The Brian Nankervis guide to the Adelaide Fringe
In 2026, the Adelaide Fringe guide is an intimidating 176-pages long. Who has the time? Dear reader, certainly not you. Instead, let the co-creator of RocKwiz, Brian Nankervis, guide you through the festival season, with his must-stop places in Adelaide.
CM: How many times have you performed at the Adelaide Fringe?
BN: I reckon this will be my sixth Adelaide Fringe. The first was in 1986, a season at the Lion Arts Centre. Is that the correct name … Fringe Festival Freaks, please correct me if I’m wrong! Maybe the room was called Little Sisters? Happy to be corrected. I remember a lot of drumming circles in a courtyard. I do know it was with the hospital soap opera send-up, Let The Blood Run Free, and we were on after Newcastle’s Castanet Club. It was my first tour, and I loved it. We stayed in a hotel at Henley Beach and came second to the Doug Anthony Allstars for a festival award.
Next was Storming Glenelg by Tram in 1992. A play on a tram, with actors getting on and off. One night there was a (pretend) fight on the tram and my character was arrested by a (pretend) police officer. I got away, jumped off the tram and was apprehended by a (real) police officer! At interval, the audience had drinks in the Hilton and we had incredible Italian food at a restaurant over the road. I loved that show. We all stayed in flats at Glenelg and swam every day. Played volleyball on a big expanse of grass behind the Magic Mountain. Met Colin Lane.
I did two solo shows and a one-off poetry performance with a 7-year-old boy called Matt Healey, who went on Hey Hey It’s Saturday dressed as my poet character, Raymond J Bartholomeuz.
What’s special about the Fringe compared to other events in Australia?
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There’s a fabulous, festive atmosphere and an invitation to take risks and experiment with new material, exactly what we’re doing with Wish You Were Mine, a new show from The RocKwiz team where I interview artists about the songs they wish they’d written. Songs they love by songwriters they admire. We chat, then they perform those songs.
When you’re in Adelaide, where do you like to go for a drink?
I’m not much of a drinker but I do remember some fine red wines down around Aldinga. The Fleurieu Peninsula, I believe. Lovely down there. Drive along the beach, feel that heat and sample some fine wine at the Victory Hotel. Is that still there? Or The Star Of Greece at Port Willunga.
What about a nice dinner?
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I remember an Indian restaurant somewhere in the CBD. Downstairs. Popular with touring test cricket teams? Incredible naan breads. I seem to remember being there with members and wives of Lano and Woodley and The Scared Weird Little Guys, so there was much laughter and hijinx. We invented a game involving lightning-quick recall of times tables. For Italian food, there was the joint in King William which may be long gone and a few years back, during a Cabaret Festival I discovered the joys of Parlamento, but I hear it has closed. Love The Big Table cafe in the market. Had some excellent Vietnamese food just up from the Casino. Great eating in Adelaide.
How do you deal with hecklers?
Mmmmm … it depends on the situation: get them involved, ask them to repeat their comments, discuss with the group, invite the audience to exert an influence.
What other show at the Fringe would you recommend?
I’m keen to see the new Lano and Woodley show. I believe they are heading into space, always a great premise for a show. Colin and Frank are consistently hilarious and as funny as ever.
Brian is hosting Wish You Were Mine –a new live music and storytelling show from the creators of RocKwiz, over three nights in The Spiegeltent at The Garden of Unearthly Delights from 3-5 March.
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