Nearly three thousand independent, ambitious artists—in more than 500 events—are at this year's Melbourne Fringe Festival. As they take to the stage, the aim is to entertain, titillate and astonish, perhaps even provoke, challenge or stun.
We’ve prodded a crew of comics (aiming for bums on seats between 30 September and 19 October ), who’ve candidly shared what performer life is really like—and divulged their fave Melbourne haunts.
Robyn Reynolds in What Doesn’t Kill You
Image Credit: Robyn Reynolds | Supplied
What Does Melbourne Mean To You?
" I moved to Melbourne (from Sydney but originally from Gloucester, England) for the comedy and arts scene. It was the first time I moved somewhere to follow my own bizarre dreams. So, this is really cheesy, but to me, Melbourne means freedom.”
Tell Us About Your Show
“My comedy show is essentially trauma but make it funny. It’s a very light-hearted one woman show about everything that didn’t kill me.”
What’s The Best Thing That’s Happened To You, Recently?
“I’m in Italy after selling out the majority of my shows at Edinburgh Fringe. Both of those things have barely sunken in and are definitely the best things that have ever happened to me.”
Favourite Haunts?
What’s Life Like As An Artist/Performer?
“I’ll let you know, if I ever make enough money as a performer to quit my day job! Ha ha ha ….ha.”
Book your tickets here.
Sammy J in Fiasco: A Burke and Wills Musical
Image Credit: Sammy J | Supplied
Thoughts On Melbourne?
“Growing up down on the Peninsula, Melbourne used to mean the glittering little skyline across the bay, which I rarely went to. Then in high school it meant the cool place to escape to on a train from Frankston. Now, decades later, it’s very much my home. I love living in a city where I feel almost as comfortable as I do in my own bedroom—every street corner has a memory attached to it.”
What’s Your Show About?
“My show is called “Fiasco: A Burke & Wills Musical”, and I’m telling the story of the ill-fated explorers who walked from Melbourne to the Gulf of Carpentaria back in 1860, then died on the return journey because they didn’t know how to survive in the bush and were completely indifferent to the assistance that the First Nations mob were offering.
They’ve kind of been held up as Australian heroes for many years, but I find it fascinating that Australia, as a Commonwealth country, didn’t even exist back then—and these guys were from Ireland and England. So, they’re curious choices for national heroes and I’m really excited to explore that.”
Best Thing That’s Happened, Recently?
“I actually finished the first draft of my show, which was a nice little moment. I couldn’t celebrate very loudly because it was one a.m. and my kids were asleep. Of course, being a first draft, most of it is s**t—but at least now I can put on my goggles and wade into the s**t looking for specks of gold.”
Melbourne Haunts?
“Recently, I’ve been literally haunted in my favourite haunt—writing my show in the Royal Society of Victoria headquarters, which is a lovely biscuit-tin of a building in the heart of Melbourne where all of the planning for the original Burke & Wills expedition took place. They actually displayed their bodies there for two weeks when their remains were brought back down to Melbourne. I’m not sure if their ghosts are happy with the songs I’m writing, but they should have thought about that before they died in the outback.”
Book your tickets here.
Juliet Sironi in Crazy Bird Lady
Image Credit: Juliet Sironi | Supplied
What Does Melbourne Mean To You?
“Melbourne is like a magnet for me – I have travelled all around the world, but I call Melbourne my home. There’s a magic in the air. I love going up into the hills, where I do choir and drive past random hills and beautiful, fragrant lemon-scented gums and ferny rainforest.”
Tell Us About Your Show
“This is my one-woman Fringe debut. All my life, I have loved birds … did you know that ravens are natural anti-depressants? It’s part comedy, part storytelling—all heart.”
Who Or What Makes You Laugh?
“I’m a huge fan of Nelly Thomas, Wed Snelling/Tina Del Twist, Jack Brady, Alice Fraser and Catherine Deveny. But if I want a guaranteed laugh that I can enjoy and experience every day—five beaks up (five stars in human talk) to my wonderful ravens.”
Thoughts On Melbourne Fringe?
“It’s weird, wacky and full of WTF moments. Whatever your vibe, whatever you can dream of (or not) this Festival has you covered.”
Favourite Haunts?
“My very own haunted house on the coast. The Great Ocean Road. Phillip Island and its excellent pizza place. Point Lonsdale. Emerald.”
