Fringe is nearly here and the entire team is raring to get out there to watch some shows and write up some reviews for our fellow Fringe fans.
But did you know that our (read:my) Fringe prep starts way before the new year?
As Editor in Chief, I usually start bugging the poor folks at Fringe HQ for the program in late October.
As soon as it lands in my inbox, I spend at least a week poring through every single show, taking note of the returning favourites and keeping an eye out for the fresh faces that are visitng our festival.
The task is never easy because there are SO many great shows. So here’s a tiny selection of some of the shows that have caught my attention during the editorial process:
Family friendly fun
The Greatest Magic Show – I’ve scored two out of three of Showmen Productions’ shows 5 stars. Will they score the trifecta this year?
Trash Test Dummies Circus – I’m not sure how I never noticed Dummies Corp before but this will be their last year performing Trash Test Dummies! If your kids have not been exposed to comedy, this might just be the one to start them on. The mischievous troupe serve up physical comedy and acrobatics in a neat package. Or should I say, neat wheelie bin? Bin nights will never be the same.
Charlie Caper – The Future – I watched Charlie Caper last year and lamented over the fact that I couldn’t bring Kiddo with me due to the late start time. The show is a little earlier this year and Kiddo is a bit better at staying up late, so I’m interested to test the show on my child reviewer.
Burlesque and Cabaret
MARVELous: A Risque Comedy – With Avengers Doomsday coming out at the end of the year, now is the time to brush up on your Marvel knowledge and have a little fun with it. Parody meets cabaret meets pop culture in this breakout romp. And with Deadpool as your guide, you know you’re going to be in for a wild ride.
Dirty, Sexy, Funny: Burlesque – If you’re looking for a star studded burlesque show… this is it. Lucy Lovegun (currently 26 in the Burlesque Top 50) has brought her equally brilliant buddies out to play. There’s Sugar Du Joure (Mx Burlesque Masters Winner 2025), Flo Jangles (Mx Burlesque WA 2025), Veruca Sour (Mx Burlesque WA 2017), Kitty Litteur (multiple Mx Burlesque title holder) and even Kelly Ann Doll (Miss Viva Las Vegas 2025) from Sydney. If you don’t leave this show feeling hot and bothered… you might just have to check if you even have a pulse.
GASHA – Cirquework’s latest creation is making it’s WORLD premiere right here in Perth. The trailer for GASHA teases a contemporary outing. Meanwhile, the show description suggests that performers will be embracing the vivid kimonos of Japanese culture while dancing and performing acrobatics.
The Lady Boys of Bangkok – If you’ve ever been to Thailand, you might have experienced a kathoey (lady boy) show. Often, it is a visual spectacle, bolstered by the immense talent of their stunningly beautiful cast. How lucky are we that the lady boys are now coming to us for Fringe. I managed to catch a little teaser of their Fringe show and I am now re-examining my busy Fringe schedule to see if I can make one of their shows. Beyond the colour and choreography though, this is a show that spectacularly celebrates queer identity.
Something Different
Speed: The Movie, The Play – When an artist brings their own BUS to Fringe, you can’t help but sit up and take notice. As the title suggests, this show is the ultimate homage to the classic movie with audience members seated on a vintage bus for an hour of madcap fun.
Murder Village: An Improvised Whodunnit – Think Cluedo… only the audience gets a vote on who lives, who die, and who gets unmasked as the culprit. This immersive show relies solely on the creatives’ wit (with zero props to assist them) and will be a hit with true crime fans.
Frisky’s Reshuffle – If you’re a fan of Postmodern Jukebox and improv, Frisky’s will be right up your alley With a little help from the audience, Frisky repurposes popular songs by mashing them up with unexpected genres.
The Newbies
SPARKBIRD – We’re staunch supporters of local talent and we’ve got our eyes on this one. No Small Dinosaurs is a new theatre collective made up of recent WAAPA graduates. Their wheelhouse is spotlighting the little yet meaningful stories from every day life. SPARKBIRD is a break up play that highlights the perspectives of a break up. Who’s right and who’s wrong? Or is everyone just a little bit right and a little bit wrong? As someone who loves a movie from the classic era of romcoms, this show has sparked my interest.
Winni Wizard and her Magical Smells – Winni the wacky wizard is facing her biggest challenge yet – running her family’s magic shop, Join Winni in a session packed with songs, dances and jokes. Reviewers have raved about this lovable wizard, but what I love is the message that Winni is keen to promote in this show. That mistakes are part of life and owning up to them is always the best policy. An interactive kids show with a kooky main character… AND a life lesson – yes please!
Yellow Fever – Fringe isn’t just about songs and dances. It’s an opportunity for creatives to express themselves. At its core, Fringe is a celebration of diversity. Kelly Lim Harris is making her Fringe debut with the world premiere of Yellow Fever: An Original Musical Cabaret. It promises to be a deeply personal expose of her quest to find love beyond fetishisation of her Asian heritage. Set to a soundtrack of original pop-rock songs, this is another Fringe show that I am desperately trying to clear my schedule to watch.