1st of February 2026
Once again Fringe is upon us! I'm only involved in a couple of shows this year but I wanted to give a massive shout out to all of my friends and their awesome shows too.
The big show I'm working on this year is Tolerance. This show is a spiritual sequel to Compromise from the fringe last year. It is a set of four short plays each written by a pair of writers with the overall theme of "tolerance". I worked with Zach Klein on our piece "Thunderstruck" and it was both a lot of fun, and something I'm really proud to have written. Writing with a partner was also a completely different experience and something I'm excited to try again in the future.
My second show this year is one that I'm guesting in. Review Revue is an improvised musical with a reviewer reviewing the show live on stage, followed by an immediate re-performance incorporating their feedback. I'm guesting in this show as the reviewer on Tuesday the 3rd of March.
Now on to friends shows (in no particular order)!
As You Like It is outdoor Shakespeare at its best. Directed by Eli Hancock, this is a Koha performance of the Shakespeare classic, featuring Teag Mackay (and possibly other friends but I can't recall - if so let me know!).
Blip to the Future is Isaac Hoope's latest Blippening. If you haven't seen the original, come prepared for some audio weirdness. Also, a free and outdoor performance! How good.
Crush the Bug is Dan and Sean's latest clown weirdness. Performed late last year, it returns once more for fringe (and hopefully I can see it this time around).
Dune but Worse is another Sean creation of madness. Go if you're a fan of Dune. Go if you're not a fan of Dune. Either way, it'll be fun. (And costumes designed by my sister!)
Once upon a Time in Homowood is an homage to queerness in film. Several of the writers from the aforementioned Tolerance were also involved in this one, including my writing partner Zach (but as an actor this time)!
Silver Moon Files is a radio play spoof of the X-Files, featuring several good friends. It is a spiritual sequel to Night of the Silver Moon, and will be very goofy.
We're weird for other reasons is a show devised entirely by members of the Ace/Aro/Aspec community, as part of a wider theatre research project funded by Victoria University. Overseen by the fabulous James Wenley, and featuring performers such as Austin Harrison, Emily Brown, and Susan Williams.
Buck Scourge: Living Nightmare is another Sean creation (3 in one fringe the madman). Previously appearing as "Hardly Workin'", several classic clown bits return, including my personal favourite "Gimme Gimme the clown".
Bug Songs not Love Songs is a musical? by powerhouse couple Lia kelly and Phoebe Caldeiro. I have no idea what it is about but I'm excited to see it, whatever it is.
Driving Me Crazy is Q and Mo's comedy show about attempting to teach your partner to drive. I don't know much more than that but these two are both fantastic performers so there's nothing more I need to know.
Redemptionis Ginge and Minge's (Nina and Mog) latest show, and returns again for fringe. The premise is simple: Improvisors/Comedians pitch their rejected ideas and put them on stage for an audience to decide if they are worthy or whether they weren't worth pitching in the first place.
Spoon Show is Dan Nodder's solo clown bit, with costume designed by my sister Heather. Although previously performed as a development season, I expect this to be even better! Make sure to bring a spoon with you to the show.
Swaprox is Poprox's latest creation. An improvised show where the performers, musicians, and tech swap places throughout. The moment Austin told me about this idea I knew it was gonna be a lot of fun.
Sexy Ghost Boy - the George Fenn staple returns once more! George has been doing this show for several years now throughout NZ, and has it down to an art.
Finally, I want to give a shout out to one other show that isn't done by me or my friends. Last year I went to review For my Famiy, and Yours and it absolutely blew me away. While less of a theatre show and more of a musical performance, Ravi the Poet absolutely captivated the room with his music and genuine outpourings of love. His latest offering, Finding Love, After All looks similar and I highly reccomend you check it out.
Wowee what a lot of shows. I'm going to try make it to all of these (if I'm able), and perhaps more! There's so many cool shows on during fringe so get out and see as many as you can, and hopefully, I'll see you there!
