perth

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! No, not Christmas, Fringe World Festival! It’s a time where Northbridge is abuzz with chatter of people who have just been to see a show and may not be quite sure what they just witnessed but loved it anyway, and the excitement of those on the way to their very first Fringe experience. It’s a time that brings people of all ages into the city and there truly is something for everyone…you just have to know what to choose. And there comes the hardest part of Fringe; there are SO many shows to choose from, with many a talented artist or group having toiled away for months or years to bring it to life with all their blood, sweat and I’m sure a lot of tears, only to experience small audiences. Quality over quantity definitely counts in some cases, with an engaged crowd providing the energy the artists thrive off to deliver their very best work.

One show that is definitely not light on energy from either the artists or the crowd is Primal, described as a circus for grown-ups inspired by the raw energy of the animal kingdom and the complexities of human relationships. From the opening musical number we were hooked; this 65-minute thrill ride in the Heath Ledger Theatre at the State Theatre Centre of WA, had me unsure of whether to be amazed or terrified with the strength and flexibility of this suite of performers. Clearly I’m getting old when I’m thinking ‘wow that is incredible, but how is she not hurting her neck?!’

From burlesque numbers, to amazing aerial acrobatics and sheer displays of female strength with the subversion of traditional gender roles, with some comic relief thrown in, Primal is exactly the sort of show that Fringe is all about. With a blank stage as their canvas, you weren’t distracted by fancy set pieces and became fully engaged, if not mesmerised by each act. The amount of trust the performers had in each other was clear as the tension in the theatre built of where they would take the show next. We had been instructed by the show’s fabulous emcee to hoot and holler as much as we wanted and the audience grasped that challenge with all their might. One stand out act in particular, early in the show had me waiting for the fire sprinklers in the theatre to go off, partly due to the heat between the performers.

I almost don’t know how to describe this show further without spoiling it, so you’re just going to have to trust me when I say this is one of the must-see shows of this year’s festival.

Primal runs daily from Wednesday 28th Jan to Sunday 1st Feb. While there is a matinee on the Saturday and Sunday for those who prefer to be ‘home by 9’; don’t let that fool you, this is an 18+ show.

With one week down and three more to go, there is plenty of time to experience the buzz of Fringe. Get out there and see as much as you can, big or small. Sure, ask your friends for recommendations but above all pick some random shows, because you never know what you may find…and that is the best part of Fringe.

To book tickets to Primal, please visit https://fringeworld.com.au/whats-on/primal-fw2026.

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Magic and mystery has made its way to Perth’s Crown Theatre, with NOW YOU SEE ME LIVE presenting bold tricks and thrilling stunts to captivate audiences.

Based on the popular movie trilogy, following a band of cunning magicians known as the Horsemen, the story naturally lends itself to a life on the stage. With a fourth film confirmed to be in development, this live adaptation is a great way to tide over fans who are hungry for more.

Throughout the two hour performance we meet escapologist Andrew Basso, sleight-of-hand expert Matthew Pomeroy and grand illusionists Gabriella Lester and Pablo Canovas who take turns baffling audiences, leaving many questioning how their trickery was pulled off.

From card tricks to mind reading and teleportation, there was plenty of action for patrons throughout the night with ample opportunities for audience patience (their faces proving how mind boggling some of these tricks truly were).

Without giving away too much, some personal highlights included a death defying Houdini style escape, and a very impressive maths equation to bring the night to a close – complete with a touching speech about time, and the way we choose to use it.

Outside of some master trickery, this show also had high production value, with immersive lighting and sound design audiences were truly immersed into the world of the show, helping provide the thriller-type feel from the films.

One piece of advice I’d offer to anyone attending the show is to look out for cards on the way in. There was a particular moment, using the entire audience and the ‘cards you received on the way in’ – unfortunately myself and those I was with didn’t get any (though we may have just missed them ourselves) so had to miss out but enjoyed watching those around us. Given the size of the audience and the grand scale of the trick, it was very impressive and therefore a little disappointing to not have been a part of it.

Admittedly there were a few things throughout the show that I’m still skeptical of, but it was clear from the audience’s overall reactions that many were baffled and left wanting more.

This show makes for a great night out for people of all ages, and is a fantastic nod to its roots – don’t wait to pick up tickets… blink and you’ll miss it 😉

To book tickets to Now You See Me Live, please visit https://www.crownperth.com.au/entertainment/crown-theatre/shows/now-you-see-me.

Photographer: Cameron Grant, Parenthesy

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