The 2018 Adelaide Fringe kicked off in spectacular style over the weekend, as North Terrace was transformed into a Parade of Light – an animated corridor of colour, light and wonder! With more than 1200 events on offer, the 2018 program boasts another record number of attractions to delight, inspire and challenge audiences. Australian Arts Review takes a look at twelve shows worth checking out:
Adulting
The Bally at Gluttony – Rymill Park: continues to 25 February
If you’ve ever been engaged at 19 or racked up parking fines worth a house deposit, than like Tash York you’ve probably not mastered Adulting – the process of doing ‘grown-up’ things – like holding down a job, paying your bills on time, cooking dinner (that doesn’t involve Maccas drive-thru) and even doing your taxes. Known for her ballsy voice, witty repartee and wine loving antics, award-winning cabaret artist Tash York (The Desperettes, The After Hours Cabaret Club) explains why we can all relate – growing up is hard!
A Visit With Nan In A Caravan
The Caravan – The Garden of Unearthly Delights: 21 February – 18 March
A few audience members – in one caravan – with three spiteful old grannies – for 15 minutes. Australia’s most irreverent grannies; Edith Vale, Maureen McGillicuddy and Caroline Springs have been travelling around Australia, and they want to tell you all about it. These nasty old ducks won the Golden Gibbo award at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and they’re thrilled to be taking their caravan cross country to treat Adelaide to one of the most intimate shows you’ll ever see. Fair warning – getting intimate with these ladies may offend a delicate nose.
BI-CYCLE
A Space Called Thelma – Raj House: 20 – 25 February
Soulful, sweaty and fun. This fourth-wall-spinning solo performance tells the story of one of the most unique characters to hit the Adelaide stage. Written and performed by Sam Anderson (Canal Rd, Drown, Underbelly Two). BI-CYCLE invites you to sign-up for the most exciting spin class you’ll ever take!
Blonde Bombshell
Corona Theatre – The Garden of Unearthly Delights: 5 – 11 March
Australia’s Crown Prince of Comedy, Joel Creasey, has whored himself across Australian TV screens from comedy galas, panel shows, celebrity interviews and even the depths of the African jungle. He is the protégé of the late great Joan Rivers, and this past year alone presided over commentary duties at Eurovision, released his first memoir, won GQ Comedian of the Year, made his debut in a TV drama… and played a slut on Neighbours. Strap yourselves in for a night with this blonde bombshell as he slices, dices, sasses and smashes celebrities, pop culture and himself. As Joel’s rule always stands… anyone not in the room… is a target!
Cirque Nocturne
Empyrean at Gluttony – Rymill Park: 27 February – 4 March
Encapsulating the seductive atmosphere of a classic Noir film of the 1940’s. Set against a soundtrack of period and contemporary jazz, the show features the ambience of vice, corruption and glamour that the Noir genre of films is best known for. Be mesmerised by feats of dexterity and acrobatic prowess, featuring acts by the very best and brightest circus and variety performers from around Australia.
The Displaced
Tandanya: continues to 4 March
Conveying the beautiful and ugly, the devotion and play, and the chaos and calm, Time In Space Circus invite audiences into their world, a world where there is no conformity. The acrobats are individual bodies and nothing else, their thoughts influence emotions and they work together as one. The Displaced explores a tiny fragment of something bigger, it shows a place where conformity is nowhere, yet movement, emotion and feeling is everywhere.
The Gizmo
The Factory – The Garden of Unearthly Delights: continues to 18 March
Written by Verity Laughton and based on the novel by Paul Jennings, The Gizmo makes its South Australian premiere this Adelaide Fringe. Whilst at the local fair, Stephen is baited by his hero Flogitt into stealing. He steals the whirling, twirling illuminating Gizmo, that sends Stephen on an amazing adventure of self discovery. Finding it impossible to just simply get rid of the Gizmo by returning, burying or throwing on to a passing coal train, the Gizmo starts to exact its revenge by placing Stephen in several extra-ordinary situations!
Kosher Bacon
The German Club: 27 February – 4 March
Since leaving a career in law for comedy, Michael Shafar has made a name for himself as one of the fastest rising stars in Australian comedy, reaching the RAW Comedy National Final in 2016, selling out his debut season at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and touring internationally. Excited to be serving up Kosher Bacon at Adelaide’s German Club – the perfect venue for a nice Jewish boy, Michael says “It’s a show about things that make no sense, like how my local politician used to be the DJ at all of our friends’ bar mitzvah parties. We thought that was normal.”
Livvy & Pete: The Songs of Olivia Newton-John and Peter Allen
Fortuna Spiegeltent – The Garden of Unearthly Delights: Monday 26 February
Helpmann award winner Michael Griffiths and acclaimed cabaret darling Amelia Ryan celebrate the songbooks of Aussie icons Olivia Newton-John and Peter Allen for one night only. Backed by a three piece band featuring Adelaide’s finest musicians, revisit all of their sing-a-long classics from Rio to Tenterfield, all the way to Xanadu and beyond.
Love Letters to the Public Transport System
Holden Street Theatres: continues to 1 March
In a fast-moving world where no one stays in one place for long, Love Letters to the Public Transport System seeks to find and thank the people who transport us daily; to friends, to lovers, to work, to moments of significance in our lives. Acclaimed writer and actor Molly Taylor, stars in this one-woman-performance about acknowledging the people we love, the people we meet, and the people we chance upon.
Parade of Light
North Terrace: continues to 18 March
For every night of the 2018 Adelaide Fringe, North Terrace will be transformed into a Parade of Light – an animated corridor of colour, light and wonder! The Parade of Light will feature architectural projections and breathtaking laser displays from illuminart, Electric Canvas and Dan Acher which will create an interactive passageway between the East End and Riverbank precincts of Adelaide.
Rouge
The Octagon at Gluttony – Rymill Park: 20 February – 18 March
A decadent blend of sensational acrobatics, operatic cabaret and tongue in cheek burlesque. This is a non-stop celebration of the astonishing, the surprising and the downright sexy, Rouge is circus for grown ups. This brand new adult circus cabaret from the creators of Australian circus cabaret sensation Papillon! – Rouge is set to take the world by storm.
The 2018 Adelaide Fringe continues to 18 March. For more information, visit: www.adelaidefringe.com.au for details.
Image: Time In Space Circus presents The Displaced (supplied)