Adelaide Fringe

Our top Comedy picks for Adelaide Fringe 2023

With so many shows to see this year, these are our must-see comedy picks at the Adelaide Fringe for 2023.

We sure are glad that festival season is upon us but with so much to do and see it can be a little daunting to know what to attend.

We’ve done the hard work for you and compiled the most-anticipated comedy acts at the Fringe this year!

Amelia Ryan: Geriatric Womb

Cabaret/Comedy

At 39 years young and 36.5 weeks pregnant, Adelaide’s own internationally acclaimed cabaret darling, Amelia Ryan, will be waddling onto the stage with her latest creation… Well, two of them; a brand-new show and a brand-new baby, basting in her belly.

Geriatric Womb will play for one performance only on Friday March 3 at 6.30pm at Grand Central in The Arts Theatre, Angus Street, Adelaide as part of the 2023 Adelaide Fringe.

Named in 2022 as one of The Advertiser’s ’40 Under 40 Rising Stars’, Amelia Ryan is a multi- award-winning cabaret artist, writer, presenter, and coach. Since co-winning the 2012 International Cabaret Contest, her critically acclaimed shows have traversed the Australian cabaret circuit, as well as NYC, London, and Edinburgh, playing to 5-star reviews and standing ovations.

WHERE: The Arts Theatre, 53 Angas St, Adelaide, Kaurna Country SA

WHEN: Friday March 3, 2023 from 6:30pm

PRICE: Tickets for Geriatric Womb are priced from $37 and may be booked at Fringetix.

Read more via the link here.

The Good Italian Girl presents ‘Italian Love is a Battlefield’

Comedy/Storytelling

Following her sold-out debut show in 2022, Adelaide’s cultural storyteller, performer and Amazon best-selling author, Claudia Callisto, is returning to the Adelaide Fringe in 2023 with, ‘The Good Italian Girl Presents – Italian Love is a Battlefield,’ a brand-new show that takes a comedic spin on the experiences of growing up in a traditional Italian immigrant family. 

Based on her best-selling book, The Good Italian Girl, Claudia’s new Adelaide Fringe show is a heart-warming and entertaining stand-up comedy special that follows her journey of being a first-generation daughter of an Italian migrant family.

WHEN and WHERE:

  • Friday 17 February at 8pm at Ferg’s Stepney.
  • Sunday 19 February at 4pm at Ferg’s Stepney.
  • Friday 24 February at 7:30pm at Eliza Hall at Payinthi, Prospect Town Hall.
  • Sunday 26 February at 8pm at Prompt Creative Centre.
  • Sunday 5 March at 8pm at Prompt Creative Centre.

COST: Concession $28, Full-price $32.

Read more here.

Sh*tfaced Shakespeare: Romeo & Juliet

Comedy / Theatre

Distill my beating heart…

This hilarious, sell-out, award winning, smash-hit show has already sold over half a million tickets worldwide and returns to Adelaide to help you enjoy Shakespeare responsibly.

Sh*t-Faced Shakespeare is the hilarious blend of an entirely serious Shakespeare play with an entirely shit-faced actor. What could possibly go right?

WHERE: The Garden of Unearthly Delights, Rundle Park – Kadlitpina, East Terrace, Adelaide SA 5000

WHEN: 17 Feb – 19 March, 2023, 9.30pm (60-min duration)

PRICE: Full price tickets – $39.90 to $44.90; concession – $42.90

Read more here.

Women Like Us

Comedy / Stand-up

Ellen Briggs and Mandy Nolan present Women Like Us an hour of uncompromising comedy, the combination of two of the country’s most respected women comics.

Wil Anderson has called Nolan “Australia’s funniest non famous comedian.”

Arj Barker is in awe of Briggs, he reckons “she’s in a league of her own.”

This touring show continues to evolve. If you’ve seen a Women Like Us show – this one is different.

The women have found the ultimate format to grow exciting new work and call in their tribe (mainly pissed off and disenchanted women).

WHERE: The Howling Owl, 10 Vaughan Place, Adelaide SA 5000

WHEN: March 7 – 11, 2023 from 6pm.

PRICE: $35 per person

Read more here.

Lawrence Mooney

Comedy / Stand-up

Reformed self-help addict Lawrence Mooney is returning to Adelaide Fringe with a brand-new hour of stand-up that will take aim at self-appointed, self-aggrandising self-help gurus who have failed him in his quest for enlightenment and happiness.

Are you sick of the world? Are you tired of your own bullshit? Lawrence will help you quit, embrace your inner loser and win at life. Based on his anti-self-help book, Embracing Your Limitations his new live show will transform your life through his trademark comedy.

WHERE: The Box at The Garden of Unearthly Delights, Rundle Park, Adelaide, Kaurna Country 5000

WHEN: Mon March 6 – Wed March 15 at 8:15pm; Fri March 17 – Sun March 19 at 8:15pm

PRICE: Full Price: $35.00 to $45.00, Concession: $39.00 to $42.00

Read more here.