What’s Performer Life Like?
“I do believe we need to do more to ensure a living wage for artists. Art takes time, perseverance and commitment. Anyone can make great art in their living room but there’s something special when others see it.”
Book your tickets here.
Natalia Sledz in Puss Puss
Image Credit: Natalia Sledz | Supplied
How Do You Feel About Melbourne?
“To me, Melbourne means community, creativity and personal growth.”
Describe Your Show
“It’s a solo character-comedy-clown show written and performed by me. I play local scaredy-cat PUSS PUSS, who is trying desperately to face her fear of water. It’s physical, playful and chaotic, exploring the notions of what it means to let go of the fear and leap into the spirit of play.”
Favourite Haunts?
“I love a sunny picnic at Edinburgh Gardens, a stroll along Merri Creek with coffee in hand and an unhinged Karaoke sesh and boogie at Benjys Karaoke Bar in Brunswick.”
Life As A Performer
“It can be disheartening and challenging but the joy of performing and creating a space of play and connection is what gives it all meaning.”
Book your tickets here.
Tom Ballard in JKS: A Comedy
Image Credit: Tom Ballard | Supplied
What Does Melbourne Mean To You?
“It means home, excellent bike paths and powerful theatre (e.g. Witches in Britches).”
Describe Your Show
“It’s a new, funny play about what it means to be funny. Kevin Hofbauer, Nicky Barry, Jordan Barr, Tiana Hogben and I play five comedians hanging out backstage at a gig, fighting over that comedy is, what it isn’t and what it should be.”
Love (Or Not) About Fringe?
“I think the Fringe does an incredible job of encouraging weirdos to make cool new weird sh*t and I really admire their commitment to accessibility. The only downside is that not enough Melburnians know the Fringe is on or simply don’t consider checking it out.”
Favourite Haunts?
“Comedy Republic on Bourke Street is not just a brilliant comedy club, it has a great bar and everyone who works there is nice and funny. Same goes for Grouse Melbourne on Smith Street.”
Tell Us About Life As A Performer
“Ridiculous! Often precarious, sometimes THRILLING, frequently frustrating—but never boring. Comedians will bitch and complain always and forever, but deep down I think we all know how lucky we are to do this absolute flim-flam of a job.”
Book your tickets here.
Joshua Ladgrove in Joshua Ladgrove is your guest host on your Christmas Eve edition of the Denis Walter Show
Image Credit: Joshua Ladgrove | Supplied
Thoughts On Melbourne?
“Melbourne is like my first love and no matter where on Earth I am, I always hear her calling me home. It has the perfect blend of art, sport, culture, music, food, comfort and grime. Autumn in Melbourne is unmatched, as though the city is made for the season. My connection to Melbourne is visceral and infinite.”
What Or Who Makes You Laugh … Hard?
“At the moment, it's just Instagram videos of dogs doing incredibly smooth-brained things. Old Simpsons episodes, too.”
What Do You Like (Or Not) About Fringe?
“First of all, there's nothing to dislike and so my question is what's not to like?! I like the spirit of experimentation it fosters. Bring on the weirdos!”
Favourite Haunts?
“Fortune Dumpling in the CBD. Seamstress for cocktails.”
Book your tickets here.
Danielle Walker in Tinkering
Image Credit: Danielle Walker | Supplied
Tell Us About Your Show
“I’ll be working on a bunch of different stories, about my childhood, relationships, sleeping bags, my favourite car parks, maybe global shop direct. I think it’s really gonna change lives.”
Best Thing To Happen Recently?
“I managed to clip my dog’s nails without him freaking out.”
What’s To Love (Or Not) About Fringe?
“There’s so much strange stuff to go watch during Fringe that’s hard to find outside Fringe. I once saw a man just stand on stage and eat a full stick of butter. Loved it.”
Places To Hang-Out?
“Coburg Pool (to swim), Red Triangle Pool Hall ( to play), Spleen on a Monday and Coopers Inn on a Friday.”
Describe Life As A Performer
“It’s truly a nightmare and I wish I had listened to my mum and done business education at school. I COULD’VE HAD A SUCCESSFUL DOG KENNEL BY NOW!!!”
Book your tickets here.
Melbourne Fringe Festival runs from 30 September to 19 October 19.
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