The 42nd annual Melbourne Fringe Festival returns this October with a veritable buffet of over 470 diverse events taking place across Melbourne.
Pushing boundaries across performing arts, music, dance, cabaret and many more wild and wonderful categories, Melbourne Fringe will have audiences entertained, provoked and astounded. Australian Arts Review takes a look at 15 events worth checking out:
Apocrypha
Darebin Arts Centre: 11 – 19 October
Enter the world of Apocrypha, the new ensemble show from circus provocateur Mitch Jones (AutoCannibal, Slava’s Snowshow, Circus Oz) that journeys beyond the canon of mainstream culture. See the tightrope walker dance along rusty chains, while the acrobat spins hula hoops which blacken his body with painted scars, and contortionists balance precariously on weeping bluestone boulders. Inspired by cult cinema, erotic fiction and the work of Jean Genet, this stunning new work of alt-circus explores the limits of our bodies, finding moments of beauty among the outcast and the unholy. With a jaw-dropping cast including Adam Malone, Rindi Harradine, Kristian Santic and Chloe Fazikas, Apocrypha is a surreal exploration of desire and counterculture that will linger long after the final curtain falls.
BAD BOY
fortyfivedownstairs: continues to 16 October
Following a sell-out season of RUNT, multi award-winning collaborators Susie Dee, Patricia Cornelius and Nicci Wilks present a searing new work tackling the enormous issue of misogyny and domestic violence. It’s time to take on this most difficult of subjects using the power of the metaphorical, language that is both grungy and poetic, and the visceral, often surprisingly comedic physical strengths of performer Nicci Wilks. Written by Cornelius and directed by Dee, Wilks will inhabit the character of BAD BOY – a female actor openly playing a male role, with the gender inversion heightening this sharp examination into male behaviour.
Delusions and Grandeur
Festival Hub: Trades Hall – Evatt Room: 9 – 20 October
In a classical cello recital meets performance art clown show, Karen Hall skilfully walks the line between artistry and insanity. Featuring Suite Number One in G Major by JS Bach and personal comedic pieces crafted in Idiot classes, Karen fuses in a healthy dose of pathos as she tackles identity, expectations, and success through the eyes of a fool. Karen boasts a diverse resume having graced the stages of Carnegie Hall and the Hollywood Bowl to behind the scenes work in studio sessions for everything from indie singer/songwriter albums to work on soundtracks for Emmy-nominated shows. Karen most visibly spent four seasons on camera as the Cellist on the TV show, Glee, and performs regularly with various symphony orchestras throughout the Los Angeles area.
Fountain Lakes in Lockdown: A Drag Parody Play
Alex Theatre St Kilda – Vass Theatre: 1 – 20 October
What did Australia’s foxiest morons get up to during the pandemic? It’s August 2021. Kath is up to pussy’s bow in sour dough. Kim’s been asked to work from home (though that happened before the pandemic). Sharon has had a severe reaction to all the hand sanitiser. Relive the uniquely Australian pandemic experience through the eyes of these uniquely Australian characters hilariously parodied by Art Simone (RuPaul’s Drag Race Downunder, Have You Been Paying Attention?), Thomas Jaspers (Granny Bingo, The Gays Are Revolting), Leasa Mann (Club Broadway, Thank Mollie’s It’s Friday) and Scott Brennan (skitHOUSE, Comedy Inc., Neighbours).
Fringe Flavours Night Market
Queen Victoria Market: 2, 9 & 16 October
Spice up your Wednesdays this October as Melbourne Fringe takes over the iconic Night Market at Queen Victoria Market. Catch a vibrant showcase of tantalising Fringe performances, with a pop-up stage showcasing artists from every creative corner, and enchanting roving performances that promise to surprise at every turn. Grab a mouth watering feed from the market’s eclectic street food stalls, take a seat, and let some of Melbourne’s boldest independent artists treat you to a mid-week escape into the unexpected.
