Garden
Dear Divas – A Love Letter
Growing up gay in Perth in the 90s isn’t easy. But if you have a hair brush, a discman and Mariah Carey on repeat, what more do you need?
Judy, Whitney, Kylie and Celine? Now that’s a party!
Peter Cumins sings a love letter to the powerhouse female vocalists that made his teen years bearable and inspired him to follow his dreams around the world. From a recording contract to leading man in musicals such as Legally Blonde, Mary Poppins and Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Peter has finally come home and is coming out!
9th to 13th February at 7pm
His Majesty’s Theatre – Downstairs at The Maj
That should be enough to fill up your social calendar, but if you’re still wanting more, check out our reviews and news on our dedicated Fringe page here.
Please note- some shows are simply our faves and we are attending and we love them- some are advertising.