Queer Clowns Mangle Shakespeare for Melbourne Fringe

Queerness and clowning collide in a beautifully funny remix of Shakespeare's most iconic tragedy. After a sensational sold out debut season at Midsumma Festival 2018, theatre mischief makers and real life queer couple, Kimberley Twiner and Lily Fish present Not Romeo and Juliet at Melbourne Fringe.

Set in a pathetic traditional circus, maniacal ringmaster Veronique aspires to recreate the grand spectacle of a bygone era while her long- suffering assistant stumbles upon, then falls in love with poetic Shakespearean text. As the romance of the bard's words possess them, against all the rules, these charming idiots cast themselves as Romeo and Juliet. Together they attempt to stage the greatest show on Earth, restricted only by a lack of skills, talent, knowledge and resources.

Not Romeo and Juliet is high octane theatrical anarchy, ridiculous physical comedy and a joyous celebration of queer love you could even bring your grandma to.

'We're interested in making shows that put female and queer narratives front and centre. We want to colonise the great, straight stories of the past, and recast them with people like us. And most importantly, we want to make work that's really, really funny,' say Twiner and Fish.

Successful in their individual physical theatre careers, Twiner and Fish are also both founding members of PO PO MO CO, Melbourne's only queer neo-vaudeville comedy troupe, winning Best Emerging Artists at Adelaide Fringe 2018, nominated for Best Comedy at Melbourne Fringe 2017 and recipients of the Circus Oz Industry Award 'Original New Circus' for their dedication to contemporary clowning.

Dates: 22 - 29 September 2018 (no show Monday)
Times: Tuesday - Saturday 6.30pm, 5.30pm Sunday (60 minutes)
Venue: Festival Hub: Arts House - Parlour Room, 521 Queensberry St, North Melbourne
Tickets: Full $30, Concession $20, Cheap Tuesday $15, Group 4+ $15

TO BOOK TICKETS visit melbournefringe.com.au or call (03) 9660 9666