Wynnum Fringe 2023

There’s a lot to love about this year's Wynnum Fringe, when the fabulous festival takes over Brisbane’s bayside from November 15 to December 3, 2023, with national and local stars sharing the stages with huge Bush Turkey puppets, burlesque dancers, comedy, cabaret and circus shows.

Bigger and better than ever, this year's Wynnum Fringe has a star-studded line-up of musicians including Daryl Braithwaite, Marcia Hines, Diesel, Sarah McLeod and Robert Forster from The Go-Betweens.

Comedians Wil Anderson, Dave Thorton, Jimeoin, and Geraldine Hickey are headed to Brisbane's bayside, along with multi-award winning comedy acrobats GODZ. Rhonda Burchmore will make her Wynnum debut with the premiere of Rhonda's After Party in the Spiegeltent, and everyone's favourite Blue Heelers, Bluey and Bingo, will be there.

There's something for everyone at Wynnum Fringe, from late night shows for grown-ups to internationally famed children’s characters for the kids, plus the chance to make history with the largest community choir.

These are just some of the highlights:

Rock The Bay 

Superstars Daryl Braithwaite and Marcia Hines will Rock The Bay on Sunday, December 3, with hits like The Horses, Summer Love, Howzat, As The Days Go By, Love Songs, One Summer, Disco Inferno and many more. This will be the first time in 30 years Marcia Hines and Daryl Braithwaite will be on the same stage. 

Joining them is The Bamboos, led by guitarist/ singer Lance Furguson and lead singer Kylie Auldist, the 9-piece band from Melbourne who are hailed, “about as good as it gets”, by Mark Lamar on BBC Radio in the UK.

Mini Fringe - Ticketed and free shows for young people and families

Ticketed shows include: The Greatest Magic Show, Prehysterical, Justin’s Big Balloon Show, Circus: The Show, Dino Disco, Artiste, Party Pooper, and KABOOM. Activities include Old MacFarms Petting Zoo, Face Painting, Crazy Hair Stand, Bubbles, and free experiences including Bluey and Bingo, Memetica Creatures, Cocoloco, the Ferris Wheel and a PuppyPalooza day in the Garden dedicated to dogs and their owners.

Bay Pride

The first ever pride event in Brisbane's Bayside, and a testament to the Fringe’s commitment to diversity and inclusivity. The Fair Day will host free and ticketed Queer shows and LGBTQIA+ market stalls, Boy & Girl, Hayden Tee: Bad Guy and a Pride Variety Show.

Acoustic Thursdays 

Performances by well-known and local artists including Diesel, Rai Thistlethayte, Sarah McLeod (The Superjesus), Robert Forster (The Go-Betweens), Tania Doko (Bachelor Girl), Lecia Louise, and Jason McGregor up close, unplugged and right there.

Wynnum Fringe Garden

The heartbeat of the Fringe, the Garden is the ultimate place to be, and it’s free to enter!

• The Wynnum Eye - AKA a fancy ferris wheel
• The Downtown Toyota Piano Lounge - a caravan dressed like a giant piano where Dr Trevor Jones will play a real piano every night 
• The Outdoor Stage is home to free concerts and this is where BLUEY and BINGO will perform 
• Award-winning puppet company Memetica Creatures will roam their Wild Birds the Cassowary and Bush Turkey each weekend joined by international Street Theatre Royalty, Cocoloco
• First Nations Zone featuring beautiful artworks and yarns with Elders
• The Fringe Bar and The Backstage Bar
• Food offerings and outdoor bars filled with Green Beacon brews, Archie Rose spirits and other cold delights

Ticketed Venues

• Raine & Horne Wynnum Opera House - The biggest and most prestigious venue at the Festival; the home of music and comedy 
• BOQ (Bank of Qld) Wonderland Spiegelent - The second biggest venue at the Festival and home to circus, cabaret and burlesque
• The Lunchbox - The first Wynnum Fringe owned venue, a 90-seat black box venue for local artists and hidden gems; home for all types of live performance from comedy to cabaret, music and more!
• The Bus - A cute retro bus; home of Speed: The Movie, The Play

Community Choir

Help make history with the largest community choir, taking on ABBA's The Winner Takes It All - or is it The Wynnum Takes It All? Join Tom Oliver, singer, performer, producer, director and Wynnum Fringe founder, as he leads the choir on Saturday, Nov 18 at 10am.

This year's extravaganza is made possible with support from the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland, It's Live in Queensland, Brisbane City Council, and Founding Partner Raine & Horne Wynnum Manly.

Wynnum Fringe is a valued partner of Must Do Brisbane.com