Perth FringeWorld 2025 starts today and there are several shows with links to France and the Francophonie in the program. Whether it be musical homages or French clown school trained performers, there is plenty of variety in this year’s program. Discover the acts below.
Tea for Two – A Stephane Grappelli Tribute & Night of Jazz Violin – 8 February
FRENCH LINK: An homage to French jazz violinist Stephane Grappelli by artist Emily Gelineau whose father is French-Canadian.
The kettle is on as Emily Gelineau returns to the stage at The Duke Of George this Fringe season with “Tea for Two”! Award-winning, internationally acclaimed, pocket-sized multi-instrumentalist Emily Gelineau invites you to celebrate her biggest inspiration, and most famous jazz-violinist in the world, Stephane Grappelli. Described as “joyfully bopping and spinning with her instrument”, be ready for fast fancy finger work that’ll see steam come off the strings!
We interviewed Emily Gelineau about this show last year. You can read the interview with Emily here.
En Haut (Up Up Up Up) – 2, 5-9, 23-26 February
FRENCH LINK: In addition to having a French title, the show was also conceived in France.
A fool is born in the sky. He plunges to Earth, and hatches from an egg. Can he build a tower tall enough to reach home, or will he be consumed by the shadows that pursue him from below? One thing is certain. You. Will. Laugh.
En Haut (Up Up Up Up Up) was conceived in the French countryside, developed in London and the Caucasus Mountains in Georgia, and is ready to hatch at FRINGE WORLD this February. The show touches on themes of balance, control and loss of control, chaos and order, ambition and aspiration, transcendence, failure, and death. It features a giant egg and a five metre ascent. But don’t let all that fool you. It’s funny. Seriously.
Performances at FRINGE WORLD will feature live Georgian choral music sung by members of Perth’s professional singing community.
Island Rhapsodies 24 & 25 January
FRANCOPHONIE LINK: Salama is an award-winning, high-energy music and dance group featuring artists born in, or with ancestry from, La Réunion, Mauritius, Seychelles, Madagascar, West Africa, and beyond, including Australia.
After their FRINGE WORLD FESTIVAL PERTH AWARD-WINNING SHOW in 2023, Salama invites you on a mesmerising journey through the enchanting rhythms and captivating tales of the Indian Ocean islands. In this innovative musical and choreographic work, Salama shares the magic of ISLAND RHAPSODIES, where every note and movement tells a story of emancipation, womanhood, and childhood.
Feel the pulse of the islands as traditional Creole melodies intertwine with contemporary beats, celebrating the region’s rich cultural heritage. Immerse yourself in the vibrant flow that brings to life the spirit of resilience, empowerment, and joy that defines island life.
Get ready to dance, laugh, and be moved by stories that unite us as we celebrate the diverse voices of the Indian Ocean islands.
BRIEFS: Jealousss 22-26, 29 January – 2 February, 5-9, 12-16 February
FRANCOPHONIE LINK: BRIEFS has performed in Paris, collaborated with a Quebec based drag artist, and collaborated with New Caledonian burlesque artists
Ready to ride the highs of your insecurities? Step into the spotlight with JEALOUSSS, where envy isn’t hidden—it’s celebrated.
Could jealousy, the notorious heartbreaker, actually be a thrill worth chasing?
Bold and unapologetic, Briefs Factory ignites the stage with scandal, skill, and sass. Expect a wild blend of the bizarre and the breathtaking—a variety show where every moment pushes the limits and every act defies gravity.
It’s a sensory explosion that flirts with cabaret’s boundaries, only to smash them apart.
JEALOUSSS is the unexpected—where circus collides with drag in a daring dance, and burlesque reinvents itself with every move.
We interviewed Briefs Factory Director Fez Faanana last year when they were taking over The Art Boat for Brisbane Festival. Read our interview with him here.
BRIEFS: Knickers 17-19 January
FRANCOPHONIE LINK: As above.
