Week 1 - Middle of the Road

Escape Room Treasure Hunt – Escape The Past! Award Winner Theatre, Page 106, The Escape Room, The Pleasure Garden, Map B, Venue #7, 20/1-11/2, Times Vary 330pm to 930pm, 90 Minutes, $35-$40 

Monroe & Associates, Award Winner, Theatre, Page 109, Frankies Caravan, Fringe Central, Map A, Venue #13, 20/-12/2, Times Vary Between 330pm and 11pm, 75 Minutes, $56 

Alan Anderson: Whisky For Dafties, Comedy, Page 45, The Brass Monkey , Northbridge, Map C, Venue #23, 20-23/1, 25/1, 515pm, 90 Minutes, $26 

Kai Humphries: How To Be Happy, TV Work, Reviewed, Comedy Page 63, The Brass Monkey Hotel, Northbridge, Map C, Venue #23, Times And Dates Vary Between 545pm And 815pm, 60 Minutes, $15-$17.50 

Matt Tarrant – Honestly Dishonest, Award Winner, Cabaret, Page 18, Noodle Palace, Fringe Central, Map A, Venue #1, 20-25/1, 27-29/1, 31/1, 1-5/2, 7-12/2, 14-19/2, 640pm, 60 Minutes, $23-$31 

Taunts Down For What, TV & Radio Work, Comedy, Page 75, Noodle Palace, Fringe Central, Map A, V #1, 20-22/1, 640pm, 50 Minutes, $21 

Matt Stewart – Pretty Dry, Award Winner, Comedy, Page 66, Noodle Palace, Fringe Central, Map A, Venue #1, 20-21/1, 23-25/1, 27-28/1, 650pm, 50 Minutes, $21-$25 

Jeff Green: Honestly! Award Winner, Reviewed, Comedy, Page 52, The Gold Digger, Fringe Central, Map A, Venue #6, 20-22/1, 7pm, 60 Minutes, $31 

Jewish-ish, TV Work, Reviewed, Comedy, Page 60, Pizza Hut, Northbridge, Map C, Venue #16, 20-21/1, 27-27/1, 7pm, 50 Minutes, $18-$21 

Yianni Agisilaou: The Unpinchable Pink Pen, Reviewed, Comedy, Page 79, The Hidden Bar, Northbridge, Map C, Venue #10, 20-22/1, 27-29/1, 2-5/2, 730pm, 60 Minutes, $16-$20 

Lemo – The Family Lifeboat, TV Work, State Library Of WA – Theatre, Fringe Central, Map A, Venue #2, 20-21/1, 745pm, 60 Minutes, $36 

Price Tag, Theatre, Page 111, The Blue Room Theatre, Fringe Central, Map A, Venue #8, 20/1, 7pm, 21-22/1, 24-25/1, 27-28/1, 8pm, 60 Minutes, $21-$26 

Furnace & The Fundamentals, Music & Musicals, Page 96, Metro City, Northbridge, Map C, Venue #11, 21/1, 9pm, 3/2, 8pm, 90 Minutes, $30 

Jon Bennett: The Jason Donovan Board Game, Reviewed, Comedy, Page 61, The Gold Digger, Fringe Central, Map A, V #16, 20-22/1, 24-25/1, 27-29/1, 830pm, 60 Minutes, $15-$19.50 

Lawrence Mooney…Like Literally, Reviewed, Comedy, Page, Page 63, Rosie O'Grady’s, Northbridge, Map C, Venue #12, 30-31/1, 1-5/2, 830pm, 60 Minutes, $26-$36 

So Fresh: The Fairly Average Dance Party, Music & Musicals, Page 101, The Ellington Jazz Club, Northbridge, Map C, Venue #7, 20-24/1, 830pm, 55 Minutes, $23 

Damian Callinan And Paul Calleja: The Wine Buffs, Comedy, Page 52, Noodle Palace, Fringe Central, Map A, Venue #1, 20-22/1, 24-25/1, 27-29/1, 1-2/2, 850pm 60 Minutes, $24-$31 

