Sydney Fringe Festival 2022: Your Guide to 10 Must-See Events
Live theatre is back and better than ever. These are the best Sydney Fringe Festival events to check out this year.
She’s back, baby! Sydney Fringe Festival, our cities largest independent arts festival has announced their epic return. With 500 events spread over 50 venues this is a love letter to Sydney’s arts community.
There are no end of epic events for local arts lovers and festival aficionados, the whole festival line-up is well worth a read but, to whet your appetite, here are our top ten events happening at Sydney Frings Festival this year.
Bernie Dieter and Friends @ Club Kabarett
This winter the undisputed queen of Weimar punk, Bernie Dieter – a thrilling cross between Lady Gaga, Marlene Dietrich and Frank-N-Further - and her gang of misfits are pulling out all bringing sexy back to the shores of Sydney harbour with an extended six-week run packed with spectacles from sword swallowing, hair hanging, burlesque, pole dancing and acrobatics. A tentful of titillating performances backed by a gin-soaked haus band, we’re absolutely in love!
Tuesday 23rd August – Sunday 25th September
Tickets from $65 - $110 per person, available online
The Runaway Gardens, First Fleet Park, The Rocks
Emerging Artist Sharehouse
The next generation of artists have shacked up in Erskineville for a month of avant garde performances. There are over 30 unique performances on offer so, if you’re lost on where to start, begin with our favourites. Welcome To The Dark Goddess’s Office a one-woman show that brings mythology to life with snarky dark humour, Freudienne which invites you to lay down on the couch and unpack your mummy issues, Pastabate which concerns using carbs as a coping mechanism, Robyn Reynolds: Cake a deliciously funny performance from one of the UKs best new comics and of course, there’s The Tale of The Great Emu War which tells the story of Australia’s most hilarious military defeats.
Tuesday 30th August – Friday 30th September
Ticketed and free events, head here for more information and tickets
Erskineville Town Hall
YUMMY
YUMMY is a downright delicious drag variety performance which blends bold burlesque with circus and cabaret. With slinky sexy moments and side splitting comedy this is a must-see Sydney Fringe Festival event.
Wednesday 31st August – Sunday 4th September
Tickets from $49 - $109 per person, available online
Eternity Playhouse, Darlinghurst Theatre Company, 39 Burton Street, Darlinghurst
Sideshow
The Rocks are putting on a show with three weeks of comedy, theatre, music and installations with over 100 free and ticketed events. And with easy access to some of the best bars and restaurants in the Sydney CBD, this sideshow could even challenge the main event.
Friday 2nd September – Sunday 25th September
Ticketed and free events, head here for more information and tickets
The Rocks, Sydney CBD
Indie Yarns – First Nations Q&A
Indie Yarns is perfect for local artists and creatives who are interested in big conversations about representation on Australian stages.
Saturday 3rd September, 12pm – 2pm
Free
Redfern Community Centre
Made in Sydney
Young Henrys has created a perfect night out for Sydneysiders with a line-up of local talent performing circus, theatre and cabaret.
Tuesday 6th September – Saturday 17th September
Tickets available online
Seymour Centre
Fringeville
For one night – and one night only – the folks of Southwest Sydney are being served up a feast of Fringe and Fringe adjacent performances. With a comedy bus, juggling, clowns, dancing and acrobatics and live music, this Sydney Fringe Festival Event is perfect for the whole family.
Friday 9th September, 5pm – 9pm
Free
Hurstville Plaza
Titanic: The Movie, The Play
Life jackets (or floating wooden doors) at the ready! We’re throwing ourselves into a comedic parody of this epic 90s romance. With plenty of raunchy moments, 90s jokes and plenty of laugh out loud moments, the play is exactly what you should expect from the high-octane brains behind Speed: The Movie, The Play.
Thursday 15th September – Sunday 2nd October
Tickets from $44, available online
Australian National Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour
Babylon
Welcome to Babylon! Descend into dark decadence with an epic street party complete with wild creatures, steamy performances dancing among sequins and flames. There will be plenty of food and drink flowing from the epic eateries that line the streets of Chippendale.
Saturday 17 September, dusk – late
Free
Kensington Street, Chippendale.
My House Your House / Mi Casa Tu Casa: Box of Birds
This trans-global rave features some of Sydney’s best underground EDM and live ‘mixed reality’ dance exchanges with performers in Sydney and Mexico and even aerial performance artists flipping overhead. And all this on the shores of the iconic Sydney Harbour, yes please!
Saturday 1st October, 7pm
Free entry before 9pm, otherwise tickets from $25, available online
Lighthouse, Australian National Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour
If you're hungry for more live music, theatre and comedy, check out our arts & culture pillar for everything from local live music venues to round ups of Australian TV shows and movies to stream at home.