Turning the cycle to HOT with Briefs: Dirty Laundry
Get ready for the ultimate encore as the Briefs boys return to Fringe World this summer for the last season of Dirty Laundry in Western Australia. Led by Fez Faanana, aka Shivanana, and featuring a line-up of classic Briefs boys as well as some shiny new boys and toys, Briefs: Dirty Laundry hits L’Euro Grande from Friday, January 19, to Sunday, February 4. BRAYDEN EDWARDS caught up with Fez Faanana to find out why Perth can look forward to a night of intoxifying physicality, gob-smacking comedy, unapologetic truths, and ridiculous showmanship.
Congrats on bringing Briefs: Dirty Laundry to Fringe again this summer! What has been the biggest change since you last paid us a visit?
Briefs Factory is constantly shifting and growing as a company as well as our productions. We premiered Dirty Laundry in Perth in 2021, returning in 2023 with more frazzle dazzle aka more artists, acts, and creative chaos. Since we last dipped our toes into the West Coast waters, we have run the show across Australia, from Cairns to Castlemaine to Canberra. We also took DL out on its first international tour, with sell-out seasons in Vancouver, Montréal, Québec City, Noumea, and Auckland.
It will be the last season of Dirty Laundry, which has been a Fringe favourite for some time now! What have been some of your favourite memories of bringing the show to Perth?
Dirty Laundry is a production that was spawned during the pandemic. Some people got puppies; some people made gardens; some people went into hibernation; and we made a show called Dirty Laundry. This was a good diversion from the weirdness of that time. So much of DL has been grounded in Perth, and we can thank our loyal supporters and Perth Fringe for their epic love.
With a mix of dance, comedy, circus, burlesque, and more, there’s plenty to keep the audience engaged. What is the most unique or unusual skill set within the troupe?
That’s a hard question because so much of our identity is based on the marriage of unique and usual skills, but I think the most unique and unusual skill within the troupe is Thomas Worrell’s ability to pulsate his ears in time to music.
And who makes up the troupe these days? Are there some new faces?
Yes!!! We have a new, fresh face that Perth will find familiar. Broome-born circus super star and super stud Rowan Thomas joins the eclectic cluster fuck of class clowns, carnies, and queens. We are so excited to welcome Rowan’s return to the Briefs posse as a core cast member! You will know Rowan from Head First Actobats, Trash Test Dummies, Lunar Circus, and freelance fame.
I hear audience members are invited to share their own ‘dirty laundry’ during the shows. What’s the most scandalous confession or revelation you have heard while doing the show?
‘My friend has unusually small knees. I’m embarrassed for her.’
Probably not the most scandalous, but the most memorable!
What’s something we’ll see at Briefs that we won’t see anywhere else?
You’ll never see drag queens back-saulting, gusset splitting, or front-flipping anywhere else.
You’ll never see anyone spin as fast as Thomas Worrell on the aerial hoop anywhere else.
You’ll never see Kamillaroi cowboy sword swallowing and whip-cracking roses out of his butt anywhere else.
You’ll never see drag anarchist artists rock out to 90s femme punk music with hula hoops of fire anywhere else.
You’ll never see so many big-shouldered ladies on stage together anywhere else.
What’s next for the team after Fringe World? Can we expect to see your faces here in Perth again in the future?
We will be returning to Sydney, running four weeks with a Dirty Laundry Spiegeltent season, which is super exciting. Then we pop our Tasmanian cherry with a season in Hobart.
Perth should always expect us. Keep your ear to the ground for announcements for Perth dates later in the year. Next year, we have some exciting plans cooking for Fringe World 2025. We promise to be back with something big and new for our 13th yearly rendezvous with our Perth lovers. Lucky 13. Let’s make it special, people!