Fringe World 2024: WA’s biggest festival bounces back for an unforgettable season

Fringe World lovers get set for a month of fun, frivolity and at least partial nudity as WA’s biggest festival kicks off on Friday, January 19. In recent years Fringe World has endured lockdowns, closed borders and artist and consumer uncertainty but the event has bounced back with a bumper line-up featuring a host of returning national and international favourites including the insurmountable Bernie Dieter, the irrepressible Reuben Kaye and the downright fabulous Hans, who finally gets to bring his Disco Spektakular to Perth after having to cancel his entire 2022 season. As the festival centrepiece Dieter will bring her raucous and renowned Club Kabarett to new Fringe venue, L’ Euro Grande for the entire season. Formerly the European Foods Warehouse on Francis Street, it has been transformed into a 804-seat capacity cabaret club, making it the largest venue Fringe World has ever had. In total this year’s festival features more than 520 shows across 100 venues spanning comedy, cabaret, burlesque, drag, theatre, magic, hypnotism, children’s shows and more. And it’s not just international acts that are back, this year also sees the welcome return of Poffertjes to Fringe hub, The Pleasure Garden at Russell Square in Northbridge. The Dutch food vendor’s mini pancakes have been a massive crowd pleaser in years gone by and are sure to hit the sweet spot once more. Fringe World runs from January 19 to February 18. See fringeworld.com.au for the full program. Read our guide to the best of Fringe World in the 44-page themed edition of PLAY this Saturday.