This month, Newcastle Fringe will once again turn the city into a playground for bold ideas, big laughs and boundary-pushing performances.
From intimate cabaret and experimental theatre to stand-up comedy, music and wonderfully weird late-night shows, the festival brings together artists from across Australia and beyond for a celebration of creativity that thrives on the unexpected.
With dozens of performances popping up in venues across the city, narrowing down what to see can be the hardest part. To help you plan your Fringe adventure, we’ve rounded up some of the standout shows you won’t want to miss at Newcastle Fringe 2026.
Stage Fright ein Kabarett
Character-comedienne, Jude Bowler’s enticing and touchingly twisted, droll homage to Marlene. Nobody’s muse, everybody’s icon, a modern-day Dietrich – bored and mad as ever. Accompanied by Frankie Bouchier, “Stage Fright ein Kabarett”, tips more than its hat to the original queer icon of cool and laziest gal in town.
DATES & VENUES
25 March 2026 9.00pm
The Royal Exchange
26 March 2026 9.00pm
The Royal Exchange
27 March 2026 9.00pm
The Royal Exchange
28 March 2026 9.00pm
The Royal Exchange
29 March 2026 4.30pm
The Royal Exchange
Movin’ Melvin Brown – A Man, A Magic, A Music!
All the way from Austin, Texas, living legend Movin’ Melvin Brown brings his multi-awarded, off-Broadway Musical that sold out Edinburgh and around the world. A five★ Black Music journey through Brown’s incredible life in song, tap, story, comedy… Featuring Sam Cooke, Ray Charles, James Brown, Otis, Temptations’ songs.
DATES & VENUES
21 March 2026 6.30pm
The Polish Club Broadmeadow
22 March 2026 6.30pm
The Polish Club Broadmeadow
True Crime Comedy Walking Tour
Veteran Comedian Shayne Hunter delivers an entertaining and historically accurate walking tour of Newcastle’s dark underbelly. Learn about the city’s sinister past of crimes, scandals, colonial brutality, and corruption. Join Shayne for a unique blend of comedy and true crime as Newcastle’s forgotten secrets come alive through laughter.
DATES & VENUES
20 March – 29 March
Leaving from The Grand Hotel Newcastle
Tutti Frutti Burlesque – Camp Cabaret and Circus
Get juicy with Tutti Fruitti Burlesque – Camp Cabaret and Circus! A glitter-soaked explosion of burlesque, drag, and circus, this cheeky, queer-led variety show celebrates individuality, joy, and unapologetic self-expression. Expect dazzling striptease, jaw-dropping feats, and campy chaos in one unforgettable feast of fruity fabulousness!
DATES & VENUES
26 March 2026 8.00pm
Bernie’s Bar
27 March 2026 8.00pm
Bernie’s Bar
28 March 2026 9.30pm
Flamingos Live
George Glass’ Scientology The Musical
Join George Glass as they take a deep dive into the world’s most interesting legally-a-religion religion. Featuring a live funk-rock soundtrack, outrageous costumes and the secrets of the universe. Tom Cruise will not be attending.
DATES & VENUES
27 March 2026 6.00pm
Souths Merewether Winsor Terrace
28 March 2026 6.00pm
Souths Merewether Winsor Terrace
29 March 2026 5.00pm
Souths Merewether Winsor Terrace
Hot Potato Band
Hot Potato Band’s larger-than-life brass collective is a breath of fresh air with a focus on setting the bar for energetic and interactive musical performances. With three studio albums under their belts, they continue to explore the sonic possibilities of acoustic instrumentation. Finding home in Sydney, Australia, they have spent the last 11 years independently curating and touring shows across Australia, New Zealand, Europe and the Middle East. HPB’s music blends genres, creating a vibrant and inclusive atmosphere at every show. They have reinvented the traditional brass band as a modern day dance machine and visual spectacle to complement their strong sense of pride for their fun-loving, organic, and quirky musical nature.
DATES & VENUES
Friday, 20 March 2026
Exchange Hotel Hamilton
