From Comedy To Horror: Perth Fringe World Kicks Off In Style

30 January 2018 | 1:13 pm | Staff Writer

Perth Fringe World is in full swing, and you're still frantically trying to pick apart the massive program, perhaps our coverage from week one will give you some direction.


Best Of Fringe @ Verdict At The Court

26 Jan

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With the majority of the city deserted in the early evening of Australia Day, a room full of dedicated Fringe-goers kicked off the festival with the first ‘Best of’ showcase to whet their appetites for the weeks to come. Always great value, a mini-gala such as this gives an audience short taste-tests of seven comedians, each with their own full-length show. A standout from this particular evening was 2017’s English comedian of the year, Nick Page - a title truly well-deserved with his deadpan comedy and firecracker wit. One last piece of advice - don’t sit in the front row.

Tash Edge


Best Of Edinburgh Comedy @ Red Room at Brass Monkey

26 Jan

You know you’re in for a good show when the host has an entire room in stitches just five minutes in. Showcasing some of Edinburgh Fringe’s finest and hosted by Ray Bradshaw of Deaf Comedy Fam, the Best Of Edinburgh Comedy is a great little try-before-you-buy of a number of acts from across the festival. With an ever-changing lineup, it’s a little bit of fun to kick off a night at Fringe - and perhaps convince festival-goers to go back and see the full-length shows from comedians they may not have heard of. And really, isn’t that what Fringe is all about?

Tash Edge


Best Of Edinburgh Cabaret @ Red Room at Brass Monkey Hotel

26 Jan

If you’re struggling with what to pick this Fringe season, a good place to start is always a ‘Best of’. It’s a lucky dip with each night different from the last, but the quality is high and styles are varied. From a kid’s song about death to a Frenchman giving a sex-ed lesson and a slideshow featuring several pointy objects that shouldn’t be placed in human orifices, the Best Of Edinburgh Cabaret went from side-splitting laughter to recoiling in horror - but in the best way. It’s a little bit different and a little bit nutty - the best parts of Fringe usually are.

Tash Edge


The Drunk Show @ Hellenic Club WA

26 Jan

Never has a show title been more literal - this is exactly what it sounds like. An array of mismatched comedians taking to the stage together, each hungering for their turn on the microphone and heckling the shit out of each other in the meantime. As you’d expect, there’s going to be a few bombs but mostly the guys keep it together and provide a ludicrous show that can’t help but crack a laugh. With varying degrees of sobriety (or lack thereof) between them, it’s a welcome break from scripted comedy and ventures into something a little less comfortable.

Tash Edge


The Maj Gala @ Ace's Cabaret, Downstairs at His Majesty's Theatre

27 Jan

Musicals, magic and comedy - oh my! Bringing a touch of class to this year’s Fringe, The Maj Gala is set in the intimate space downstairs at His Majesty’s and provides a veritable feast of acts from both Ace’s Cabaret and King’s Lair. The gala is perfect for a mature crowd looking to sample this year’s festival over wine and cheese, before deciding on which acts to dabble in further with their full-length shows. A definite highlight was found in Sweden’s Got Talent winners Charlie and Malin, who enthralled the crowd with a short excerpt from their show Minor Miracles.

Tash Edge


Guilty Pleasures @ The Palace Society at Flour Palace

27 Jan

More than a little bit naughty, and sometimes a little bit nice, comes the latest night of raucous entertainment from Perth’s own Lady Velvet Cabaret. Exposing their dirty little secrets to the world, the burlesque (and boylesque!) troupe brought together a titillating mix of classic cabaret elegance with contemporary guilty pleasures that had the whole crowd hooting for more at every turn. Hosted by the decadent Lucinda Panties, it’s a night of sin and debauchery where you just might learn something about yourself, and find a guilty pleasure you never even knew you had.

Tash Edge


For The Roses: Doppelganger Pop’n’Bangers @ The Ellington Jazz Club

28 Feb 2018

Under the Ellington's twinkling lights, Anna-Katarina burst onto the stage in a pink sparkly dress with Ronan taking position behind the keys. From their cute Sonny & Cher I Got You Babe cover to Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong’s Cheek To Cheek they were on fire. Anna’s soulful vocals hit all the notes before Ronan literally took her into his arms and danced cheek to cheek. Apparently it’s not as easy as it looks. From start to finish, the show was a true delight with its amazing energy and talent.

Aneta Grulichova


Matt Tarrant: Unsolved @ The Palace Society at Elizabeth’s Palace

28 Jan

From his very first card trick, magician Matt Tarrant had the room captivated. His goal was simple in theory - provide a show that was forever unsolvable to an entire crowd. Using audience participation for the majority of the night meant that with each trick’s success, the room slowly turned from a healthy scepticism to whispers of wonder and awe. Ending with a twist unique to each night, Tarrant promises to have audiences leaving without solving a thing - just as the name implies. In the words of his Grandma Winnie - “anything is possible”.

Tash Edge


Stranger Danger Dinners: Mystery Meet @ Gusto Gelato

29 Jan

Dinner with a bunch of strangers, organised by a stranger, with no prior knowledge of the mystery dinner location so nobody knows where you are…what could go wrong? After a smashing success at last year’s Fringe, Stranger Danger Dinners returns to the festival in 2018 and if you’re looking for an absurdly enjoyable night out - this dinner couldn’t come with a higher recommendation. With plenty of tricks up their sleeves to keep the conversation flowing, the Strangers have mastered the art of dealing eight guests with a night they’ll not soon forget - all without even having to make an appearance themselves.

Tash Edge


Perth Fringe World runs until 25 February.