Five With Fringe | Thomas Gorham | PreHysterical | FRINGEWORLD 2023

Thomas Gorham of Headfirst Acrobats is one of the amazing circus performers in kid’s show PreHysterical for FRINGEWORLD 2023. We caught up with him to see what it’s all about.

What is your show about? 

PreHysterical follows three Neanderthals as they learn about the ancient world. They have to work together and perform amazing circus stunts to survive, find food and avoid nasty predators.

Favourite part of the show, no spoilers!

The Hula Hooping routine is paired with a brilliant 90’s song. It will get you moving and the tricks are amazing.

What do you think people will get out of your show?

The kids leave the show feeling inspired! Like they can do anything in the world. There’s lots of laughs for the adults as well (and some jokes the kids don’t get), and the circus is high quality.

Apart from your show, what other shows would you recommend?

VIKINGS! is a gorgeous childrens show. Also CIRCUS the show, and Mr Ricochet are awesome for kids.

Describe your show in 3 words:

Exciting, Hilarious, Farts

You can catch all of the PreHysterical antics at The Pleasure Garden until 12th February 2023. TICKETS

Keep up with The Fourth Wall on Facebook and @fourth_wall_media on Instagram to see what we’re up to this FRINGEWORD 2023.

The Fourth Wall acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land we engage in storytelling on – the Wadjhuk people of the Noongar nation. We pay respects to their elders past, present, and emerging.

FRINGEWORLD 2023 | The Listies – Make Some Noise! | 4.5 Stars

Review | Laura Money

The Listies are in Perth and ready to Make Some Noise! This hilarious duo have honed their skills and know exactly how to get an audience of kids and their adults up on their feet, dancing and cheering. Using timeless comedy techniques, Rich and Matt present a music show like no other. Straight man Rich just wants to put on a good show, maybe educate the children a bit, play some obscure and highly fragile instruments in a sophisticated and artistically stimulated concert. Matt just wants to watch the world burn. Ok, that’s going too far, but Matt really is so loud and rambunctious that he foils Rich every step of the way. It’s a winning combination – madcap, ridiculous energy from Matt, and subtle hilarity from Rich.

The show is all about making noise – from the grand opening number to a history of music with chaotic slides by Matt – getting the audience involved and the see-it-to-believe it ending with some inflatable costumes and a song that will get firmly stuck in your head. Matt’s turn as the baby is when the show really ramps up – his silliness has already been demonstrated as he plays roadie and keeps Rich on his toes, so when the pair need a baby, who better to turn to than the ball of energy that is Matt. The baby’s refrain of “iPad? But I waaaant it” will make every parent shudder and laugh at the same time.

The Listies – Make Some Noise! is the quintessential kid’s show. Every song is hilarious, every dance move on point, and every audience interaction lands. These guys are great with a crowd – they know children well enough to contain their energy while also whipping them up into a frenzy – now that’s talent.

You can catch all the whacky fun at the State Theatre Centre WA until 29th January 2023. TICKETS

Keep up with The Fourth Wall on Facebook and @fourth_wall_media on Instagram to see what we’re up to this FRINGEWORD 2023.

The Fourth Wall acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land we engage in storytelling on – the Wadjhuk people of the Noongar nation. We pay respects to their elders past, present, and emerging.

FRINGEWORLD 2023 | Strictly Barking | 4.5 Stars

Review | Laura Money

Get ready to laugh your heads off because Strictly Barking is exactly that! Jon and Ollie take you on a whacky adventure where a lonely old man befriends a stray do and they enter a ballroom dancing competition. Jon is absolutely gorgeous as the old man, Hogarth. He delights in the little things and keeps his wife close by in a photo frame. These touching moments make his ultimate bond with the dog – hilariously named after his favourite fruit – all the more tender.

Ollie is beyond convincing as a dog – from his dopey expression to the pure energy that never leaves him, he bounces about as a loveable canine. These two do crowd work impeccably – throwing things at kids, spraying them with water, and running around with a madcap energy that matches the shrieks of delight from the kids. Jon’s hilarious turn as the cat Stephen will have you hissing with laughter and Ollie’s milking of his harmonica gag would give every dairy farmer a run for their money!

Strictly Barking is children’s entertainment at its finest. The ridiculous premise is plausible because they are stunning performers. Part clowning, part theatre – all silly, Strictly Barking has all the right moves.

You can catch all the madness of Strictly Barking at The Pleasure Garden until 29th January 2023. TICKETS

Keep up with The Fourth Wall on Facebook and @fourth_wall_media on Instagram to see what we’re up to this FRINGEWORD 2023.

The Fourth Wall acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land we engage in storytelling on – the Wadjhuk people of the Noongar nation. We pay respects to their elders past, present, and emerging.

