Greek mythology gets a Fringe twist with Teasing Myths

Fresh off the stage of the Melbourne Fringe, Teasing Myths reimagines the romance and terror of Greek monsters and heroes through circus and burlesque. The likes of Medusa and Icarus will bring some Hellenic flair to the Beer Garden at The Court from Wednesday, February 4, to Thursday, February 12, with tickets on sale now. BEC WELDON sat down with producer and performer Mia Atkinson-Phillips (Angel) and performers Tina, Lachlan and Alex to hear about the gripping Greek characters and the emerging artists bringing them to life.

Welcome to Perth for the 2026 season! After debuting at the Melbourne Fringe, your show Teasing Myths is coming to Perth—what exciting things do you have in store for Perth audiences?

Angel: Thanks for having us! I think mainly Perth—we have chaos in store for you with our show; it’s not your typical circus show, that is for sure. Teasing Myths is very sensual in a dark way while also being hilarious and light. It plays with a theme of duality that is so very common in Greek myths and keeps the audience breathless as they wait to see what’s next.

Fringe is a great time for fans of circus, with an abundance of shows to support! What sets Teasing Myths apart from other circus shows in this year’s line-up?

Alex: [22, veil poi and straps performer]: While Fringe is packed with incredible circus, Teasing Myths stands out through its queer reimagining of Greek mythology. The show brings iconic figures like Icarus, Medusa, Narcissus, Cassandra and the Fates into a dark, playful, and unapologetically adult circus world that blends aerial and ground-based acts. We combine disciplines such as hair hanging, straps, rope and lyra with handstands, bottle walking, bounce juggling and veil fans, creating a rich and constantly shifting stage dynamic.

What really sets the show apart, though, is its tone—it’s dark and seductive, with comedic moments and a strong queer lens that invites audiences to see these myths in a new, more seductive light. Performed by a diverse, Australian-based cast of queer and gender-diverse artists from across the country, Teasing Myths prioritises representation and collaboration while delivering a bold, unforgettable performance. With moments of audience interaction and an intimate, charged atmosphere, we want audiences to leave feeling good, teased, and just a little turned on.

What inspired you to create a show about Greek myths?

Angel: I’ve always been very interested by myths and tales, looking at the hidden meanings that they have and how they shape our world. For me to make a show, it has to have a tale, and there must be hidden meanings for those who look deeper to leave feeling things they might not have expected going in. I started developing Teasing Myths shortly after not only finishing my first production, which was a kid’s show, but also my 20th birthday, and I not only wanted to put on stage the myths I loved but also start to break the firm typecast I’d been set in as very innocent and naive, so Greek myths seemed to just fit, as Greek myths are complicated with so many retellings and meanings; they are horrifying, sexy, thought-provoking and so much more, just like what we are all capable of.

There are so many compelling Greek myths of monsters, heroes and tragedies to choose from! How did you select the stories that spoke to you?

Angel: For the primary acts of each performer, I actually tried to match it to their energy and discipline. For example, Holly, our Medusa, is a hair-hanging artist, and as we know, Medusa’s hair is a large part of her story, but not only that, Holly is like Medusa, a protector and fiercely strong woman. Aside from that, I also wanted myths that had hidden meanings that I felt were relevant to our current world.

What do you hope audiences take away from the performance?

Lachlan [21, bounce juggler and rope artist]: I hope Teasing Myth’s audiences leave the show on a high. The space we wanted to create when making this show was an inclusive one where our audiences can feel comfortable enough to scream, laugh, clap and ultimately be themselves. As a cast, we want the public to see things they’ve never seen before alongside geeking out on their favourite Greek myth stories in a whole new, colourful light.

What was the creative development and collaboration approach behind the show?

Lachlan: The best bit of creating Teasing Myths was rehearsing group moments. When we could be silly together and genuinely enjoy our time as an ensemble, we produced our best work. I think this is why audiences love the show so much; it doesn’t take itself too seriously and is quite fun to perform and watch. On a personal level I’ve loved developing solo acts to push my artistic identity and performance quality.

It’s fantastic to see up-and-coming Australian circus talent in this year’s festival—what do Fringe festivals like this mean to emerging artists and creators?

Tina/Christina [21, straps and handstand contortionist]: For emerging artists and creators, Fringe Festivals like this are a chance to draw new inspiration from all types of performing arts, to talk to other creators and interact with our audiences in a community setting. Fringe is such a melting pot for creative work and a great opportunity to see all the current artistic and performance trends coming out of the Australian market. Fringe feels like a home away from home during a performance season, a beautiful and supportive community made up of interesting and unique individuals.

Teasing Myths is produced by the emerging company, A Storyteller’s Circus. How did the company come about, and what exciting plans do you have for the future?

Angel: I originally started the company because it felt like the right step while producing my first show last year, which at the time I had thought would be my only show, as I was doing it for some of the members of my old youth troupe so that they would get to participate in Fringe, where they otherwise wouldn’t have been able to as minors.

However, during that process, I not only realised that this was something I actively enjoyed and was decent at but also that it was a productive way to work on my dreams of making more spaces for emerging artists to get out into the professional world in a supported way, not just getting paid in exposure.

While I’m not there yet, the dream is to set up programs and shows so that emerging artists can get out on stage and build the portfolio and connections they need to thrive in this industry. Additionally, we have a cute street show coming that you should keep an eye out for!

Thank you again for your time! As we close out, what would you say to prospective audience members who are thinking of seeing Teasing Myths?

Angel: It’s a new year, so let’s do something exciting and different, make some memories and possibly fall in love with the Greeks. You know, also, supporting emerging artists is a very hot people activity.

Teasing Myths hits the Beer Garden at The Court from Wednesday, February 4, to Thursday, February 12, 2026. Tickets are on sale now from fringeworld.com.au