Funk Club Presents: One Night In Brasil, Music & Musicals, Page 96, De Parel Spiegeltent, Fringe Central, Map A, Venue #20, 20/1, 930pm, 60 Minutes, $20 

Will Greenaway: A Night To Dismember, Award Winner, Award Nominated, Theatre, Page 115, The Blue Room Theatre, Fringe Central, Map A, Venue #8, 21-22/1, 24-25/1, 27-28/1, 930pm, 60 Minutes, $21-$29 

Wyatt Nixon-Lloyd Parallel University, Theatre, Page 115, The Flaming Locomotive At AGWA, Fringe Central, Map A, Venue #4, 20-21/1, 24-25/1, 27-28/1, 930pm, 60 Minutes, $16-$21 

Jamie MacDonald & Tom Thum, Award Winner, Reviewed, Music & Musicals, Page 97, Circus Theatre, Fringe Central, Map A, V #5, 20-27/1, 945pm, 60 Minutes, $26-$31 

Zach & Viggo: Thunder Flop, Award Winner, Reviewed, Comedy, Page 79, Noodle Palace, Fringe Central, Map A, Venue #1, 20-22/1, 23-25/1, 27-28/1, 31/1, 1-4/2, 1010pm, 60 Minutes, $17-$21 

Bane 2, Theatre, Page 105, The Shambles, Fringe Central, Map A, Venue #15, 20-25/1, 1030pm, 60 Minutes,  $29 

(Late Night) Gameshow, Award Winner, Comedy, Page 63, Noodle Palace, Fringe Central, Map A, Venue #1, 20-21/1, 27-28/1, 3-4/2, 10-11/2, 17-18/2, 1040pm, 60 Minutes, $21-$26 

Massaoke, Award Winner, Music & Musicals, Page 97, De Parel Spiegeltent, Fringe, Central, Map A, Venue #20, 20-21/1, 26-28/1, 9-11/2, 11pm, 120 Minutes, $21-26

Week 1 - Safe (Western Suburbs Tasting Plate)

Faulty Towers The Dining Experience, Reviewed, Theatre, Page 107, Rigby's Bar, Perth, Map D, Venue #5, 20-1/19/2, Times Vary Between 1pm And 7pm, 120 Minutes, $100-$106 

Velvet, Award Winner, Cabaret, Page 26, The West Australian Spigeltent, The Pleasure Garden, Map B, Venue #1, 20/1-19/2, Times Vary Between 430pm and 7pm, 80 Minutes, $36-$86 

Thom Pain, (Based On Nothing), Theatre, Page 114, The Regal Theatre, West Side, Map H, Venue #8, 20-21/1, 2-4/2, 8pm, 21/1, 4/2, 530pm, 25/1, 27-28/1, 645pm, 70-80 Minutes, $26 

Launch Party, Cabaret, Page 18, Downstairs At His Maj, Perth, Map D, Venue #4, 21/1, 6pm, 50 Minutes, $25 

Barbu, Award Winner, Circus, Page 36, Salon Perdu Spiegeltent, The Pleasure Garden, Map B, Venue #4, 21-25/1, 630pm, 20-21/1, 25/1, 27-29/1, 31/1, 1-3/2, Times Vary Between 630pm and 10pm, 70 Minutes, $41-$50.50 

Anatomically Incorrect Gentlemen, Music & Musicals, Page 92, The Ellington Jazz Club, Northbridge, Map C, Venue #7, 20-22/1, 7pm, 55 Minutes, $16-$21 

La Soiree, Cabaret, Page 18, The Edith Spiegeltent, Fringe At Cathedral Square, Map E, Venue #3, 13/1-26/2, Times Vary Between 7pm And 930pm, 120 Minutes, $36-$90 

For Love Or Money, Cabaret, Page 17, Downstairs At The Maj, Perth, Map D, Venue #4, 21/1, 24-25/1, 27-28/1, 31/1, 1-4/2, 730pm, 50 Minutes, $31-$40 

