Fringe World 2021 is well and truly in action, and while this year’s lineup is missing the usual slew of international imports, we’re still incredibly lucky to have a huge selection of cackle-inducing comedians to choose from. And after the year that was, we could all use a laugh, right?
From the ridiculous ‘What the hell did I just watch?’ kind of shows to classic stand up from industry icons, you’ll find plenty of shows guaranteed to get you giggling.
Here are the best comedy shows at Fringe World 2021.
A-Z of Dance
Price: $20 to $35 | Buy Tickets
Irish comedian Dave Callan and his crew of dancers are enlisting the power of comedic dance, taking you backwards through the alphabet from zorba to aerobics, and trust us, it’s the perfect amount of silly—you’ll be in stitches before they even make it past W. Grab a few rounds of drinks and let the chuckles commence.
Comedy Hypnotist Matt Hale: Bonkers
PRICE: $35 | BUY TICKETS
There’s a reason why comedy hypnotist Matt Hale’s shows sell out year after year: it’s beyond funny to watch random strangers get hypnotised up on stage and put through hilarious scenarios. Yes, you might find hypnotism a little hard to believe, but even the biggest non-believers need to see Matt Hale’s award-winning antics at least once in their life. Whether you're clapping along from the safety of your own seat, or getting involved in the fun on stage (it's all 100% voluntary, remember), the show will have you laughing from start to finish.
Comma Sutra
Price: $36 to $42 | Buy Tickets
If grammar mistakes, puns and wordplay is the kinda thing that gets you going, you won’t want to miss award-winning comedian Louisa Fitzhardinge’s show, Comma Sutra. A self-confessed grammar nerd, Louisa delivers sophisticated and witty grammatical gags that will have you laughing along in agreeance from the get-go. Well either that, or you might just learn how to use the word ‘literally’ correctly.
The Comedy Stylings Of Pete Rowsthorn And Frankie
Price: $30 | Buy Tickets
Looking for a guaranteed giggle? Catch the legendary comedy stylings of Aussie icon Pete Rowsthorn (aka Bretty from the much-loved Aussie TV show Kath & Kim) and Frankie. With 37 years under his comedic belt, rest assured Pete knows how to get a laugh. On the other hand, there’s Frankie, a gutsy fresh-faced 18-year-old joining Pete on the laugh train. We hear she’s pretty talented though, so this is a good chance to catch her while she’s on the rise.
Me Too The Musical
Price: $30 to $35 | Buy Tickets
We reckon music and comedy goes hand in hand. Throw in a good splash of controversy, self deprecation and heart, and you get Me Too The Musical. From social fails to Tinder traumas, this production takes you on a hilarious journey of female empowerment as our hero Annie wonders why she’s not lucky enough to be part of the ‘Me Too’ movement.
The Laugh Resort 9 At 9
Price: $20 | Buy Tickets
If you're not good at making decisions, head straight to Perth's longest-running comedy club and check out The Laugh Resort's 9 at 9. Every Wednesday night they'll have nine comedians up on stage to give you a taste of what's to come in each of their Fringe shows. It's a different line up every week so you might as well go ahead and book tickets to the remaining shows now.
Nicki Wilkinson: Beaver Cheeks
Price: $15 to $25 | Buy Tickets
Nicki Wilkinson is one of UK’s finest comedic exports and thankfully she decided to hop on a plane and move to Australia before the pandemic hit (don’t worry, she’s germ free)—making her one of the few international acts at Fringe this year. She ended up crafting an entire show on the misconceptions around body image after one off-the-cuff comment from an ex about her beaver cheeks. Relatable, charming and absolutely hilarious, her comedic musings are not to be missed.
3 Course Comedy
Price: $20 to $25 | Buy Tickets
Michael Shafar, Peter Jones and Joseph Green have really done it tough to make their way to Perth for Fringe World, spending two weeks quarantining in Adelaide just to make it through the border. But blimey, we’re glad they did. You may not know these names off the top of your head, but you have most definitely had a laugh at their jokes. They’ve spent years writing jokes and bringing the laughs to the likes of Channel 10's The Project, ABC's Comedy Bites, triple j's Good Az Friday, NOVA's Hits & Giggles and more.
Need more Fringe? Hit up all our picks of the best Fringe World shows on offer this year.
Image credit: Mac1Photography