Sydney Fringe 2024 starts at the end of the month and runs throughout September. Among the program are 14 shows with inks to France and the Francophonie. Whether it be shows set in France, a show about Joan of Arc, shows presented by artists who have studied clowning in France, or the closing party with Daft Punked, there is something for all tastes at Sydney Fringe 2024.
FRENCH MUSIC AT SYDNEY FRINGE 2024
For the last Saturday night of Sydney Fringe Festival, and it’s time to let our hair down (and get your robot on…) Let’s party… One More Time
Emerging from the sonic shadow of the iconic French duo Daft Punk, “Daft Punked – The Tribute” has donned their replica chromed helmets to celebrate and continue the legacy of electronic dance music pioneers. It’s a night to celebrate the festival and dance the night away in the glorious Sydney Spiegeltent.
Inspired by history’s greatest philosophers and astronomers, blending stunning vocals with live music and animation, The Birth and Death of Stars absolutely shines as it delivers a theatrical musical experience that is out of this world!
Sitting between music and theatre, this show is brought to the stage by a powerful collaboration of creative minds, including director Benjamin Knapton, Finnish animator Laura Matikainen and writer Pauline Maudy.
Read our interview with Pauline Maudy, the French-Australian singer, songwriter from MZAZA from when the album was released.
They are also performing at Parramatta but that show is not part of the Sydney Fringe program.
FRENCH FAIRY TALES AT SYDNEY FRINGE 2024
Happy Endings takes audiences on an adults-only journey of fairy tale nostalgia, presented through the guise of a reality dating show featuring a fusion of circus, burlesque, dance and live music.
Everyone knows the story of the girl in the red hood… or so they think.
Tone & Cheek presents the award-winning Happy Endings; a fresh, hilarious twist on the classic tale of Little Red Riding Hood. But this time, Red isn’t visiting her grandmother—she’s on a quest to find Prince Charming, with none other than the Big Bad Wolf as her matchmaker! Hosted by drag queen extraordinaire Spankie Jackzon (WINNER RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under Season 2), who brings her electrifying dance moves and cheeky humour to the stage, this reality dating show gone wild will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Happy Endings takes you on an adults-only journey that explores the traditional themes of classic fairytales, and their opaque and carnal desires, through the guise of a reality dating show featuring a fanciful fusion of circus, burlesque, dance and live music.
Get ready to huff and puff as the cast of Happy Endings blows you all night long and leaves you begging for more!
NOTE: Little Red Riding Hood was first penned by Charles Perrault
SHOWS ABOUT FRENCH PEOPLE AND PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN THE FRANCOPHONIE AT SYDNEY FRINGE 2024
Smile – The Story of Charlie Chaplin
“If you want to understand me, watch my movies.” – Charles Chaplin
This is the story of the greatest screen comedian of them all.
He was America’s darling. He was 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.
NOTE: The writer and performer of this show, Marcel Cole, studied at Ecole Philippe Gaulier. He is also presenting another show which doesn’t have any French link but which you will find below under shows from French circus school trained performers.
Voices of Joan is a feminist punk ritual unravelling the history of misogyny through a radical retelling of the story of Joan of Arc.
In an intimate solo performance, Janie Gibson searches for Joan’s voice in fragments of words throughout history; words spoken at her trial, translated in textbooks, imagined in poetry and illuminated in drama. What is revealed is an ancient story about gender, truth and power with startling reverberations today. With direction by Anu Almagro (Song Of the Goat Theatre), Gibson transforms into the multitudinous voices of Joan: from the teenage warrior, to the fervent revolutionary, to the bishop that tried her. Using wit, humour and multiple on stage costume changes Gibson rallies the crowd from behind her megaphone and invites the audience to build Joan’s pyre with her. With a wireless radio as her ‘time machine’ she tunes into echoes of Joan’s story throughout history in search of a road map for resistance in our uncertain times.
Revisit the classic legend of King Arthur with a new twist in this funny and heartfelt story of loss, longing and loyalty.
Camelot’s greatest knight is missing. His lover, the queen, feels like she’s the only one who cares. With secrets, lies and ambitions lurking in the shadows, her whole world is about to be changed forever.
In this original one act play, five talented performers tell a captivating tale that’s funny, moving and surprising. Whether you’re a long-time lover of the King Arthur legends or a complete newcomer, this modern take on Camelot will have you hooked.
SHOWS SET IN FRANCE AT SYDNEY FRINGE 2024
Step into the legendary French brothel and brace yourself for an intimately immersive experience, as we indulge the senses with a flirtatious fusion of dance, burlesque, circus, and live vocals.
Led by the madam of the night, Spankie Jackzon (WINNER, RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under Season 2) Club D’amour: Back Door will liberate inhibitions and unleash Australia’s sexiest talents in a tale of love, lust, and desire as we embark on a journey of unrivaled excitement, jaw-locking laughter, and a gloriously seductive showcase of the world’s oldest profession.
At Club D’amour: Back Door you can discover your deepest and darkest pleasures.