The Rhytham Spectacular – Music Of Beyonce RELOADED, Award Winner, Music & Musicals, Page 101, De Parel Spiegeltent, Fringe Central, Map A, Venue #20, 20-24/1, 745pm, 60 Minutes, $21-$31 

Bane, Award Winner, Theatre, Page 104, Salon Perdu Spiegeltent, The Pleasure Garden, Map B, Venue #4, 20/1, 630pm, 20-24/1, 815pm, 60 Minutes, $29 

Kollisiion, Cabaret, Page 18, Downstairs At His Maj, Perth, Map D, Venue #4, 21/1, 24-25/1, 27-28/1, 9pm, 60 Minutes, $31-$40 

Limbo, Award Winner, Circus, Page 39, The West Australian Spiegeltent, The Pleasure Garden, Map B, Venue #1, 20/1-19/2, Times Vary Between 9pm And 1045pm, 70 Minutes, $36-$86   

Cabaret Royalty Pageant, Cabaret, Page 12, De Parel Spiegeltent, Fringe Central, Map A, Venue #20, 22/1, 930pm, 60 Minutes, $26

Piano Bar, Cabaret, Page 26, Downstairs At His Maj, Perth, Map D, Venue #4, 21/1, 28/1, 1015pm, 90 Minutes, $16

The West Australia Spiegeltent - Home to Velvet, a "must see" cabaret show

Week 1 - Girl Power

Blooms & Bubbles, Free & Community Events, Page 88, Sunset Veranda, West Side, Venue #11, 22/1, 29/1, 5/2, 515pm, 29/1, 5/2, 330pm, 90 Minutes, $29-$31 

Will You Accept This Nose? Award Winner, Comedy, Page 79, Noodle Palace, Fringe Central, Map A, Venue #1, 20-21/1, 620pm, 50 Minutes, $16-$24 

I Wish I Owned A Hotel For Dogs, Reviewed, Noodle Palace, Fringe Central, Map A, Venue #1, 20-21/1, 24-25/1, 640pm, 50 Minutes, $19-$22.50 

Onstage Dating, Award Winner, Reviewed, Theatre, Page 109, The Shambles, Fringe Central, Map A, Venue# 15, 20-25/1, 730pm, 60 Minutes, $25 

If My Body Was A Poem, Theatre, Page 108, Paper Mountain, Northbridge, Map C, Venue #17, 20-26/1, 8pm, 45 Minutes, $20.50-$24 

Erotic Intelligence For Dummies, Reviewed, Comedy, Page 55, Pizza Hut, Northbridge, Map C, Venue #16, 20-22/1, 25/1, 27-28/1, 830pm, 55 Minutes, $21-$25

 Amy Hows SMASHCAT, Comedy, Page 46, The Shambles, Fringe Central, Map A, Venue #15, 20-25/1, 9pm, 60 Minutes, $12-$16 

Drunk Girl, Theatre, Page 106, The Blue Room Theatre, Fringe Central, Map A, Venue #8, 20/1, 8pm, 21-22/1, 24-25/1, 9pm, 55 Minutes, $23-$26 

Temuan (The Meeting), Theatre, Page 113, State Theatre Centre, Fringe Central, Map A, Venue #19, 20-21/1, 24-25/1, 27-28/1, 915pm, 60 Minutes, $19-$26 

Becky Lou – Real Women, Cabaret, Page 11, Noodle Palace, Fringe Central, Map A, Venue #1, 20-28/1, 10pm, 55 Minutes, $19-$26 

Clittery Clittery: A Consensual Party, Cabaret, Page 17, The Gold Digger, Fringe Central, Map A, Venue #16, 20-21/1, 27-28/1, 1130pm, 55 Minutes, $21-$26

Perth Fringe World 2017 - Curated Lists

Fringe World 2017 - Week by Week

I’ve attempted to make your Fringe Binge easier to plan by listing our suggested acts for each week of Fringe World 2017. Fringe always starts on the third Friday of January and runs for four and a half weeks (Friday 20^th January to Sunday 19^th February). I like weeks to start on a Monday and finish on Sunday. So, week 1 includes only Friday 20^th to Sunday 22^nd January.