Fruitcake
The Motley Bauhaus – The Cellar: 1 – 6 October
This one-woman-show follows Fruitcake, a first year university student who slowly becomes involved with an alluring, off-putting class mate with whom she shares a penchant for awkward situations and films with unnecessarily long titles. But the more Fruitcake is invited into the world of her classmate turned maybe-something-more-I-mean-who-could-possibly-say; the more she realises there’s more than meets the eye to this girl, as well as something in Fruitcake’s own past she has to face if she has any hope of stepping forward into the future. This coming of age mystery will keep you guessing until the very end, unsure what to believe and who to trust.
HAVOC
Circus Oz, Collingwood: 19 – 20 October
A mass of acrobats, a mass of musicians, a mass of artistry, a mash-up of circus mayhem. Over seventy humans on stage. Uncategorised, uncorporatised, unhinged, unlike anything you’ve seen before. An arsenal of circus artists from near and far accompanied by a rocking circus band and the chaotic and majestic 40-piece Squawkestra! orchestrating the unforgettable. Two shows only – see it once, see it twice and you’ll never see it again. An unmissable Benefit Gala Extravaganza. Don’t miss it!
Hit n Hope: A Character Cabaret
The Motley Bauhaus – Cabaret Stage: 14 – 20 October
The ultimate girls’ night jam packed with character comedy, original songs and percussive dance routines. Hit n Hope: A Character Cabaret is all about men. But it isn’t about how much we adore them, in fact we’ve had quite enough, thank you. Follow Steph, Nic & Tess on the dating scene, fending off f**k boys in urinals, finance middle managers, boys with arts degrees, incels, and that guy that was old enough to be your dad’s dad. If you can’t beat them, do them (not like do them, but like BE them do them… you know what we mean!!)
Jon & Jero: Stuff!
Gasworks Arts Park: 1 – 5 October
A hilariously interactive choose-your-own-adventure comedy show designed for kids and the entire family. Local comedy duo, Jon Walpole and Jeromaia Detto, present an hour of high-energy silliness, blending physical comedy, characters, music, and improvisation with a delightful storyline. Jon & Jero are embarking on an epic journey to find their missing STUFF – but they can’t do it alone! With your help, these bumbling brothers will travel far and wide to get their STUFF back in this fast and fun choose-your-own-adventure!
KINDER
Festival Hub: Trades Hall – The Square: 2 – October | Upstairs @ Floridia: 13 & 20 October
After an unexpected call from a local library derails the headline performance of a drag reading hour, the barely digestible and wholly intolerable Goody Prostate must scramble together a new act for a crowd of unruly children and their parents. But as they race against the clock to pull off a new number in time, they spiral into a chaotic interrogation of childhood, memory, and a long overdue examination of what it means to ‘grow up’. A response to the rise in reactionary politics around the exposure of children to queerness, join Goody as they read between the lines of the opposition and craft a timely reminder of the lesson to not judge a book by its cover (girl). The library is open. So sit down, be quiet, and listen up; there’s a new story to check out. Because sometimes, reading is what?
Fundamentalist.
Orgasmic AF: Confessions of a Sexologist
The Motley Bauhaus – The Cellar: 14 – 20 October
Let’s talk about sex! Curious about the secrets to mind-blowing pleasure or the common stumbling blocks in the bedroom? Meet Dr. Martha Tara Lee, the infamous sexologist and relationship whisperer from Singapore. Join her on a wild ride as she spills the beans on her own awkward first encounters, uncovers her mom’s vibrator, and encourages everyone to explore their sexuality despite living in a conservative Asian society. In this intimate comedy show, Dr. Martha opens up about her most tantalizing tales and offers up sage advice to spice up your love life. Whether you’re seeking answers to burning questions or craving a dose of sexual enlightenment, Martha’s got you covered. Orgasmic AF is not just a show – it’s a celebration of sexual liberation and empowerment. Laugh along with Martha, soak up her wisdom, and leave feeling empowered to embrace your sexuality shamelessly.
