Michelle Brasier: Space Tortoise

Melbourne is obsessed with musicals, but charming Wagga Wagga girl Michelle Brasier (Backwards Anorak) has created a quirky, microscale alternative.

Space Tortoise — already seen at Edinburgh Fringe — combines musical theatre, cabaret, guilty pleasure pop, and Brasier's unique brand of artfully awkward comedy. The performing arts star channels a (shiny) tortoise, working in fashion retail, who dreams of following her father into a Russian space program. Telling the story, she powerfully sings numbers by Celine Dion (with wind machine), Adele and... '90s boy band 5ive, all accompanied by Shanon Whitelock on keyboard/keytar. There's crowd participation aplenty. It's ridiculously fun.