The best theatre shows at Melbourne Fringe Festival 2023

How did one of the world’s most celebrated authors become one of the most hated? In this rare literary event, join the Harry Potter author JK Rowling (as played by Anna Piper Scott) for an exclusive one-on-one interview.

While some consider Rowling the saviour of modern feminism, others consider her the face of a hate movement; An Evening with JK pits these forces against one another. It will be a must-see for book lovers, feminists and women of all backgrounds.

Step inside Melbourne’s Malthouse Theatre and find yourself in an abandoned building in Beirut. Tangled knots of power cables and battery-operated candles mark your path while fluorescent flowers bloom in the dust.

Featuring Arabic-language covers of pop songs and underground techno music, Zaffé is an open-hearted celebration hosted by young artists from the Middle Eastern diaspora. Expect singing, dancing, ululation and a party in the face of what is lost through migration and the passing of time.

Welcome to the world of 3-2-1, where dance is reimagined through the lens of Down syndrome. Crafted by three creators with Down syndrome, 3-2-1 explores the intertwining themes of capability, challenge and enhancement to portray their lived experiences.

Building on the triumph of Sonder in 2022 (which was nominated for Best Physical Theatre), emotion21 returns with an ensemble of 20 performers. Expect a subversive performance that dismantles long-standing norms where the audience will have a ringside seat in this fusion of contemporary, lyrical and experimental dance.

Grab your scuba gear and take a hedonistic dive into the world of Ancient Greece with Godz. Follow Cupid (the God of love), Hercules (the God of strength) and Dionysus (the God of wine) as they paint the scene of Ancient Greece to bring you the biggest party to hit Mount Olympus since 500 BCE. Winner of the Melbourne Fringe People’s Choice Award in 2022, expect a body-ssey of gravity-defying stunts, true tests of heroic might and muscularity, and surprise comic twists. 

When fledgling artists Liam and Mel seduce Ryan one drizzly night in Melbourne, the course of their lives change forever. For Love Nor Money is a sexy new queer play by the award-winning writer Angus Cameron that follows a poet, director and politician in a twisted game of sex and love.

Directed by Justin Nott, For Love Nor Money is a deliciously dark comedy that rips open the millennial experience to see the lengths we will go to succeed when the world is closing in around us.

Head to Brunswick's legendary second-hand store, Scavengers, for a night of anecdotal theatre. Written and performed by Julie-Anna Evans, Till Tales offers a rare glimpse behind the counter.

Nestle in amongst the bric-a-brac as Evans (aka Jewels) shares a collection of tales and recollections inspired by the customers she’s met over the past decade. Expect the worlds of theatre and op-shopping to collide in this salute to the things we’ve loved and let go.

What do you get when you mix Thelma and Louise with Wild at Heart? You get Joyride, a voyeuristic live experience that uses the car as a stage.

From the front seat of a 1985 Beamer, catch variety artist Anna Lumb and drag icon Dandrogyny navigating the tiny space in a road trip that veers from dark comedy to downright absurdity.

Expect a heartwarming performance that combines storytelling, love and handmade dumplings to celebrate what brings us together – and what sets us apart. Part theatre, part live music, Dumplings Darling: Love without Borders is an intimate protest piece that combats the division slicing the world.

Created and performed by Alisa and Ania, expect to be transported on a magical journey of laughter, heartache and hope. And to get to the chase, yes, there will also be dumplings.