Mid January to early March is without a doubt the most hectic time of year for the performing arts sector in Boorloo/Perth. That includes us, the small number of media outlets who watch and write about what’s happening during those six marathon weeks. It’s both thrilling and daunting to stare down two gargantuan festivals rolling into town with hundreds of shows on their conjoined backs, but we do our best to rise to the challenge.
And now, we’ve let the dust settle, taken stock of the season’s offerings, and put together our highlights and faves from FRINGE WORLD, The Blue Room Theatre’s Summer Nights, and Perth Festival 2025.
Mitch Whelan‘s festival favourites
Perth Festival: August: Osage County
It’s hard to look past this for a top pick. Outstanding performances across the board and sensational writing. A rare treat to see something from the contemporary cannon, with such a huge ensemble cast, brought to life here in Perth. I saw it twice! [read Mitch’s review here.]
Perthfest Honourable Mention: Ultimate Safari
This show gave me so much joy and so skilfully pulled the rug out from underneath me. An exciting use of Virtual Reality, and well crafted live performances. It will be a long time before I forget this, or see anything like it again.
FRINGE WORLD: Garry Starr: Classic Penguins
Exceptionally clever and divinely simple comedy. Nudity aside, this show was hot. So satisfying and side-splittingly funny.
SUMMER NIGHTS: The Wetness
So, so, so weird and totally wonderful. I confess the night I saw it I was very tired and did not want to leave the house at all. By the of The Wetness I genuinely felt recharged, full of gratitude, and fully of fun. What a treat! [read Mitch’s review here.]
Sinead Harte‘s FRINGE WORLD dance favourite
The Underground: El Ritmo
This show from Elysian Creative was a masterclass in performance artistry and was my absolute #1 show for this year’s FRINGE WORLD. I loved every second of it for its jaw-dropping choreography, the athleticism and versatility of the dancers, and a soundtrack that was pure nostalgia, transporting me straight back to my 90s/2000s childhood. All seamlessly tied together by the part femme fatale, part flamboyant ‘madame’ of the underground, ‘Tita Valencia,’ AKA Monique Wilson. I’d see it again in a heartbeat! [read Sinead’s review here.]
Gemma Sidney‘s top Perthfest live music picks
Moktar
Sydney DJ/producer Moktar played at the East Perth Power Station – such a perfect venue for electronic music (I wish it was open on the regular!). The accompanying visuals were great. Moktar’s mix was incredible, the right fusion of club, house and arabic sounds for an awesome time on the dance floor.
PJ Harvey
A gorgeous, vast, intricate set that reached for her newest material as well as tracks from her first two albums of the early 90s (Dry and Rid of Me) which were such a delight to hear again live. Harvey’s witchy vibe was really well suited to the theatrical stage setting at Kings Park. Haunting and brilliant.
Alter Boy – The Complete Collection
Going in I wasn’t familiar with Alter Boy’s entire back catalogue – which wasn’t a big deal, as that’s what they were there to play! I enjoyed the band’s overall aesthetic, they were super slick. I loved seeing the Auslan interpreter perform too – accessibility being super important with multiple Deaf/hard of hearing members in the band. Lead singer Molly Priest is an absolute card. A band to seek out next time they’re playing live.
Honorable Mention: Fontaines D.C.
I have been waiting a couple of years for Fontaines D.C to return to Perth, as I missed them last time around. They would have made my top three had it not been for the crowd shout-singing along to every song… I could barely hear Grian Chatten’s vocals and the mix was muddy. Not the fault of the band, who seemed to hit every note. The moshpit was made up of a lovely, sweaty crowd, maxing out at maybe age 21 (with a few anomalies, myself included). I still had a lot of fun – it gave Irish pub singalong vibes.
C.J. O’Harte‘s festival highlights
FRINGE WORLD: K Mak at the Planetarium
I think that K Mak was a fully immersive experience and because of this, it was a feast to my senses. I was exhausted when I went into it but it held me and transported me out of myself despite that. [read C.J.’s review here.]
Fringe Honourable Mention: Villains: A Dizney in Drag Parody
Hairy Godmother’s Dizney Villians was subversive, like all great drag, whilst being riotously funny and some of the best crowd work I think I have ever seen or will see. The stars were both talent and down to earth, a rare combination. [read C.J.’s review here.]
Perth Festival: Nils Frahm (Music for Perth)
Frahm delivered a soulful performance, with humility and grace and in a venue that had a great ambience. Also, recording the crowd live and weaving it in with ease shows his prowess as a composer and musician. His set up of instruments was a joy to behold due to their architectural nature, especially the beauty of the glass harmonica. [read C.J.’s review here.]
Cicely Binford‘s bests of the fests
Perth Festival: Big Name, No Blankets from ILBIJERRI Theatre 
FRINGE WORLD: Garry Starr: Classic Penguins 
The Blue Room Theatre Summer Nights: SHARK by Lucy Wong 
FRINGE WORLD: I Watched Someone Die on TikTok by Charlotte Otton 
Perth Festival: Is This a Room from Half Straddle 
Perth Festival: August: Osage County from Belvoir St Theatre and BSSTC
Perth Festival: Big Name, No Blankets
A friend of mine saw it over east and told me not to miss it. This was the last festival show I was booked to review, and I almost backed out due to exhaustion, but I made it in the end. I’m so very glad I didn’t miss it because it was my favourite of the season. I stayed for the artist Q&A afterwards with the co-directors and some cast, hosted by Yirra Yaakin AD Maitland Schnaars. What an incredible impact this music and this show makes on audiences. [read Cicely’s review here.]
Perthfest Honourable Mentions: Is This a Room and August: Osage County
It’s a tie. Please don’t make me choose. I can’t. [read Cicely’s review of Is This a Room and Mitch’s review of August: Osage County]
FRINGE WORLD: Garry Starr: Classic Penguins
Ditto what Mitch said above. Probably one of the best Fringe shows I’ve ever seen, EVER. It was so clever and silly and surprising and satisfying in 1,000 different ways. If it’s coming to a festival near you, DO NOT MISS IT.
Fringe Honourable Mention: I Watched Someone Die on TikTok
I saw it twice because a) it was very good and b) it was sandwiched in between 2 other shows I wanted to see in the same venue, so why not watch something good twice?? [read Cicely’s review here.]
Summer Nights: SHARK
Lucy Wong, if you’re reading this: MORE PLEASE!? A weird and hilarious stage mockumentary from a sharp comic mind that we’d better be seeing more from very soon.
