Natalie Rees🌟🎭 - Whats The Show

Bush Chook

10/02/2026 Natalie Rees🌟🎭

Bush Chook Rating

★★★★★

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Currently tucked away behind works in Northbridge, Perth’s stalwart venue, The Blue Room is still vibrant as ever and flourishing as a breeding ground for emerging talent. Performing to a sold-out crowd, Bush Chook is a new work that gives a glimpse into the dynamics and relationship of a young man and woman who meet at a roadhouse on the Nullarbor Plain one December evening.

Written and directed by Hayley Perrin, this contemporary play explores what happens when Angus, a 26-year-old male, tries to seduce Mary, a 19-year-old virgin. They chat, flirt and end up together in a motel bedroom. How does it end? What will Angus do when nobody is watching? How does Mary support him (or not) when he vulnerably shares his life’s problems?

I really enjoyed how this play explores the complexity of enculturation and why people act how they should not. How do our flaws appear? Are our men not heard enough? Do women take on too much emotional burden (especially at Christmas)? What needs to change? And how can we all take responsibility for our actions? The thing I enjoyed about this play was that it not only left a lasting memory but also left us with so many questions.

I also enjoyed seeing snippets of such modern life on stage — people scrolling on their phones, FaceTiming and using voice notes. It was also interesting to see how communication has changed — the characters often not looking each other in the eye, distracted by technology and being told to see a shrink instead of any real vulnerable connection.

Lea Šimić, in her role of Mary, was nuanced and the innocence she conveyed was palpable.

Matthew J. Young as Angus was incredibly charismatic on stage and had you guessing if he was to be trusted.

The physicality of the direction was also interesting to watch, and the use of animal play was a great comment on how base and animalistic we all can be.

While the script was overall really great, I think it could do with some development in parts to smooth things out.

Overall, I really enjoyed this production and commend the small professional team behind it. Love seeing young graduates creating their own work instead of waiting for it to come to them!

Bush Chook plays in Perth at The Blue Room Theatre from Tuesday the 3rd of February to Saturday the 7th of February 2026, and in Melbourne on Monday the 30th of March 2026 at the Gasworks Arts Park Studio Theatre.

To book tickets to Bush Chook, please visit https://fringeworld.com.au/whats-on/bush-chook-fw2026.

Photographer: Alexander Franklin

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Magic Dale’s FUNTASTIC Family Show

02/02/2026 Natalie Rees🌟🎭

Magic Dale’s FUNTASTIC Family Show Rating

★★★★★

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This year my 10 year old son got his first magic kit for Christmas and since then he has been obsessed with magic. Every morning he gets up and meticulously practices magic tricks – so you can imagine my (and his) delight when Magic Dale’s Funtastic Family Show landed in my email box as part of Perth’s Fringe’s Line-Up.

We got to the venue a little early and Magic Dale was there to welcome us and the rest of the waiting audience with his great big smile and friendly wave. Instantly I knew the tone of this show – welcoming, friendly, heartfelt and inclusive. This isn’t a slimy magician show but a warm and FUNtastic show that is suitable for the whole family; you just can’t help but love Dale, he is so endearing.

I actually didn’t know that Magic Dale existed (clearly I’m out of the loop) but this is what Fringe is all about – discovering acts that you might not otherwise hear about. It turns out that Magic Dale is in fact very popular in Perth, so much so that his show was sold out with his loyal fan base. After chatting to an old high school friend who I happened to sit next to – she told me that he tours all over Perth doing school shows and as the show was about to start she lent over and whispered to me, “you’ll really LOVE it!”

And love it I did!

The show had a plethora of tricks – spanning cards, illusions, levitation, mind-reading and even Rubik’s cubes. The show is highly interactive, with constant audience participation that keeps the energy buzzing. My own son was lucky enough to be chosen to help on stage, a moment that he won’t forget and maybe even a start to his own magic career indeed.

To end – I absolutely loved the message that he left us all with. He told us a story that just like my son he received a magic kit for his 8th birthday and ever since then he has had a passion for magic. He’s never let that flame die and now manages to make his passion a career working full-time as a magician. He encouraged children and adults alike to do the same – follow your passion; it’s never too late.

Unfortunately Magic Dale’s shows were all SOLD OUT this year so make sure you get in early for next year or if you can’t wait more can be found about him here: https://magicdale.com/

To book tickets to Magic Dale’s FUNTASTIC Family Show, please visit https://fringeworld.com.au/whats-on/magic-dale-s-funtastic-family-show-fw2026
.

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Ro Dahl’s Drag Race

30/01/2026 Natalie Rees🌟🎭

Ro Dahl’s Drag Race Rating

★★★★★

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Ever since I lived a stone’s throw away from Sydney’s infamous Stonewall Hotel on Oxford Street in Darlinghurst, I’ve had a fascination with drag queens. Their makeup, their costumes, and the way they move has always mesmerised me.

