Fringemas is finally upon us! But with over 700 shows in the massive line up, where to start? Our resident Fringe-ophile, NATALIE GILES, looks at what promises to be some of the best FRINGE WORLD has to offer from January 18 – February 17. This is by no means a definitive list, so head to www.fringeworld.com.au for the full program and all ticketing information. In alphabetical order… because we couldn’t play favourites with this bunch of brilliance…
BETTY GRUMBLE: LOVE AND ANGER
Betty Grumble has won Best Cabaret consecutively at the last two years at FRINGE WORLD for good reason. While being Grumbled is not for the faint of heart, or those for whom the naked body is not celebrated, it is indubitably one of the most gloriously true FRINGE experiences you will find. Whether you’re searching for something to feast your feminist anger on and rage out, laugh until you cry, love yourself a little bit harder, or just plain celebrate being or loving a woman, Betty Grumble is the eco feminist warrior you didn’t know you were missing and seeking. Revel in her love letter to women everywhere.
GET TICKETS HERE
DID YOU HEAR WHAT I SAW?
The unique story of an enduring friendship between Tom Skelton, who happens to be registered blind, and his pal Tom GK, who is losing his hearing, told through comedy and song.
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DJUKI MALA
Everybody’s favourite and award winning for so many reasons, if you haven’t already witnessed the magic, what the heck are you even doing reading this? Get a ticket NOW. A beautiful amalgamation of cultures, Djuki Mala incorporates elements of our first nation history with everything from Bollywood to Gene Kelly and Michael Jackson. It is nostalgic, and reminiscent of a time that doesn’t exist yet, where the old and new mix freely in joyful self-expression. It’s a family friendly, deadly good time.
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DALI LAND
Step into the surreal in the ultimate immersive exhibition. Celebrate the absurd in a cavalcade of indulgences. Commence your FRINGE experience with the Dali Ball this Friday night, in a red carpet cocktail party, then party until dawn at the rooftop Surrealist Salon, running every night throughout FRINGE from 10pm to 5am, and offering a variety of entertainment from the nether regions of the festival. To paraphrase the man himself, you might just die from an overdose of satisfaction.
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EL BIZARRO
Perennial FRINGE favourites, this bunch of acclaimed, depraved freaks and weirdos are back again, and we are living for it. They thrive on pushing your boundaries and possibly your gag reflex, with circus and performance art guaranteed to supply you with the most perverse, greatest and glamorous of sideshow freaks that FRINGE has to offer. Content warnings too long to list here. Get all up in the perverse.
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FATALE
Direct from a sell out debut at Brisbane’s Wonderland Festival, Australian burlesque darling Jacqueline Furey brings her first solo show to this year’s FRINGE in a feminist exploration of what it means to be feminine, intertwining the beautiful and the bizarre. This fire-eating, whip-cracking, sword-swallowing fireball promises to be a standout of the festival.
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FUEGO CARNAL
After three years of playing to sell out audiences at Adelaide Fringe, this husband and wife team bring some fierce, fiery circus to FRINGE WORLD Perth at last. Playing throughout the festival every night excluding Mondays in the purpose built Empyrean at the Ice Cream Factory, this looks to be some dangerous and sexy flambé cirque.
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GALENTINE’S DAY GALA
Celebrate Galentine’s Day with your best gal pals on V-day eve with an all woman line up of hilarious homegrown heroes and international guest comedians, hosted by everyone’s favourite FIFO wife and the face of WA, Famous Sharron. Women celebrating women? We’re so here for it.
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GARRY STARR PERFORMS EVERYTHING
Disgraced actor Garry Starr literally performs everything – it’s exactly what it says on the tin. Watch as he whirls his way through every theatre genre possible, directed by Cal McCrystal (The Mighty Boosh, Paddington 1 & 2). When you hear about a show from performers raving about it, you know you’re onto a good thing, as experienced last year with the resulting FOMO.
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GENDER BLENDER BURLESQUE
Curated by the reigning Miss Burlesque Australia, the inimitably fabulous and multi-talented Scarlet Adams offers up a unique mix of burlesque and drag while representing the gender and sexual spectrum in all its broad and glorious facets. These performers don’t get cute, they get drop dead gorgeous.
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LE AERIAL
Following a sell out season in 2018, these high-flying aerialists from Cirque Du Soleil’s Zumanity promise to thrill once again this year. Supported by the operatic stylings of Mark Oates, this is pure beauty in a Spiegeltent. If you missed it last year, avoid the FOMO and get your tickets now, and if you’ve witnessed it before, you’ll be yearning for more. One for a night out with the parents.
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ROUGE
Adelaide Fringe award winners, Rouge makes its debut in Perth in 2019 following rave reviews. Touted as “circus for grown-ups”, this is a veritable buffet of fire-eating, tumbling, hooping, song and dance with a dessert of sass and sexiness.
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SYNCOPE
Winners of the 2017 FRINGE WORLD Circus Award and nominated for the prestigious 2018 FRINGE WORLD Martin Sims Award, homegrown heroes Kinetica’s return to 2019 promises to be as spectacular, with a beautiful riposte ripe with aerial and acrobatics in the gorgeously gothic surrounds of St George’s Cathedral. Performance art for the sophisticate.
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Big FRINGE tip to follow up though – don’t be shy of trying out an untested show. Each day, at 11am, there are limited tickets released through Rushtix at an extremely discounted rate. Take a gamble. Support local artists. Roam Perth’s streets in the ultimate adventure and discover the unusual. Happy Fringemas!