Oyster Boy
Gasworks Arts Park: 15 – 19 October
A dark, absurd comedy about a boy who lives inside an oyster. Tonight, he is preparing to get shucked. But will he go through with it? Join Oyster Boy as he steels himself for a shucking. But what awaits him out there in the real world? Will he survive without his shell? This disturbing tale of transition is for anyone who has ever tried to fit in but failed. Created by proven comic geniuses Kyle Walmsley and Elizabeth Millington, Oyster Boy is a hilarious black comedy for anyone who has ever feared leaving their safe space.
Secret Girl Stuff
St Martins – Irene Mitchell Studio: 16 – 19 October
Secret Girl Stuff bears witness to girlhood reluctantly transforming into womanhood and leaves you with the urge to hug your twelve-year-old self and tell her, “You’re going to regret wrapping toilet paper around your underwear, but I promise it’s a rite of passage.” After an oversold Sydney Fringe season (2023) and a highly acclaimed Sydney Theatre Debut at Flightpath Theatre (2024), Secret Girl Stuff arrives in Melbourne. Allow us to take you on a sightseeing tour that journeys through moments during girlhood that aided in our arrival to womanhood. Although this is a production written by a woman, about women, it is for everyone.
SUGAR
Festival Hub: Trades Hall – Common Rooms: 16 – 20 October
Inspired by the obscene riches of Australia’s Sugar Baby culture, SUGAR takes on the bangers we love and smashes them into a poignant, sexy and hilarious story about being a kept Sugar Baby. Starring Tomáš Kantor (The Inheritance and Opera Australia’s Watershed: The Death of Dr. Duncan) SUGAR tells the story of a young Sugar Baby who encounters a super rich executive. Kept in a hotel penthouse, Sugar experiences every high-end pleasure, leading to obsession and a lust for a lifestyle they never knew they wanted. Featuring a symphony of pop-songs and live piano, SUGAR is the latest collaboration between director Kitan Petkovski (The Inheritance), designer Bethany J Fellows (In the Club), composer Rachel Lewindon (Orlando), lighting designer Spencer Herd (Romeo and Julie) and writer Ro Bright (Daffodils).
The Axe in the Ceiling
The Motley Bauhaus – Theatrette: 12 – 20 October
The Axe in the Ceiling is a story about a newly married couple on a journey of self-discovery, through a series of absurd events. Chhaya is a playful, imaginative woman who has always lovingly walked the path that she’s been taught to walk. Hunar is a responsible, self-reliant man who has always provided well for himself and made good decisions. Their relationship begins with an axe in the ceiling, and peaks with a bird net in a corn field. Their journey together rocks their individual stability and reveals gaps in their self-image, compelling them to reflect on what they truly want and whether they have what it takes to get it.
The Melbourne Fringe Festival runs 1 – 20 October 2024. For more information, visit: www.melbournefringe.com.au for details.
Images: Opening Night of the 2024 Fringe Flavours Night Market – photo by Tom Noble Creative | Apocrypha – photo by 3FatesMedia | BAD BOY – photo by Ponch Hawkes | Karen Hall (Delusions and Grandeur) – photo by Jeremy David Creative | Fountain Lakes in Lockdown: A Drag Parody Play (supplied) | Fringe Flavours Night Market – photo by Nick Robertson | Amanda King (Fruitcake) – photo by Hannah Jennings | HAVOC – courtesy of Circus Oz | Hit n Hope: A Character Cabaret – photo by Sarah Clarke | Jon & Jero: Stuff! – photo by Nick Mic Pics | Goody Prostate (KINDER) – photo by J Davies | Dr Martha Tara Lee (Orgasmic AF) – photo by Kristin Cornejo | Kyle Walmsley (Oyster Boy) – photo by D. Preston | Secret Girl Stuff – photo by Mikaela Corrigan | Tomáš Kantor (SUGAR) – photo by Meagan Harding | The Axe in the Ceiling Team – photo by Tom Noble