ADELAIDE FRINGE 2023 - My Picks for the Upcoming Fringe Season
Hello to all you wonderful souls, you know what time it is in Adelaide. IT’S FRINGE SEASON, BABY.
There’s absolutely no secret that I love and adore everything about the Adelaide Fringe, from the way in which the Adelaide CBD and across the state come alive with a vast selection of acts, performances, and stories to be told, the new and emerging artists and performers to be discovered, and just all-round feel good experiences which create memorable moments for a lifetime.
I’ve prepared my list of what I’m seeing and my recommended shows featured in the Adelaide Fringe line-up for 2023 below, and will be adding to this as I see and discover even more fabulous shows throughout the season!
WILD SIDE
Featuring hula hoops, pole dancing, burlesque, drag, and sideshow combined with head-banging 80’s rock and roll classics is a sure fire recipe for getting in touch with your wild side. Come and see some of the stars of WILD SIDE, such as Hannah Indigo (QLD) - hula hoop superstar, Cleo Rapture (NSW) - pole dancing queen, and Sian Brigid (ACT) - burlesque muse.
Dates and times:
Fri 17 Feb: 8:15pm
Sat 18 Feb: 7pm, 9pm
Wed 8 Mar - Fri 10 Mar: 10pm
Tickets: WILD SIDE
Crème de la crème
Head First Acrobats brings you an array of the hottest acts featured in the Adelaide Fringe 2023 season. Winner of the Cabaret and Variety weekly award at Fringe World 2022, be sure to expect weird and comedic skits, paired with world-class acrobatics. This is the show for you if you like a raw performance with sprinkles of glitz and glam.
Dates and times:
17-19 Feb: 6:30pm
24-25 Feb, 3-4, 10-12, 17-18 Mar: 11pm
Tickets: Crème de la crème
GODZ
Returning to the Adelaide Fringe after a successful season in 2022, GODZ combines acrobatic performances with the storytelling of the ancient gods of Olympus! Do not think for a second that this is going to be purely a history lesson though, as GODZ takes a comedic twist to showcase the life of the Mount Olympus elite.
Dates and times:
21-26, 28 Feb, 1-5, 7-13, 15-19 Mar: 8pm
Tickets: GODZ
The Defiant
Continuing on from my acrobatic picks this season, The Defiant inspires you to find strength through adversity. With a woman, non-binary, and genderqueer performance cast, set in a post-apocalyptic setting, it’s electrifying, loud, and fierce. You’ll definitely want to see this show if you enjoy live rock music, bold women, and contemporary circus.
Dates and times:
17-19, 21-26, 28 Feb, 1-5, 7-12, 14-19 Mar: 6:40pm
15 Mar: 1:00pm
Tickets: The Defiant
Maho Magic Bar
If you have visited the Garden of Unearthly Delights in the past couple of years, then you may have seen the neon-lit Tokyo-esque venue of the Maho Magic Bar. Be prepared to enjoy a Japanese beverage or cocktail (if you drink, of course) whilst your eyes become allured to all the magic tricks which await you within the bar. Catch Shirayuri, Kaori Kitazawa, Santa Terakado, and Sarito for a mysterious and mischievous experience which will transport you to the night-life of Tokyo.
Dates and times:
17-19, 21-23, 25-26, 28 Feb, 1-2, 4-5, 7-9, 11-12, 14-16,
18-19 Mar: 6pm, 7:15pm & 8:30pm
18, 25 Feb, 4, 11, 18 Mar: 2:15pm, 3:30pm & 10pm,
19, 26 Feb, 5, 12, 19 Mar: 1:45pm, 3pm & 4:45pm,
24 Feb, 3, 10, 17 Mar: 6:30pm, 7:45pm, 9pm & 10:15pm
Tickets: Maho Magic Bar
Club D’Amour
Set in a back-alley French brothel in the right-light district of Paris, Club D’amour welcomes you in, led by a gender-bending mystery madame. You know I love gender-bending and fluidity, and this show has it all. It is asexy, filthy, and flirty ensemble of live music, dance, burlesque, and circus. Let your inner freak out and experience Club D’amour this season.
Dates and times:
21-26, 28 Feb, 1-5 Mar: 6:30pm
Tickets: Club D’amour
Cab Suave
The Adelaide Fringe season wouldn’t be complete with an array of queer-led shows, am I right? Cab Suave is one of my LGBTQIA+ picks this season, with an all-queer cast (with the exception of the token straight white man). Follow along the circus-themed show of private investigator, Dick Johnson and their attempt to tear down the razzle and dazzle of Cabaret Suave.
Dates and times:
17-19, 23-26 Feb, 2-5 Mar: 8:40pm
18-19, 25-26 Feb, 4-5 Mar: 3:45pm
Tickets: Cab Suave
The Stripsons
For many of you which are not aware, I am a HUGE fan of The Simpsons, and when I saw this show featured in this year’s Fringe schedule, my eyes were in disbelief. Brought to you by the producers of Shreklesque (now known as Swamplesque), who featured in last year’s Fringe line-up, The Stripsons is essentially a burlesque take of your favourite Simpsons characters and moments. If you are a fan of The Simpsons, then this is a show not to be missed.
Dates and times:
7-12, 14-19 Mar: 9:40pm
Tickets: The Stripsons
Everything is a Lie
Is our existential dread meant to last a lifetime, or will we eventually triumph over these challenging times in our modern world? Comedian Lauren Edwards reflects on the never-ending bad news cycles and faking it til you make it mentality, through a lens of a millennial. She’ll take you through a journey of eye-opening epiphanies whilst channelling her inner feminist and dimples.
Dates and times:
12 Mar: 4pm
14-17 Mar: 6pm
Tickets: Everything is a Lie
More shows to come, watch this space! x
