FEEL GOOD VIBES ARE HERE!

The world returns to Perth with a bumper line-up of local, national, and international shows coming to FRINGE WORLD Festival 2023. 

There are 430 shows to choose from and it’s heavy on the feel good vibes - from big spectacular shows to intimate joyous shows, there is guaranteed to be something for everyone. 

ARTRAGE CEO Sharon Burgess said that the program promises to deliver the exciting Festival feel we know and love.  

“With artists from all around Australia and the globe returning to FRINGE WORLD, audiences will be spoilt for choice when it comes to planning their Festival visits” Ms Burgess said. 

“The 2023 Festival program includes an impressive selection of local acts as well as 18% international and 30% interstate acts. Showcasing both new artists and old Festival favourites, we are asking the people of Perth to give artists a warm welcome back to WA for a summer Festival full of good vibes and sell-out shows!”  

The 2023 program is full of the hottest Cabaret & Variety and Circus shows to delight audiences with magic, acrobats, and risqué performances. The “French and Saunders of Drag” Le Gateau Chocolat and Jonny Woo are bringing their world-class, high calibre show A Night at The Musicals 3: Summer Loving Tour (UK – Perth Cultural Centre). After touring Edinburgh and Sweden, the Briefs boys return to FRINGE WORLD with a new show Briefs: Dirty Laundry (QLD - The Pleasure Garden). To those looking for a big party event each Friday and Saturday night of the Festival, CLUB FREAK OUT! (NSW - Perth Cultural Centre) is not to be missed.  

Fringe heartthrobs Head First Acrobats, known for their shows Elixir and RAILED, are showing off gravity defying stunts in their show GODZ (AUS - The Pleasure Garden). Since their last Fringe in 2020, the cast of YUMMY have cooked up a new show, YUMMY ICONIC (VIC, The Pleasure Garden) perfect for date nights and girls’ nights alike. Guaranteed to turn anyone into a magic convert, enjoy an evening of high-tech magic in Charlie Caper – Magical (Sweden, The Pleasure Garden). West-End star Ben Hart makes his Perth debut showcasing his awe-inspiring magic in Ben Hart: Live (UK – The Rechabite). Be sure to catch Stuart Lightbody’s sleight of hand magic in The Man with the Golden Hands (South Africa - Perth Cultural Centre & Belgian Beer Café). Celebrate spandex, high-vis, vitality, and vigour in Circus Trick Tease’s 80s circus bonanza, Werk It (VIC - The Pleasure Garden).  

Your home of laughs this summer season, FRINGE WORLD is bringing you some of the most entertaining Comedy shows yet. Performing in the new ARTRAGE Fringe Hub at the iconic Liberty Theatre, stand-up comic Ross Noble returns to FRINGE WORLD with his show Ross Noble – On The Go (UK - Liberty Fringe). After touring Edinburgh, Sydney Fringe, and Melbourne Fringe the cast of MUSH (AUS – Liberty Fringe) are bringing an hour of tomfoolery, chicanery, and other shenanigans. Star of RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under, catch Anita Wigl'it - "Funny Gurl!" (NZ - Perth Cultural Centre) in this hilarious tell-all one-woman show.  

In this WA premiere, see London drag superstar Myra DuBois “Be Well” (UK – Connections Nightclub). Catch Scottish Comedian of the Year winner in Larry Dean – FUDNUT (UK - Comedy Hub @ Johnny Fox’s). Get ready for belly laughs with He Huang: Crazy Broken Chinese (CH/USA - Balmoral Hotel & Fremantle Comedy Factory) Louisa from award-winning show, Comma Sutra, is bringing an all new show The Australian O-Pun (VIC/WA - The Shoe Bar and Café). Performing in Perth for the first time, see Melbourne comedians Sweeney Preston and Ethan Cavanagh in Presentation is Everything (VIC - Four5Nine Bar). Escape into the nonsensical and enjoy the physical comedy riot Table for Two? (NSW - The State Theatre Centre of WA).  

For those looking for something a little different, the Festival has a range of thought-provoking and Theatre and Performance shows. See Melbourne Fringe Award Winner Grief Lightning: A Satire in 78 Slides (SA – Perth Cultural Centre) and hear the alternate ending of Grease with a show that’s part theatre, part stand up and part PowerPoint presentation. Marvel at a dystopian mix of theatre and dance about a woman battling an answering machine in The Sensemaker (CH - The State Theatre Centre). Straight from an award-winning season at Edinburgh Fringe, don’t miss the moving theatre piece Colossal (UK - AGWA Theatrette)  

With something for everyone, FRINGE WORLD will also play host to a multitude of other events in a range of genres. For the family, there is Whilbur the Optical Whale (QLD - State Theatre Centre of WA) and Family Rave Day – Under The Sea (WA - The Rechabite). Hoping to enjoy live music? Check out a new show from one of our 2022 Music Weekly Award winners Always Wine in Shiraz (WA - Lyric’s Underground). See the strength of women interpreted through dance in TARA—Tuatha Dé Danann (QLD - Subiaco Arts Centre) Enjoy the all-male innovative dance show HE HIM HOMME (WA - Planet Royale). For a taster of what the Festival has to offer, come to Northbridge on the 22 January for the Lotterywest Fringe Sunday Funday.  

For those looking to add more excitement to their Festival experience, becoming a FRINGE WORLD Friend is a must. The subscription offers a range of benefits including show discounts and unique experiences. Stuck for a gift idea this holiday season? Give the gift of Fringe by purchasing a FRINGE WORLD Gift Voucher. 

Each year, FRINGE WORLD transforms the city into the summer Festival playground for audiences of all ages and backgrounds. Artists rely on the Festival to earn an income and by buying tickets, you directly support each of them – thank you!  

The 2023 Festival is held 20 January to 19 February. Browse 430 shows now at fringeworld.com.au or download the FRINGE WORLD app.  

FRINGE WORLD gratefully recognises the support of its partners including Principal Supporter: Lotterywest; and Government Partners: The Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries and The City of Perth.