The curated lists are not a comprehensive list of all 715 shows at Fringe World 2017. I have put these lists together by selecting shows that have won awards in previous Fringe Festivals in Perth or elsewhere, shows that have been reviewed and received a four or five star rating from newspapers or magazines, and shows that have been nominated for awards. I’ve also included shows that we have seen and enjoyed, shows that sound interesting and those shows in the largest venues. If you don’t like any of my suggestions, take a punt! The Fringe World 2017 website this year has advanced search features. Go to www.fringeworld.com.au, click on ‘All Events’ under ‘What’s On’ and search away using the category filters to narrow you list.

The lists below are based on shows that are in ‘Fringe Central’, ‘The Pleasure Garden’, ‘Northbridge’, ‘Perth’, and ‘Fringe at Cathedral Square’ with the odd show from ‘West Side’. It’s easier to cover a few shows a night if they are close together. If you live in or near one of the other ‘Fringe Hubs’ and don’t want to travel into Perth, look at the other fringe hubs at the very back of the catalogue and search that hub on the website.

ONE WEEK AT A TIME

Yes, I know there are lots of lists! Take a deep breath and only look at week 1 shows first. Remember, they are in week and time order to help you plan.  

Cheap & Free

I have listed all ‘Cheap & Free’ shows regardless of what Fringe Hub they are in, Perth, Fremantle, or Mandurah etc. Some shows fit very easily into one of the six show categories I have created. Some do not! Have a read of each one and see which appeal to you. 

Girl Power

I created this category after we saw Yana Alana. Between the Cracks in 2015. She owned the stage and enthralled everyone in the audience. So, if you’re a woman or want to support women kicking arse, this is the list for you!  

Safe (Western Suburbs Tasting Plate)

If you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth, or use one to pleasure your own anus, this is the list for you…   Safe doesn’t mean boring. It just means little or no swearing! The shows in this section are generally in the smart locations of ‘Fringe at Cathedral Square’, His Majesty’s Theatre, Heath Ledger Theatre and the large Spiegeltents. The reason for doing this list is to get those 1%er’s out of their panic rooms in the Western Suburbs and into the hurly burly of Fringe. 

Middle of The Road

These shows have less swearing than the ‘Very Hot’ ‘UV Rated’ shows. This list is like the ‘Safe’ list, but the venues don’t have a posh postcode. They have a slightly off-Broadway postcode of 6003…Northbridge. 

Queer Content

The shows in this section have LGBTI themes.  

One-Off Events

I have listed all the ‘One-Off’ shows regardless of which Fringe Hub they are in.  

Subversive

This list contains all the shows that have a ‘High’ or ‘Very High’ ‘UV Rating’.  

Bogan Bundle

Just when I thought I was ‘listed-out’, I felt guilty about leaving out the ‘Bogans’. Look here for great Burlesque shows and your very own Bogan Bingo! Make an effort and put some shoes on… 

If it’s all too much!

If my recommendations below are all too much to look through, head into a Fringe Hub, see what’s listed for the night and randomly select a few shows….   You can’t go too wrong….

Perth Fringe 2017 General Notes

When should I go to Fringe?

If a show runs all week, Monday to Sunday, which night should I go? How busy do you like places to be? If you don’t like too many people, why not go on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday. Thursday to Sunday is busiest. It’s also harder to find parking in Perth and Northbridge on these days. If you are going to go between Thursday and Sunday, allow plenty of time to find a parking spot, so you don’t miss the start of a show. If you’re late, you might not be allowed in immediately.

Australia Day is always quiet at Fringe, so if you don’t like crowds, go Fringe mad on this day! Look for our separate Australia Day post to see what’s on at Fringe on 26^th January.  

