Posts

Cluedo → Her Majesty’s Theatre

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  Absolutely NOTHING is normal, calm or civilised at this dinner party at Boddy Manor. Based on the film Clue and the boardgame, Cluedo is a chaotic, comedic twist on a classic whodunnit tale. Six suspects, six murder weapons and many, many doors, Cluedo throws the audience straight onto the board, only this time, we are not the ones rolling the dice…! Under the direction of Luke Joslin, is a killer (wink) cast of Australian talent playing each of the suspects, staff and guests at this cursed manor. We have Rachel Beck as Mrs White, Laurence Boxhall as Rev. Green, Olivia Deeble as Miss Scarlett, David James and Professor Plum, Genevieve Lemon as Mrs Peacock and Adam Murphy as Colonel Mustard. The onstage dynamic between these six is just outrageously hilarious. Every mannerism of their characters is amplified to the maximum and the fiery banter between them does not let up!  In the particularly heated moments of the show, our heads ping pong from left to right, to left again ...

Australia’s Worst Journalist → Adelaide Fringe

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  Sweeney Preston’s charming face pops up on many different boards come each Adelaide Fringe season. You most likely recognise him from In Pour Taste or The Late Nite Powerpoint Comedy Showcase alongside Ethan Cavanagh (both are a hoot!). This year, Sweeney also performed TWO solo shows. His newer work, One Man Stand Up Comedy Slam Poetry Supershow and Australia’s Worst Journalist . I managed to squeeze in the final show of the latter, which was added due to popular demand!  Sweeney claims he is “Australia’s Worst Journalist,” because whilst he was writing dating advice articles, his actual love life was a walking contradiction. The message he unpacks is simple: we love dishing out advice but never heed it ourselves, and hey, that’s something we can collectively laugh at. In Australia’s Worst Journalist, Sweeney invites us into the chaos behind his byline in an hour of hilarious, oversharing storytelling! Sweeney has a smooth and witty style of comedy that marks him as a natur...

Bond Songs → Adelaide Fringe

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Bond Songs, a smooth, suave and spy-chic musical performance that celebrates the discography of the James Bond franchise. Backed by a three-piece jazz band, award winning artists Oliver John and Leticia Lee sing us through the many eras of the music of 007.  Bond Songs is another excellent show crafted by Oliver John. Oliver has a way of stitching together music-centred shows to be more than a concert, taking us through informative anecdotes about musical history as well as an array of engaging scenes whilst singing. For a one-hour Fringe show, the set list is stacked, not all songs are sung though fully, which I think works perfectly here. The show is divided into their favourite songs from each decade, with an interesting sharing of facts about the artists involved in the soundtracks. We take an enjoyable musical ride that begins in the 60s with Shirley Bassey, all the way to the present with Billie Eilish! From Thunderball to Skyfall, Oliver and Leticia absolutely nail t...

Trophy Boys → State Theatre SA

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  State Theatre’s 2026 season is officially underway, and what a knockout show to start off with! This is Trophy Boys written by Emmanuelle Mattana, which has finally made its way to Adelaide after its sold out National Tour and Off-Broadway season. Trophy Boys takes an almighty punch at male privilege in a satirical play set in the confines of a classroom. It’s an extremely clever and deeply penetrating work considering our current societal climate. This is the show that everyone needs to sit down, shut up and see ASAP!  It's the Grand Finale of the Year 12 Interschool Debating Tournament, and the team from an elite all-boys school are locked in a room for their one-hour prep window, forced to argue that “feminism has failed women.” You can smell the Lynx Africa that would be penetrating these halls as the four students come hollering in. From the outset, all stereotypes of the ‘private school boy’ archetype are there in a far-too-relateable way. There’s Owen (Myfanwy Hocki...

Tomas Clifford Got Stood Up → Adelaide Fringe

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I’m going to get straight to the point. Tomas Clifford is a star. His cabaret style is in a league of its own. This show was phenomenal! That is all. …but please keep reading!  From Perth/Boorloo, Tomas Clifford brought his award-winning musical cabaret Tomas Clifford Got Stood Up to the Adelaide Fringe. Tomas has composed a full show that stemmed from a fateful evening where his date never showed up. And to that person, I say thank you, because thanks to him, this magnificent cabaret was born! Tomas takes us through many comedic stories and anecdotes from his childhood to adulthood, giving us a real coming of age narrative about identity and coming out.  Where Tomas stands above the rest, is that he is backed by a live jazz band of six musicians (on, keys, trumpet, saxophone, drums, guitar and bass) and two backup vocalists. As a result, Tomas’ score and storytelling becomes even more amplified and immersive. Leveling up the production value, is Tomas’ flashy use of lighting,...

Fuccbois Live in Concert → Adelaide Fringe

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This band is every woman’s worst nightmare. Yet somehow these lovable goofs have made their way into the hearts of millions of fans, and Adelaide Fringe gets the pleasure of seeing their final show EVER as a boy band. Fuccbois Live in Concert is an absolute riot from start to finish! I think I died laughing.  The band consists of Brendan, Brandon, Tyler and Also Brendan, who are played by an amazing cast of women in male drag: Bridie Connell, Clara Harrison, Vidya Makan, Megan Walshe. The show also features Orya Golgowsky as Micaela, The Tour Manager.  The audience is instantly thrown into the stadium filled with 90,000 fans, as the band just tries to get through their final show without any major, career-ending debacles. You will have to see for yourself if they actually get through it…!  The cast just nail the exaggerated mannerisms and every stereotype that exists about a group of talentless lads who skyrocketed to fame. From the band member who falls in love with ever...

Beautiful Lies → Adelaide Fringe

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  Thematically approaching the concept of ‘lies,’ Matt Hawke has crafted a beautiful debut Fringe show that is equally comedic and reflective. Hawke’s concept asks us to consider the lies that we are told from birth, the white lies we tell others, and the lies we tell ourselves, reflecting on their impacts across our lives.  Hawke begins with an at ease charisma and dry sense of humour that lands with the audience instantly. In between his anecdotes, are the songs he has composed for the show. Some of them exaggerated and satirical (like the one about John Cena faking his wrestling, LOL) and others written to be impactful and emotive. His final, gentle song titled Beautiful Lies is particularly impactful, as just his soft vocals and guitar hum through the audience.  I admired how he unapologetically lets the audience into his wild thoughts and worries, using his cheeky and dark humour to his advantage, crafting a unique cabaret style. When the show comes full circle to it...