The Umbilical Brothers’ ‘The Distraction’

Comedy / Physical Theatre

The Distraction, which took out Best Comedy at the 2021 Adelaide Fringe, combines the energy of live performance and the spectacle of cinema and smashes them together into a show performed simultaneously on stage and the big screen.

“David and I have always imagined movie-like visuals when creating and performing. This time you get to see what we’re imagining, onscreen in real time. We’ll be wrestling with live special effects. It’s going to be pretty freaky,” said Shane Dundas, the bald brother.

WHERE: The Vagabond at The Garden of Unearthly Delights. Rundle Park/Kadlitpina, Cnr East Tce & Rundle Rd, Adelaide, Kaurna Country 5000

WHEN: Fri 17 Feb – Sun 19 Feb: 6:30pm
Tue 21 Feb – Sun 26 Feb: 6:30pm
Tue 28 Feb – Sun 5 Mar: 6:30pm
Tue 7 Mar – Tue 14 Mar: 6:30pm
Thu 16 Mar – Sun 19 Mar: 6:30pm

PRICE: Full Price: $35.00 to $45.00, Schools: $30.00

Read more here.

Dropped In It

Comedy / Improv

The lead actor is running late, they haven’t read the script, but the show has already started.

What sounds like any producer’s worst nightmare is the premise of the smash hit show ‘Dropped In It’, returning to the Adelaide Fringe following sell out shows and rave reviews in 2022.

Presented by local improvised comedy company, Tenuous Link Productions, ‘Dropped In It’ will see a team of skilled improvisers create a never-before seen comedic production with an hour-long runtime.

If that doesn’t sound hard enough, one actor will be banished from the theatre for the first 20 minutes of the show, only to return to the stage and immediately become the star, not knowing who their character is, or what is going on.

WHERE: Prompt Creative Centre. 8/205 Pirie St, Adelaide, Kaurna Country SA 5000

WHEN: ‘Dropped In It’ hits the stage at Prompt Creative Centre, a venue created by artists, for artists at 6:30pm February 24, 25 and 26 and March 3, 4 and 5.

Read more here.

Matt Hale’s hypnotic ‘Top Fun!’

Magic / Comedy

Image credit: DG Imagery

Grab your Day-Glo, big hair & Rubik’s Cube as the must-see festival fave brings an 80s twist to his brand-new show Top Fun! Laugh along, sing along or even star in the show (always your choice) – we’re gonna party like it’s 1985!

WHERE: The May Wirth at Gluttony – Rymill Park. Rymill Park / Murlawirrapurka, Cnr East Tce & Rundle Rd, Adelaide, Kaurna Country

WHEN: 6:40pm shows, Feb 21 – 26, Feb 28 – Mar 5, Mar 7 – 19

PRICE: $30.00 to $40.00 (full price)

Read more here.

Dave Hughes – Too Good

Comedy

Career best form’ and ‘never been funnier’ are two quotes Hughesy has heard about himself recently from other talented comedians. 

Find out for yourself. He’s freaking on fire. 

A night you’ll never forget – unfiltered and damn funny.

WHERE: The Box at The Garden of Unearthly Delights: Feb 18, 25 and Mar 4; Umbrella Revolution at The Garden of Unearthly Delights: Feb 25, Mar 4

WHEN: Feb 18, 25 and Mar 4

PRICE: Full Price: $39.00 to $45.00

Read more here.

Faulty Towers – The Dining Experience

Theatre and Physical Theatre

The international smash-hit, Faulty Towers: The Dining Experience, is returning to Adelaide from February 17 to March 12 at the Terrace Hotel Adelaide as part of the Adelaide Fringe.

Come and see for yourself why this is labelled “Immersive theatre at its startling best” (Best of Theatre, London 2019) Basil’s rude, Manuel’s confused and Sybil’s cracking the whip… All the while dishing up the laughs and a three-course meal.

The world’s longest running and most successful Fawlty Towers tribute, this unforgettable immersive show sees audiences become paying guests at the Faulty Towers hotel.

WHEN: From the 17th of February to the 12th of March.

WHERE: The Terrace Hotel Adelaide.

Read more here.

Confetti and Chaos

Theatre and Physical Theatre / Interactive

That’s right. All tickets include a delicious 3-course meal.

This 5-star experience has fun and mayhem bursting from the seams of a wedding dress, with entirely original comedy that pulls out all the stops – including quick-fire character changes and plenty of laughs.

Confetti and Chaos is presented by Interactive Theatre International, a professional theatre company that produces and promotes high quality interactive comedy theatre, children’s shows, and cabaret around the world.

Where: Adelaide Royal Coach, 24 Dequetteville Terrace, Kent Town
When: 10th – 19th March 2023
Price: $85-$89

Read more here.

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