Adelaide Fringe: Fear & Delight: The Complete Experience

How do you articulate something that has blown your mind into a thousand pieces and then attempted to glue it back together using koala brains as the adhesive?

You can’t, but this is us trying. Warning: if you’re planning to see Fear & Delight: The Complete Experience we don’t recommend reading onwards. Seriously, go into this Adelaide Fringe performance without any prior knowledge of what could be lurking around the corner.

You’ve got two choices when it comes to Fear & Delight and while the more expensive option ‘comes with dinner’ you soon discover that you’re the main meal. You’ll be charmed to the periphery of your sanity by the mysterious show guides where you’ll question everything you thought was normal. If you have a weak stomach, lock yourself in for The Show aspect only, but do so at your own peril, as the journey beforehand is unreal.

The night is shrouded in mystery that begins when you’re handpicked and given a mask that hides your identity. Don’t wear glasses. Prepare to be spoon-fed by a well hung man before taking your seat to consume skull soup, tentacle cake and koala brains amongst other ‘delights’, while washing it all down with an exquisite selection of wines from D’Arenberg.

The physical performance was impressive, but if you’ve seen Limbo, also created by Strut & Fret, you’ll be left wanting more. Featuring gravity-defying acts, interpretive dance and something resembling a giant condom –we won’t even try to explain – the show is complemented by dark, brooding music from The Correspondents that you can feel rattling your bones.  

Be sure to experience the G&T shed afterwards. If you’re feeling adventurous and don’t mind getting your gear off, ask one of the performers after the show to enlighten you.

This show encapsulates everything that the Fringe is about. It’s mysterious, intriguing, sexy and awe-inspiring. If there’s one show you should see, without a glimmer of doubt, it is Fear & Delight: The Complete Experience.

Garden Of Unearthly Delights to 15 Mar