Here Are Some Shows by South Asian Creatives to Catch at the Melbourne Fringe Festival
The Melbourne Fringe Festival runs until 22 October 2023. Catch these South Asian Australian acts while you can.
Source: @thecoconutscomedy
We know that there are many things you could be doing between now and 22 October 2023. You could start your very own Neighbourhood (Magpie) Watch. You could try to snap your local kangaroo air-guitaring for next year’s Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards (click the link, thank us later).
Or, if you happen to be pottering around Naarm/Melbourne, you could mosey on over to the Melbourne Fringe Festival to catch all sorts of theatre, cabaret, circus, comedy, music, dance and independent art goodness.
The Melbourne Fringe Festival runs until 22 October 2023, painting the town at various venues in Melbourne/Naarm. There are over 450 events to bask in this October, including a few by South Asian creatives based in Australia.
Here’s our pick of shows by South Asian artists, comedians, theatremakers, and more. If your piggy bank isn’t on a diet, support these local South Asian Australians across live music, comedy, and theatre over the coming weeks.
1. The Coconuts – Brown on the Outside, White on the Inside
“Seemingly cute but surprisingly ‘R rated’, Leela (she/her) and Shabana (she/her) will shock and delight you with offbeat original songs, deadpan delivery and their unique social perspective. As two women of colour, the duo often poking fun at their shared experiences of being non-white in a white-washed world. They’re serious and sexy, political and silly, brown and brown. Shabana and Leela can make jokes you’re not allowed to, and they do.”
Directed by: Hem Tiwary and Jaya Berged | Written by: Dharamvir Bharati Dates: 4 – 8 October
“Andha Yug is a dark, gritty play about the last days of the Mahabharata war, as told from the perspectives of Queen Gandhari, grieving the loss of her sons, and warrior Ashwatthama, struggling with survivor’s guilt. It is an exploration into the philosophy of karma, the mysteries of time, human journeys through heightened emotions, and the volatile actions that emerge from dislodged passions.”
Performed by: Chetan Singh (Delhi Buoy) Dates: 6 – 14 October
“A hilarious journey of a common man from the streets of New Delhi who dared to dream up a life across the seas. Come witness the story of [Delhi Buoy’s] hilarious journey from rags to mediocre amount of wealth. It might not be a success story but it’s funny.”
Created and Performed by: Priyanka Jain Dates: 7 – 14 October
“A sudden bolt of lightning flashes across the sky, sparking desire in a maiden’s heart and off she goes to meet her lover! Wait, playback and zoom in 1000x to exactly what happened within these milliseconds. This is a forensic investigation into why the Abhisarika runs. Audiences! Let’s ask the witnesses – the trees of the forest, the snakes, the forest ghouls, the lightning itself!
Just like six blind men describe an elephant, each witness reveals a fragmented truth about its role in the Abhisarika’s iconography, elucidated in a song. The audience is invited to choose the sequence of motifs from the set design to hear their songs and string this performance of English spoken-word poetry and Indian dance together.”
“Warning – This is not just a comedy show! This is the most amazing, the most exquisite, the most spicy, the most delicious looking, the most exotic smelling curry you will ever have! Aditya Gautam is an author, screenwriter and stand-up comedian, but most importantly, he is Indian as f**k. Born and brought up in Delhi, Aditya now lives in Melbourne. Whatever you do, don’t call him a Papadum!”
Written and Directed by: Jaya Berged Dates: 7 – 22 October
“The Axe in the Ceiling is a story about a newly married couple on a journey of self-discovery, through a series of absurd events.Their journey together rocks their individual stability and reveals gaps in their self-image, compelling them to reflect on what they truly want and whether they have what it takes to get it.”
“Raj – an ex-Indian – has performed in several shows, including Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Adelaide Fringe and Dubbo Comedy Festival. He will have you in stitches as he explains his early life in Australia. Come spend an evening with royalty….”
Brown Boy Magazine (@brownboyau) celebrates worship-worthy tastemakers and changemakers in the South Asian Australian diaspora (without taking itself too seriously).
