Our first time reviewing Sydney Fringe. Fresh back from Edinburgh, the Grandaddy of fringe festivals.

Like every Fringe, Sydney delivers the full spectrum — from shows that crack you wide open to ones still finding their footing. That’s the beauty of it: you never know when you’ll stumble onto a masterpiece.

I'll be updating this post as I see more peformances, so stay tuned!

Rock on, Sydney!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Holy Shit Tier

Stop the Heart

A one-man show that lands like a gut-punch and a wink. What happens when the person you’re dating — and falling hard for — casually drops that they voted for Trump? That’s the setup, and it’s handled with razor-sharp humor, surprising tenderness, and a script that feels like it was ripped from real life (because, let’s be honest, for many of us, it has been). The performance was magnetic, the writing smart, and the questions uncomfortably relevant. Every queer person navigating dating apps in 2025 should see this and ask themselves: what do my values really cost? An absolute win.

The Ghana Roadshow

Don’t expect Cirque du Soleil polish — expect something warmer, livelier, and in many ways more joyful. The Ghana Roadshow blends circus, dance, and music into an all-ages, clap-along celebration of movement and culture. I went in expecting tricks and left buzzing with energy. It’s family-friendly without being tame, communal without being corny. A shame they’re only here a few days, because this is the kind of Fringe magic you’d bring your friends back for twice.

A Sign of the Times

A dazzling showcase from a powerhouse group of female acrobats trained at Sydney’s top circus schools (Sydney Trapeze, The Movement Academy). What stood out wasn’t just the athleticism, but the creativity woven into every sequence. It’s skill meeting storytelling, and the result is a jaw-dropping, joy-fueled ride. Absolutely worth seeing.

Circus & Other Time Wasters

Two performers. Endless charisma. This duo bounced effortlessly from skillful to silly and back again, keeping the audience hooked the entire time. It was playful, inventive, and left us genuinely wanting more. The only downside? Their run is far too short. I’d go again tomorrow and drag my friends with me.

Pyrates

What a delicious surprise. Three actor–singers spin an hour-long musical about love on the high-pirate seas. It started a little rocky, but once it found its sea legs it was captivating — big voices, witty writing, and an actual true story at the core. It’s the kind of oddball gem Fringe exists to uncover. Five stars without hesitation.

Wonder Mama

A delightful romp through Wonder Mama’s life story — and, blessedly, no lip-syncing in sight. Instead we got a real, powerful voice and a backstory that was equal parts inspiring and entertaining. Wonder Mama delivered with warmth, wit, and class. Absolutely worth your time.

Trippin

Imagine burlesque meets airline cabin crew. That’s Trippin — cheeky, clever, and way more fun than I expected when I sat down. The theme was tight, the acts inventive, and the audience had a ball. Go see it — your seatbelt won’t save you from the turbulence of delight.

Tickle & Tease, a Comedy Cabaret

Despite the title, this wasn’t really comedy. It was a burlesque-forward show about… breasts. Yes, really. The performers were skilled, but the true star was the MC, who had more charisma than most full productions. She kept the whole thing buoyant, playful, and unforgettable. For her alone, five stars.

Queen Out

A glorious surprise from drag duo Annie & Lorelei, who served up a full-blown musical theatre production — roller skates, tap dancing, damsels in distress, and a mission to save a Los Angeles gay bar from the evil hands of ExxonMobil developers. No lip-syncing here: this was original music with powerhouse vocals. Fun, camp, and clever. My only complaint? Their run is criminally short.

Twisted Tales

Cabaret, burlesque, acrobatics, and a wicked sense of play. Sure, the “twisted fairy tale” framing was fun, but the real magic was in the talent: performers who made it impossible not to grin while silently wondering why you haven’t been to the gym in months. It’s a smile-inducing romp start to finish.

Something Wicked

Let’s just call this the fire show. Burlesque, acrobatics, feathers, pasties — yes. But the centerpiece was fire play that left the audience gasping. And when you thought you couldn't be amazed enough, two young performers in tandem pushed their bodies (and the audience’s nerves) into feats that felt physically impossible. I thought they were great in A Sign of the Times the week before, but they turned up the heat in this one. Hot in every sense of the word.

Absolute Trash

Silly, irreverent, and fabulous. From Neil Diamond with a squeeky rubber chicken chorus (yes, I was brought on stage for that one!) to sultry acrobatics to the audience texting-in their trashiest secrets...and then we voted on the winner (full disclosure: I won that contest), the whole thing was a chaotic delight. The small audience turnout was a shame, but the cast rose above and delivered one of my favorite Fringe memories this year.

Helios

Tucked away on the second floor of a shophouse in The Rocks, one singular performer — the magnetic Alexander Flanagan-Wright — held us rapt with nothing more than his voice, eight lights on stands, and the myth of Helios, son of the sun god. The intimacy, the engagement, and the clever use of something as simple as a stopwatch (just wait for it) turned this into storytelling at its absolute peak. A masterclass.

When Night Comes

The sexiest, most hedonistic performance I’ve had at Fringe — and not because of nudity or burlesque. This was an immersive experience: cloaked in a black cape, you wander through a historic building in The Rocks, meeting cast members who tease, provoke, and pull you into multi-sensory micro-worlds. Each room felt like stepping into someone’s secret. Drinks (alcoholic or not) flowed, inhibitions slipped, and the line between performance and fantasy blurred. This isn’t a “must-see.” It’s a “must-experience.”

⭐⭐⭐ Good, But Could Have Been Great

It’s Queer Night (Improv)

Four comedians, plenty of energy, and a crowd happy to play along. The laughs came, but they came unevenly — too often scenes veered into try-hard territory, the kind of improv where you can see the sweat more than the wit. The group clearly has chemistry and potential, but I’ve seen sharper work from other troupes at the Fringe. Fun, but uneven — not the sharpest improv you’ll see this season.

⭐⭐ Skip It

Type A Marketing Man

OMG. I hated this show. Totally disjointed, with no plot, purpose, or through-line. It felt like watching a bad knockoff of Robin Williams — all flailing energy and no focus. A hard pass.