Get ready for BRIEFS: Knickers—a glitter-soaked, all-female explosion of raw power and unforgettable spectacle! This is Club Briefs like never before, featuring a cast of self-made urban legends, irrational international icons, glitter bombshell showgirls, queens of crystals and carnage—the Charlie’s Angels of tease and strippers of the sisterhood. This crew of femme fatales will take you on a thrilling ride where cabaret meets carnage and burlesque meets bravado.
It’s the long-awaited production from your favourite fringe rebels, Briefs Factory – Expect sequins, sass, and show-stopping striptease as these dazzling queens deliver jaw-dropping stunts, seductive acts, and a whole lot of laughter.
Catherine Summers presents Jukebox Raffle – you pick the hits 28 – 30 Januaary, 4-7 & 11-14 February
FRENCH LINK: Her performances also feature a vast selection of French classics, including Edith Piaf’s iconic songs like “Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien” and “La Vie En Rose.”
Catherine Summers is celebrating 10 Years of her Lamont’s rose garden concerts under the stars in the city – a magical setting with a 19th-century mansion house backdrop. This year, Summers’ is bringing an exciting twist where YOU PICK THE HITS! On arrival you receive a raffle ticket and a 250+ song list. Pick your favourite and if your ticket is drawn, your choice is performed. Simple and delightful! A Perth favourite, and versatile vocalist Summers and 6-Piece band perform a vast jazz to modern repertoire from Elton to Ella Fitzgerald, The Weeknd to Amy Winehouse, Sophie Ellis-Bextor to Sarah Vaughan.
FRENCH LINK: The show blurb refers to Paris.
Glynis Traill-Nash has long lived a double life: fashion writer by day, jazz singer by night. Now the two collide for the first time in this soirée of chic! Dressed to thrill and accessorised with a set list of stylish chansons, GTN will take you from Perth to Paris to unpick the world of fashion. She will answer your most pressing questions – What’s in? What’s out? Can I eat fries in that? Plus! Practical tips including how to (over) pack, when never to shop, and why you should always Think Pink! With ever-dapper musical director Josh Haines on piano, the show returns to Perth after playing to packed houses at the 2024 Perth International Cabaret Festival and Sydney Fringe Festival. Put your best Vivier forward because style is coming back in style!
Adam Hall’s New Orleans Jazz Party feat Adam Hall & the Velvet Playboys 17-18 January
FRANCOPHONE LINK: Inspired by New Orleans’ jazz scene
Perths Biggest New Orleans Jazz Party under the stars. The Award Winning Adam Hall and the Velvet Playboys return to the State Theatre Centre with the hottest collection of hot jazz from New Orleans. Imagine a warm summers night and the sounds of the Velvet Playboys Brass Band beckoning you to join the parade. Adam Hall and the band will feature a GIANT 2 HOUR SHOW! in 2 large sets of music spanning from the early days of Louis Armstrong all the way through to Harry Connick Jr and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band – this night promises to have you singing along and dancing in the aisles. So get a group together and come and let the good times roll!
SHOWS BY FRENCH CLOWN SCHOOL TRAINED PERFORMERS AT PERTH FRINGEWORLD 2025
Jeromaia Detto: MUSH 3-8 February
FRENCH LINK: Jeromaia Detto is a graduate of Ecole Philippe Gaulier in Paris
Award winning expert in play Jeromaia Detto is back from a raucous run of sell out shows at Edinburgh Fringe!
MUSH is a one of a kind ‘kids show for adults’ physical comedy experience like no other, giving you the chance to learn to play again, unlocking your inner child in a nonstop hour of very silly proportions!
Kurt Sterling: Corporate Chronicles 17-18 & 21-25 January
FRENCH LINK: Kurt Sterling studied at the Ecole Philippe Gaulier in Paris.
Fresh from a successful run at the Edinburgh Fringe, this show is taking the corporate world down.
Emerging star Kurt Sterling takes you on a journey from working-class rural Australia to the top of the white-collar world (and back…).
