With the Adelaide Fringe in full swing, choosing what to see can feel overwhelming. Choreographer and Fringe performer Shakti has narrowed it down, curating a selection that balances invention, depth and theatrical pleasure. From contemporary dance and immersive theatre to cabaret and reimagined classics, these picks promise memorable nights for culture-loving audiences.
IT’S ALIVE
What happens when live jazz-funk meets improvised contemporary dance? It’s Alive sets out to answer that question. Curated by award-winning choreographer Alix Kuijpers alongside Thomas Byrne of jazz outfit Murk Lurker, this intimate, high-energy collaboration brings together outstanding dancers and musicians. Live jazz improvisation fuels bold movement, building to an open-floor finale that invites the audience in.
Wed 25 Feb – Fri 6 Mar | The Garage International, Adelaide Town Hall
WRIGHT&GRAINGER’S ORPHEUS
This award-winning reimagining of the Greek myth follows Orpheus through dive bars and everyday spaces as he searches for love using music, spoken word and storytelling. Poetic and heartfelt, Wright&Granger’s Orpheus gives the ancient tale a contemporary pulse.
Thu 19 Feb – Sun 22 Mar | Mortlock Library, State Library
SMILE: THE STORY OF CHARLIE CHAPLIN
Bringing the silent-film icon to life, Smile explores Charlie Chaplin’s humour, resilience and legacy. Blending physical comedy, music and storytelling, it’s an affectionate tribute filled with charm, nostalgia and old-world magic.
Thu 19 Feb – Sun 8 Mar | The Chapel, Migration Museum
ROMANZA: A DIVA IN PARIS
A celebration of cabaret and musical storytelling, Romanza delivers glamour, vocal power and Parisian flair. Playful elegance and dramatic flair make it a polished choice for lovers of classic performance.
Sun 1 Mar – Sat 14 Mar | The Garage International, Adelaide Town Hall
THE SENSEMAKER
Ever been stuck on hold, listening to muzak while a robotic voice reassures you your request is being processed? The Sensemaker pushes that frustration to unsettling extremes. With razor-sharp humour, this award-winning solo show stages a dystopian battle between a woman and an answering machine, revealing what happens when patience — and humanity — reach breaking point.
Wed 4 Mar – Sat 7 Mar | The Breakout at The Mill
A POEM AND A MISTAKE
When postgraduate Myrrha confronts her professor about sexual violence in Ovid’s Metamorphoses, a charged exchange unfolds into emotional and imagined transformations. Literary, visceral and unexpectedly funny, this one-woman play lingers long after the final moment.
Mon 23 Feb – Sun 8 Mar | The Garage International, Adelaide Town Hall
THE INFINITY MIRROR
“Google your name.” When a young woman discovers an AI version of herself online, her reality fractures. Confronting her digital double, questions of identity, consent and control emerge. Blending theatre, storytelling and immersive tech, The Infinity Mirror is a contemporary myth about what we give up when convenience comes first.
Tue 17 Mar – Sun 22 Mar | The Gallery, Migration Museum
GASTON LEROUX’S THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
Following sold-out UK seasons, this atmospheric reimagining of Leroux’s 1910 classic weaves candlelit storytelling, dramatic silhouettes and a rich musical score. Featuring operatic favourites and haunting piano works, it offers a romantic, immersive journey into the Phantom’s world.
Sat 7 Mar | The Garage International, Adelaide Town Hall
IWAKURA – IMMERSIVE WORLDS
Inspired by Shinto mythology, Iwakura draws on the belief that spirits inhabit Japan’s sacred rock formations. Created by visual artist Ali M. Demirel and ambient musician Kazuya Nagaya, this full-dome experience pairs evolving natural imagery with meditative soundscapes for a quietly transportive encounter.
Tue 17 Feb – Mon 6 Apr | The Dome, Olympic House | Middleback Arts Centre
EMPIRE OF THE SENSES
Shakti’s own work, Empire of the Senses is a dance homage to nature’s beauty and power. Set against Simon Carroll’s time-lapse imagery of the Australian wilderness, the performance moves through desert landscapes, star-filled skies and dramatic storms, reflecting on nature’s fragility and our responsibility to protect it.
Fri 20 Feb – Sun 22 Feb | The Garage International, Adelaide Town Hall
FOR TICKETS:
adelaidefringe.com.au