Take a punt

The size of the venue provides some guide as to how popular a show is going to be. The biggest venues are the Spiegeltents, The Heath Ledge Theatre, The Regal Theatre and Downstairs at His Maj. We have also seen some real gems at smaller venues like Charlie Hides Who in 2015 and Tort E Mort in 2016 at Connections Night Club.

For every mainstream show that you see, take a punt on a smaller show. Look for the smaller shows that have ‘Reviewed’, ‘Award Winner’, or ‘Award Nominated’ status; they must be good to appear in any or all the above categories. Brendon Burns & Craig Quartermaine: Race Off, Comedy, Page 50, has four four-star reviews, but the show is in ‘Pizza Hut Northbridge’ for $21-$26! 

Support your Local Fringe Hub

Support your local venues. Look at the list at the back of the catalogue. Whether your in ‘Fremantle’, ‘South Side’, ‘West Side’, ‘North Side’, or ‘Outer Metro & Regional’, make sure you support your local venues. That way ‘Fringe Hubs’ return to your suburb next year! It has never been easier with the search engine on the website, www.fringeworld.com.au.  

Who’s from Where?

There is a two or three letter code above the ‘UV Rating Symbol’ which tells you where the act is from: ‘AUS’ a mix of performers from different parts of Australia. ‘IE’ Ireland, ‘GB’ Great Britain etc. Western Australian shows, for the first time, are denoted by ‘WA’, highlighted with a bronze background. I haven’t chosen shows based on the geographic origin of performers, just on whether they are ‘Award Winners, ‘Award Nominated’ or ‘Reviewed’. 

Smut

As a rule, the later the show, the ruder it can get. Grandparents, have an afternoon nap. Get up just as the sun is going down and take in all the smut and filth you can as the night gets longer. Who knows, you might bump into your grandchildren! 

Spelling mistakes

Before the teachers and highly educated among you get on your high horses and say “THAT’S NOT HOW YOU SPELL IT!”, some acts have chosen to deliberately use “creative” spelling. I’ve just used the titles the acts have provided!

A Guide to the FRINGE WORLD Festival 2017 Catalogue

If you don't have a copy, you should be able to grab one at most bars and cafes around Perth.

The description of each act has more content on-line than in the catalogue. If the same on-line text was replicated in the catalogue, it would be twice the size! It’s already massive! If you read the catalogue and like the sound of a show, you can go on-line for a bit more information.  

Cabaret, Pages 10 to 27, 105 Acts

Cabaret spans the gamut from Burlesque to Mind readers to Divas in Drag, (Not real Divas if you get my drift)! Singing, dancing, piano playing, stripping, simulated sex, the list goes on. 

Children’s Events, Pages 28 to 35, 46 Acts

We haven’t reviewed this section, being two middle aged gay gentlemen. Is that a Western Ground Parrot I can see over there…hum de hum de hum de hum… 

Circus, Pages 36 to 41, 23 Acts

Traditional, modern, ‘variety circus’ (burlesque with circus),  

Comedy, Pages 42 to 79, 303 Acts

Comedy has had the biggest section in Fringe for a few years now. There are 303 shows! We haven’t seen most of them. I have chosen quite a few Comedy shows which appear on the ‘Curated Lists’. If you only want to do Comedy, start reading… 

Dance & Physical Theatre, Pages 80 to 83, 15 Acts

I don’t dance, so don’t ask me…literally. The one show that stands out to the untrained eye is Djuki Mala, Award Winner, Page 80. 

Film, Pages 84 to 87, 5 Acts

Professional Wrestling trivia to David Bowie! 

Free & Community Events, Pages 88 to 91, 26 Acts

Lot’s of interesting one-off and multi-day events, worth a complete read.

Galentine’s Day Dinner at Lamont’s Bishops House, Perth, is a night of fine dining, storytelling, comedy and conversation. At $117 per person, it's neither free nor a ‘Community Event’. More like a gig for the ‘One Percenters’!!! Could this be the worst placed show in the catalogue? 