So when I got the opportunity to review Ro Dahl’s Drag Show, I was curious to see if Perth’s drag scene could bring it like their Sydney sisters—and bring it they did.

As I sat down in Perth’s iconic Connection Nightclub, I was whisked back to some blurry memories of visiting here as a younger woman. The audience was a diverse mix of ages, sexes, and ethnicities—everyone was welcome.

The show opened with our host for the night, the beautiful and elegant Moxie Heart as the glamorous Fantastic Mr Fox, instantly creating a warm and fun atmosphere. I must commend her impeccable drag queen voice—sweet, smooth, and polished. She treated us to an introductory dance flanked by the fantastic Peach Pit Crew; I felt like I was watching a Backstreet Boys music video from the ’90s—so much fun!

From that moment on, the smile was pasted on my face and didn’t leave for the entirety of this fabulous show. The joy the performers clearly exuded was contagious, with the audience clapping along throughout.

This group of showgirls is incredibly talented and endlessly entertaining. From watching Charlie Bucket (Jaxon Coke) twirl across the stage, flipping with outstanding acrobatics, to Veruca Salt (Veruca Sour) gracing us with her award-winning burlesque moves, the entertainment never stopped rolling.

The standout performance had to go to Sassie Cassie as the Witch. Her commitment to character is paramount, and she was definitely the performer who made me smile the most—nearly falling off my chair as she waltzed down the aisle during her act. Her makeup and costume were phenomenal. Knowing it can take her up to five hours to paint that beautiful face, I am in total awe of the dedication involved.

Special mention must also go to Beau Pash as Roly Poly Bird, a clearly seasoned drag queen who had the audience in fits of laughter. Brenda Wee as Matilda was absolutely adorable with clever costume reveals, and Bush Rat as Willy Wonka proved to be a highly talented dancer.

There is so much to love about this show—the energy, the extraordinary lip-syncing, the humour. It will leave you wanting more.

My 60-year-old mother, whom I took along, summed it up perfectly with her first comment: “When can we go again?” She truly enjoyed it immensely.

I implore you to get out of the house and see this Fringe show before you miss it. The art of drag is completely underrated, and I can guarantee you won’t go home disappointed—you’ll go home buzzing and wanting more.

To book tickets to Ro Dahl’s Drag Race, please visit https://fringeworld.com.au/whats-on/ro-dahl-s-drag-race-fw2026.

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#Since1994

24/01/2026 Natalie Rees🌟🎭

Since 1994 Rating

★★★★★

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As Perth Fringe opened this week I was incredibly excited to see this international contemporary circus act from Taiwan. To be honest – I was a little unsure what to expect from the description of the show but my expectations were well exceeded.

Part circus, part physical theatre, this show is definitely the best kind of off beat and for those looking for something different. All I could think of what how interesting, thought provoking and expressive this show is.

How and where did these women train? What is their background? And what made them want perform this rebellious circus act that differs so drastically from any traditional circus?

A little research about performer and creator of #since1994 Mei Chih-ling reveals that she studied at the prestigious National Taiwan College of Performing Arts which undoubtably informs her art today and maybe not for the reasons we would first think. Chih-Ling shares that “In school, female students would be punished if they gained 0.1 kilogram, so we were afraid to even drink water before weighing ourselves.” These kinds of experiences transfer to the stage and comment not only on industry expectations but what it means to be a woman today. How do we allow ourselves to be treated? How do we feel? What is our purpose? What are we capable of?

Rated PG I tentatively took my 7 year old daughter (who is a bit of an acrobat herself) along to this show not 100% sure if it would be appropriate. What I learnt was, that it was 100% the perfect show for us and we both loved it! It also lead to a great discussion point with her. Did she ever want to create her own work? While my daughter loves her calisthenics classes – would it be freeing for her to use her skills she has learnt to tell her own stories in the future rather than just be instructed what to tell? It was something I had thought about in the past but seeing these powerful women (both physically and mentally) in the flesh perform this was a real inspiration.

The show is as impressive with its thought provoking nature as it is with it’s circus acts itself. The strength, talent and cohesion of this all female troupe was outstanding. We saw human towers, table spinning on feet at speeds I’d never seen, contortion, hula hooping, aerial acts and juggling.

They didn’t miss the comedy of circus either and both my daughter and myself were giggling along to some sillier and more playful moments of the show. She especially loved the audience participation when she got to draw on the artists with lipstick.

This show has all the feels and takes you on an unexpected emotional journey. It’s beautifully poetic and spectacle to watch. By the end it had me with tears in my eyes; I wasn’t quite sure why, but it was something to do with the unity of women, our struggles, experiences and possibilities we all have combined.

#Since1994 runs Wednesday the 21st of January till Sunday the 1st of February at The Gold at The Pleasure Garden.

To book tickets to Since 1994, please visit https://fringeworld.com.au/whats-on/since1994-fw2026.

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