You will never look at the office the same way again.
Smile: The Story of Charlie Chaplin 18 -19 & 31 January & 1-2, 6-9 February
FRENCH LINK: Marcel Cole who created and who performs the show studied clown at the Ecole Philippe Gaulier
From the award-winning creators of ‘The Ukulele Man’ comes a brand new physical comedy show about the life of Charlie Chaplin.
He was America’s darling, the most famous man in the world… and then he was exiled. This is the story of the Little Tramp and the man who created him.
You will laugh, you will cry, you will be on the edge of your seat… and then you will fall off BECAUSE IT’S JUST THAT DARNED GOOD!
Created and performed by Marcel Cole.
We interviewed Marcel Cole about this show ahead of its Sydney Fringe run last year. You can read the interview with Marcel here.
Skank Sinatra 28 January – 1 February
FRENCH LINK: Jens Radda furthered studied with Philippe Gaulier in Paris
Winner of Best Cabaret in Adelaide and fresh from a sell-out season in Edinburgh, the ultra-glamorous Jens Radda brings the powerhouse show that is Skank Sinatra to His Maj for the first time.
The elegant, hilarious, and fiercely clever show takes audiences on a whirlwind journey from South Africa to Berlin to Australia reinventing Sinatra’s classics with electrifying modern twists.
Following an international tour with rave reviews, this WAAPA Music Theatre graduate returns to Perth with a much anticipated season that’ll dazzle audiences with soaring vocals, razor-sharp humour, and explosive charisma.
We saw the show at Adelaide Fringe 2024 and absolutely loved it. If you get the chance to go, go!
MANBO 17-19, 22-26, & 29 January – 2 February
FRENCH LINK: Sam Dugmore has trained at Ecole Philippe Gaulier in Paris
Step aside Stallone! Sam Dugmore is back by popular demand! He’s locked and loaded as the greatest action hero of all time, unearthing his ruthless man skills to confront his worst nemesis… himself. A dead-sexy mission, chaos, 80s singing, dancing, workout montages, explosions, evil Russians, suppressed raw male emotion and a dog called Fluffy. Extremely camp, extremely silly, extremely entertaining, extremely MANBO.
We saw the show at Adelaide Fringe 2024 and found it hilarious. A very fun show to see.
Garry Starr: Classic Penguins 25- 30 January & 1-2 February
FRENCH LINK: Damien, the creator and man behind Garry Starr is Philippe Gaulier trained
Literature! Literature! Literature! It might not rhyme with anything but it’s still very important. Garry Starr is back and he’s hell-bent on saving books from extinction by performing every Penguin Classic novel ever written. In an hour. Mostly naked (but with flippers).
Comic wunderkind Starr takes us on a literary adventure through the world’s most iconic works of fiction. From The Little Prince to Moby Dick and everything in between, nothing is safe from being lampooned with the utmost nincompoopery.
The Secret Talent Show – 24 January
FRENCH LINK: The show’s creators and performers, Elise Wilson & Duncan Young, met at Ecole Philippe Gaulier
The following information is CLASSIFIED. Don’t tell anyone, not even your mum!
Super secret talent scouts, Elise and Duncan have scoured the world from the most extravagant parties to the least maintained toilets to find the most secret talents of the most performative performers.
One night only; and then we delete your memories. Forget you ever read this. delete your browsing history and destroy this device.
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There you have it : 15 shows with links to France and the Francophonie at Perth FringeWorld 2025.
KEY INFO FOR PERTH FRINGEWORLD 2025
WHAT: Perth FringeWorld 2025
WHERE: Various venues across Perth
WHEN: 17 January -16 February 2025
HOW: Purchase your tickets via the links above
HOW MUCH: Ticket prices vary depending on the event and if you have any concessions etc.
What shows are you going to see at Perth FringeWorld 2025?
If you’re looking for other events with links to France and the Francophonie happening in Australia this month, check out our What’s on in January 2025