FRINGEWORLD 2023 | Bogan Shakespeare Presents: Hamlet | 5 Stars

Review | Laura Money

Ah, Hamlet – that classic tale of intrigue, existential crises, lost love, and of course, ear poisoning. Bogan Shakespeare have been boganising the bard for yonks – this year it’s Hamlet and they got an upgrade straight to business class – The Heath Ledger Theatre! Presented as part of State of Play the bogans are back and this time they’re going for gold.

Parodying perhaps the most well known adaptation of Hamlet – revered 90s animated classic The Lion King – the crew sing to the refrain of ‘get-a-tinnie-and-a-Tim-tam-in-ya’ (don’t pretend you don’t know the tune!) and take the piss out of every single bit of the play – did I mention ear poisoning? Set in Denmark, WA Hamlet returns from studying communications in the big smoke for his father’s funeral only to find his Mum’s gone all hippy and shacked up with his uncle – who is super dodgy and totally killed his Dad. Exposition over, Hamlet introduces his ‘friend’ Horatio and doesn’t seem to be fooling anyone except Ophelia who is gagging for it!

The skill of Bogan Shakespeare is in what is changed. They have nailed the outrageous by totally taking the piss. The Crown becomes the pub, Yorrick Hamlet’s childhood dog, and the play within a play is perhaps Bogan Shakespeare at their finest – a bingo game. Rosie and Gildo read out the numbers with the usual jokes – 22 two fat ducks, legs 11, you definitely killed my Dad, you horrible murdering bastard – that kind of thing.

Choosing Hamlet has its advantages as the plot is so well known so many of the laughs are anticipatory – however I would argue that it’s actually the staple Bogan Shakespeare traditions that people are really going nuts for. The hilarious fourth wall breaking when speaking in asides, literally explaining the whole plot and then just letting it play out, knowing smiles and laughs at the crowd and of course the ghost scene. Yes, they have The Heath Ledger Theatre and still use a sheet and it is glorious.

Bogan Shakespeare Presents: Hamlet is their finest hour. It hilariously and introspectively breaks Shakespeare down and simultaneously ridicules and reveres the script. All the snaps for rewriting Ophelia’s fate 500 years later and sensitively portraying Hamlet’s pain whilst just quietly having a bit of a dig at notions of masculinity. Of course, no Bogan Shakespeare experience would be complete without the blergh every time someone dies, so let’s just say there are a lot of blerghs onstage because you killed it!

You can catch all of the bogan angsty action at the State Theatre WA until 29th January 2023. TICKETS

Keep up with The Fourth Wall on Facebook and @fourth_wall_media on Instagram to see what we’re up to this FRINGEWORD 2023.

The Fourth Wall acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land we engage in storytelling on – the Wadjhuk people of the Noongar nation. We pay respects to their elders past, present, and emerging.

FRINGEWORLD 2023 | Sophie’s Slumber Party | 4 Stars

Review | Laura Money

Are you ready for the hottest millennial party since Y2K? Sophie’s Slumber Party is where it’s at this FRINGEWORLD 2023! Sophie Joske is here to take you back to the era of butterfly clips, the Super S (if you know, you know) and body glitter – that’s right: it’s an early 2000s sleepover, baby! Joske is a character performer so usually doesn’t get to cut loose but this is her party, my friends and she’s about to have the time of her life. Inviting a variety of her closest FRINGEWORLD 2023 acts to join her, Sophie creates the ultimate cabaret night complete with burlesuqe, stand-up comedy, and singing.

Beginning the show in a self-induced funk, wallowing in self pity to Snow Patrol or something similar, Sophie gets herself up, rummages in her bumbag and puts on her war-paint – full body glitter. Sophie does nostalgia well. It’s subtle, like the font used in her powerpoint presentation, yet everything is perfectly themed. Her games reference things we stopped thinking about years ago – the Hilton sisters, anyone? – and her entire aesthetic makes this millennial feel so seen. The night I attended featured Veruca Sour dancing to Mean Girls The Musical. Dressed as Regina George in her Playboy Bunny outfit she slays all night long! Next is comedian Nicola Macri whose intimate film knowledge of early 2000s Hilary Duff is impressive. The fabulous Moxie Hart gets the blood pumping with a rendition of Sk8ter Boi that will make you feel like you’re in high school again and Drag King extraordinare Justin Sider is the obligatory hot boy. Sider has perfected the art of cheesy male performer, charming the ladies.

Literally everybody will be talking about Sophie’s Slumber Party and unlike the parties of your childhood this one’s a haven of inclusivity. Go and be cool by reliving your daggy youth – you’ll find you’re certainly not alone!

You can go hang with Sophie in the Perth Cultural Centre until 28th January 2023. TICKETS

Keep up with The Fourth Wall on Facebook and @fourth_wall_media on Instagram to see what we’re up to this FRINGEWORD 2023.

The Fourth Wall acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land we engage in storytelling on – the Wadjhuk people of the Noongar nation. We pay respects to their elders past, present, and emerging.