Five shows by Fringe first-timers
Mad March isn’t over yet, here’s a selection of South Australian talent making their Adelaide Fringe debut to check out this season.
Me, Myself and Hand
Zola Allen plays Linda in the duo’s debut Fringe show. Image: Adelaide Fringe.
When: Until Sunday 16th March at 6:10pm
Where: The Gallery at The Courtyard of Curiosities at the Migration Museum
Me, Myself and Hand, presented by award-winning creative duo Arran Beattie and Zola Allen, is billed as physical theatre/comedy with puppeteering. What you won’t find in the Fringe Guide is that the show features elements of a psychological thriller and body horror, as Linda (played by Allen) becomes possessed by the spirit of Pinocchio inhabiting an innocuous wooden hand.
Beattie tells CityMag how one night at a house party, Allen’s intuitive artistry and theatrical expertise, and an IKEA Handskalad came together to lay the foundations for the show.
“We were falling over ourselves laughing at [Allen’s] charmingly cheeky nature and endowment of the prop as her real hand, as she did Charades and other games for us.
“I just knew that with Zola’s experience having gone to clown school in France (Ecole Philippe Gaulier) and with her training at Zen Zen Zo in Brisbane, that a solo work with this as the impetus had legs, and was something we could explore together in the upcoming Fringe Festival!” Beattie says.
Margret, You’re A Virgin!
Lucy Hay as Margret, in Mackenzie Ann’s sophomore stage play. Image: supplied.
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When: Thursday 13th March – Saturday 15th March
Where: Theatre Two at The Parks Theatres
During her undergraduate degree in arts, up-and-coming writer, director and producer Mackenzie Ann brings her self-funded social critique to Fringe audiences.
The stage play follows nearly-graduated high school student Margret (played by Lucy Hay) and her tempestuous journey of self-discovery, as she finds out she is pregnant, despite never having had heterosexual sex.
Mackenzie Ann hopes audiences are prompted to rethink how society listens to, trusts and believes women.
“Margret, You’re A Virgin! is first and foremost a social critic on patriarchy and heteronormativity, specifically regarding ideas of the construct of virginity, how much social factors play into personal choice, ideas surrounding reproductive rights and how far they actually extend, what it is like to be a woman in modern society (trapped between ideas of post-feminism while still having less tangible and social rights than men), and much, much more!” Mackenzie says.
Kushi Venkatesh – Happy!
Kushi Venkatesh hopes people leave her show “with a big smile, feeling lighter—like they just had a long, hilarious chat with a friend”. Image: supplied.
When: Tuesday 18th March – Saturday 22nd March │5:45pm
Where: Alley Cat at Rhino Room
19-year-old Kushi Venkatesh’s past two years have been nothing short of explosive – with a Raw Comedy State Finalist placing – twice – a new gig as a reporter at BTN, a nomination for Young South Australian of the Year, and now, a debut stand-up show at the Fringe.
Kushi hopes to break the invisible barriers that sideline culturally and linguistically diverse people, especially young people, in comedy.
“My inspiration for this show comes from wanting to share my experiences as a brown girl in Australia – the chaos, the comedy, and everything in between,” she says.
“When I started, I rarely saw young people – let alone brown women – on stage. So, by putting on this show while I’m still a teenager, I hope to inspire others to chase their passions, regardless of the stereotypes.”
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Much of her inspiration, she says, is from close to home.
“Not many people know this, but my little sister, Sukhi, helps me a lot with writing my show.
“If I can get even the briefest, tiniest smile out of her, I know I’ve got a solid joke.”
places i cannot return to
Chloe Noble captures the complex emotions connected to places, and their lingering impacts on us. Image: Adelaide Fringe, art by Chloe Noble.
When: Thursday 20th February – Saturday 22nd March | Thursday 20th Feb: 5:30pm-7:30pm | Wednesday – Saturday: 11am-4pm
Where: Foyer Gallery at Collective Haunt Inc.
This new fringe show is a solo exhibition by emerging artist Chloe Noble that explores the deep connections we have between home, heart and the memories that are tied to the places we love – and have left behind.
Through vibrant, expressionist portraiture and impressionist landscapes, each piece draws from Noble’s experiences, yet may evoke a sense of nostalgia in audiences for places never been to.
A Voice in the Making – From China to Australia
Expect light-hearted storytelling from Zhang, and a charming fusion of folk-pop, ukulele, and traditional Chinese music. Images: supplied.
When: Saturday 15th March – Tuesday 18th March
Where: Studio Theatre at Goodwood Theatre and Studios
In 2013 Xueqian (Chien) Zhang made the solo journey to Adelaide as an international student. 12 years later, she has found her passion: to be a cultural bridge between China and Australia and utilise her talents as a singer, songwriter and storyteller to share her authentic story of resilience and cultural pride.
“I noticed that I haven’t seen many shows that reflect international students or new immigrants’ stories,” Chien says.
Chien, who is also a recipient of the Adelaide Fringe Fund, hopes that audiences will leave inspired and with a better understanding of the journey that thousands make to South Australia every year, while also making a lasting impact on her own community.
“Writing the script has been a wonderful journey for me to deeper connect to my younger self, upbringing and my culture,” she says.
“I want people to feel inspired to explore their true passions if they want to, and to be proud of sharing their cultures here.”