COMEBACK Festival reimagines the theatre-going experience as something shared, social, and deeply immersive. Across three curated weeks, audiences are invited to attend two carefully paired shows in one evening, with supper and drinks served in between—creating space to pause, reflect, and connect.
Each week is thoughtfully matched so the works speak to one another, offering a richer, more layered artistic journey. Featuring productions that have already captivated audiences and received outstanding reviews, the festival celebrates work that deserves a second life—bringing it back to the stage while introducing it to new and diverse audiences.
COMEBACK creates a vibrant environment where artists and audiences can gather, share conversations, and forge new connections—expanding networks, cross-pollinating ideas, and fostering a deeper engagement with the arts.
We hope you can join us and in doing so, support these incredible local and deserving artists!
Week 1 August 13-16
tender, powerful & deeply felt
Wilde & Darling Productions
Goddess Era
6.30pm & 3pm (sun)
'Goddess Era' was developed and performed by Sarah Kwong and Shannen Beckett for the 2023Adelaide Fringe festival. The script is written by Sarah Kwong, with original music written by Shannen Beckett.
The show is an hour of storytelling and songs based on the stories of four women from Greek Mythology: Artemis, Andromeda, Cassiopeia, and Medusa. These characters are reimagined into the present day as Anna, Cassie, Andy and Melinda, told for a modern audience and with a feminist perspective.
'Goddess Era' is a funny, poignant and thought provoking exploration of common female experiences and what the women from ancient times can say to us now. It is inspired by personal stories and contemporary gender dynamics.
Its original run in the 2023 Adelaide Fringe was shortlisted for the Holden Street Theatres award.
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Alix Kuijpers
i know the end
8.30pm & 5pm (sun)
‘i know the end’ tells the story of love and intimacy through the lens of those that are raised alien to it, as queer performers Caroline De Wan and Fern Mines navigate figments of childhood in their quest to belong. The work seeks to bring the audience directly into the fantasy with interactive and immersive elements throughout, and a new sound score composed by Kuijpers.
The work seeks to highlight the magic of the queer experience whilst also commenting on it's more overlooked struggles, giving hope or inspiring passion in those who seek comfort in the company of another.
Choreographed by Alix Kuijpers
Created in Collaboration and Performed by Fern Mines and Caroline De Wan
Sound Design and Set Design by Alix Kuijpers
Lighting Design by Steven Durey
Week 2 August 20-23
bold, playful & unexpected
Photo Credits: Photos by Jamois
Danielle Lim & Sam Lau
BANG ON THE NERVE
A MODERN ASIAN-AUSTRALIAN ADAPTATION
6.30pm & 3pm (sun)
Best friends Elle and Louis are about to turn an ordinary evening into an all-out showdown over love, lust, and the messy double standards of dating today. Buckle up as they clash over the raw reality of gender politics and what it means to navigate modern relationships in the 21st century.
Written by Van Badham, adapted and performed by local Asian-Australian powerhouses Sam Lau and Danielle Lim, 'BANG ON THE NERVE' is a witty and powerful one-hour show packed with laughter, sass, and perhaps a few tears.
Creative team
Danielle Lim - Co-Lead Creative & Producer/'Elle'
Samuel Lau - Co-Lead Creative & Producer/'Louis'
Valerie Berry - Director
Juanita Navas-Nguyen - Associate Director
Eliza Lovell - Intimacy Coordinator
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Photo Credits: Photos by Jamois
Zero Theatre Collective
HAVE SEX WITH ME, PLEASE.
8.30pm & 5pm (sun)
Zero Theatre Collective are a group of theatre-makers brought together with the goal of supporting grass-roots theatre work in South Australia.
Eddie and Nate are virgins. This isn't really an issue for them, but everyone - the media, the internet, their cool older cousins - keeps telling them that it's cool to have sex. And Eddie and Nate really, really want to be cool. Join Eddie and Nate as increase their sexual market value by learning from some of the internet's greatest masculinity and dating influencers! Will you be the lucky audience member who has sex with Eddie? Probably not.
'HAVE SEX WITH ME, PLEASE'. is a riotous, anarchic comedy that examines societal norms and the importance of sex in a hyper-digital world , that emphasises the importance of safety, consent, and everyone having a good time.
HAVE SEX WITH ME, PLEASE. Is written by and stars Eddie Morrison and Nate Karagiannis-Troisi.
Week 3 August 27-30
fresh, honest & fearlessly new
Photo Credits: Photos by Jamois
Deus Ex Femina
All The Things I Couldn't Say
by Katherine Sortini
6.30pm & 3pm (sun)
'All The Things I Couldn’t Say' is an original theatre work inspired by anonymous unsent messages from around the world - the things people have always wanted to say, nearly said, or never could bring themselves to say.
Funny, intimate and quietly devastating, the work moves through fragments of confession, longing, grief, miscommunication and desire to ask what happens when truth stays trapped inside us.
In this new rendition, Katherine Sortini’s award-winning work is reimagined with fresh material and a renewed political urgency, while retaining the emotional complexity and recognisable humanity of the original.
Built from a series of non-linear vignettes, the piece explores the fear of authentic communication, the performances we give one another, and the split-second moments that can alter a life.
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Dead Darling Theatre
All Grown Up (But Not Really)
8.30pm & 5pm (sun)
Hey hey inner child… it’s time to wake the f**k up (again).
'All Grown Up (But Not Really)' is a wildly nostalgic, joyfully chaotic cabaret about growing up without ever really growing out of your feelings.
Created and performed by Adelaide artist Billie-Rose Russell, this 60-minute hyperactive utopia blends powerhouse vocals, hilarious storytelling, audience participation, spontaneous dancing, and early-2000s fever dream energy into one unforgettable experience.
Perfect for anyone who misses primary school discos, friendship bracelets, broken Converse shoes, or the strange emotional attachment you had to random objects as a child, 'All Grown Up (But Not Really)' invites audiences to reconnect with the messy, magical parts of themselves they thought adulthood had packed away.
Bring your teddy. Bring your bestie. Bring your inner child.
There’ll be singalongs. There’ll be prizes. There’ll probably be glitter. Most importantly, there’ll be joy.
Book your tickets now!
Don't miss the opportunity to see two shows in one night and get supper & a drink on us. You won't regret it. Come and spend the night with us at GTS.
Generously Supported By