Music & Musicals, Pages 92 to 103, 76 Acts

This category is very diverse this year, including: classical, jazz, and a lot of pop/rock. Production Company ‘The Sociate Creative’ are doing lots of DJ sets and individual artists at ‘The Royal Croquet Club Perth’ at Elizabeth Quay. For those toe-tapping homos and middle-aged breeders, there is plenty of jazz, blues and soul at De Parel Spiegeltent and ‘The Ellington Jazz Club’!  

Theatre, Pages 104 to 115, 101 Acts

Thespians of the world, there is plenty for you, from one man shows to Faulty Towers the Dining Experience and FAG/STAG! 

Visual Arts, Pages 116 to 117, 17 Acts

The highlight each year is ‘World Press Photo Preview 2017’.

Australia Day at FringeWorld

Australia Day at Fringe is always much quieter. A lot of shows decide not to perform on this day as there is so much going on in Perth, Fremantle and elsewhere. If you are NOT a fan of crowded fireworks displays, then Fringe is the destination for you on 26 January!

For this listing, I have listed ALL shows playing on that day by Hub location, in time order. Some are free. I've only listed the name of the shows, the page number in the FringeWorld Festival 2017 Guide where you can find more details and the show times. It’s up to you to research this day a bit more.

Fringe Central 

The Magical Faces Project, Page 116, 10am 

Lightbox, Page 116, 12am 

Monroe & Associates, Page 109, 330pm, 630pm, 8pm, 11pm 

Fringe World Street Pitch, Page 88, 5pm 

Lady Whistle, Page 89, 5pm 

Holiday Feelings, Page 116, 530pm 

Impromtunes, Page 58, 6pm 

Perilous Comedy, Page 90, 6pm 

The Coin-Operated Girl, Page 76, 630pm 

Speed The Movie, The Play, Page 72, 7pm, 930pm 

Ecosexual Bathhouse, Page 106, 8pm, 830pm, 9pm, 930pm, 10pm, 1030pm 

Silent Disco, Page 91, 8pm 

Desert Body Creep, Page 80, 9pm 

99 Schnitzels (Veal Aint One), Page 42, 920pm 

Old School RNB Dance Party Soul, Page 99, 930pm 

Jamie McDowell & Tom Thum, Page 97, 945pm 

Becky Lou – Real Women, Page 11, 10pm 

Massaoke, Page 97, 11pm

The Pleasure Garden 

Doorway Cabaret, Page 31, 5pm

Fringe World Mermaids, 6pm, 7pm 

Velvet, Page 26, 7pm 

Silent Disco, Page 91, 8pm 

Limbo, Page 39, 9pm

Northbridge 

Little Red, Who’s Afraid Of, Page 32, 1030am 

The Last Waltz, Page 113, 6pm 

Comedy Pub Crawl, Page 52, 7pm 

Best Of English Comedian Of The Year, Page 48, 715pm 

3 Course Comedy, Page 42, 730pm 

Bingay Connections, Page 48, 730pm 

Beating The Odds The Hayley Stewart, Page 11, 8pm 

If My Body Was A Poem, Page 108, 8pm 

Comedians Against Humanity Host, Page 51, 845pm 

Andrew Stewart Is A Self Absorbed, Page 46, 9pm 

Celtic Connections, Page 51, 1045pm

Fremantle 

Fremantle Comedy Factory Fringe, Page 56, 8pm

South Side 

The Virtual Time Capsule, Page 117, 10am

Gutters, Page 116, 12am 

Australia Day At Sunset Veranda, Page 88, 5pm 

Chopin's Last Tour, Page 106, 7pm 

Sparrow, Page 111, 8pm

North Side 

Comedienne, Page 14, 830pm 

Blerp, Page 48, 1030pm

Further details regarding venue locations and maps are available in the FringeWorld Festival 2017 Guide. You can pick up a copy at bars, cafes, etc, all around Perth, or download it from www.fringeworld.com.au.