Welcome to ‘Voilà!’ – A dazzling cabaret transporting you to the glittering world of 1920s Paris. Witness a night where art breathes, laughter echoes, and reality blurs into fantasy.
Ladies and gentlemen, prepare yourself for the most titillating, tantalising, and downright scandalous cabaret that will transport you to the glittering world of Les Années Folles.
Paris, 1924. As you enter Madame Coco’s apartment, you’ll be greeted by a troupe of talented and quirky performers, each bringing their own unique brand of magic to the stage. But the true essence of “Voilà!” lies in its ability to transport you to another time and place, where the cares of the modern world melt away and the bonds of friendship take centre stage.
Through it all, Madame Coco presides over the proceedings with a knowing smile and a glint in her eye. She’s the master of ceremonies, the keeper of secrets, and the embodiment of the enigmatic allure of Paris itself. As she guides you through the evening’s festivities, you’ll find yourself drawn into a world of wonder and excitement, where a surprise guest takes the stage to perform a feat of derring-do that will leave you breathless.
“Voilà!” is a celebration of the magic that happens when people from all walks of life come together in the spirit of love and acceptance. It’s a love letter to friendship, a celebration of diversity, and a reminder that life’s too short for matching socks.
You’ll laugh, you’ll gasp, you might even shed a tear
This unforgettable immersive cabaret will leave you with a renewed appreciation for the power and the beauty of embracing our differences.
SYDNEY FRINGE SHOWS WITH FRENCH CLOWN SCHOOL TRAINED PERFOMERS
Callum Staford completed a summer course at Ecole Philippe Gaulier.
In this surreal hour of musical comedy and clown, Callum Straford takes you on a genre-bending thrill ride.
Straford tells the story of his life in the 21st century, while interweaving music by two of the greatest composers in history – Mozart and Blink-182. This is definitely the best classical pop-punk comedy show you’ll ever see.
Kurt Sterling: Corporate Chronicles
Kurt Sterling has studied at Ecole Philippe Gaulier in Paris.
Make no mistake, 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 corporate ladder (and back…)
You will never look at the office the same way again.
Rachael Colquhoun-Fairweather is an Ecole Philippe Gaulier graduate.
No words. One piece of art. Two clowns.
Please take care.
Masterpiece is an experimental, movement-based theatre work that spotlights two clowns’ journey as they engage in one seemingly simple task: hanging up a piece of art.
Funny, vulnerable and compelling, Masterpiece features two award winning theatre-makers as they confront foolishly high stakes all in the name of art. Presented inside an actual art gallery, Masterpiece comically (and carefully) exaggerates the idea of audience perspective, persistence and team work.
Artistic Director, Emily Ayoub and Associate Artistic Director, Madeline Baghurst trained at Jacques Lecoq Theatre School.
A darkly humorous and physically adventurous contemporary fable about finding the perfect catch. An absurd fantasy for all ages!
A castaway is saved from the surging seas. Conversation is sparse and in his temporary lodgings he comes face to face with a startling kind of hook-up culture. A fantastical and absurdist fable that begins as a story of rescue and becomes an unsettling dissection of dreams and desire. Have you ever grappled with dating apps? This theatrical world wildly spins a different kind of net that has us caught – hook, line, and sinker!
Jens Radda studied at Ecole Philippe Gaulier in Paris.
Glamorous, hilarious and fiercely clever Jens Radda’s award-winning cabaret show takes audiences on a whirlwind journey from South Africa to Berlin to Australia reinventing Sinatra’s classics with electrifying modern twists.
Following sell-out performances across Australia, nominated for Best in Musical Theatre & Cabaret in Sydney Fringe 2023, and winning Best Cabaret in Adelaide Fringe 2024, Skank Sinatra dazzles audiences with powerhouse vocals, razor-sharp humour and explosive charisma.
The Ukelele Man: The Story of Geroge Formby
Marcel Cole studied at Ecole Philippe Gaulier. He is also presenting Smile – The Story of Charlie Chaplin, which we have mentioned above.
The true story of wartime comedian and ukulele legend George Formby! From the British music hall to the battlefields of Europe, this is the untold story of Britain’s greatest entertainer!
He was banned by the BBC, declared insane by his wife, and still became the UK’s biggest star! Join Marcel Cole and his real life mother Katie as they take you back to an era when live entertainment was king, and pay homage to the greatest entertainer of them all.
Casey Filips studied at Ecole Philippe Gaulier and has also performed at the Palais de Glaces in Paris.
The Man. The Myth. The Idiot.
Tobias Finley-Frasier is the greatest actor of his generation. Only problem is, he’s played by little known actor/comedian Casey Filips.
KEY INFO FOR SYDNEY FRINGE 2024
WHAT: Sydney Fringe 2024
WHERE: Various venues across Sydney
WHEN: 1-30 September 2024
HOW: Purchase your tickets via the event links above.
HOW MUCH: Ticket prices depend on the show and ticket type chosen
Which shows are you going to at Sydney Fringe 2024?
Plan the rest of your August with our What’s on in August article
