We all know what FRINGE WORLD is known for; the dazzling neon lights, the hustle and bustle of the Hubs, and mind-spinning shows which ring loud and proud. But if you take a trip down to your local bottle shop – peruse the aisles from Malbec to Chardonnay, to Fireballs and Crafts – you’ll find stories of love, family, heartbreak and hope.

Making their FRINGE WORLD debut, Five Stubbies for a Six-Pack is a small, self-contained show that gives you a peek into the lives of various patrons of the good ol’ Aussie bottle-o – offering a mere sip of everyone’s stories as they (sometimes) buy their drinks of choice.

Being restricted to a single set, the audience follows Chris – a young bottle shop employee – as he comes face-to-face with these colourful customers and struggles to remain professional as they unload their hilarious hijinks and devastating hardships. 

Anyone who’s ever worked in retail or hospitality will probably recognise some of these characters, with each one being as grounded as they are absurd, and featuring performances that will leave you laughing and thirsty for more as they walk off the stage and out the shop door, never overstaying their welcome (at least, as far as the audience is concerned).

Naturalistic dialogue and realistic use of modern slang make the story fun and relatable in a way that you rarely see in theatre, making the bright and energetic musical flashbacks sprinkled throughout the show – bite-sized blips of classic FRINGE WORLD flare – all the more memorable, and proving seamlessly that – from Rap to Flamenco – everyone is dancing to their own rhythm of life.

Five Stubbies for a Six-Pack is short and sweet, but has as much heart as it does hilarity. With excellent writing, wonderful performances and simple, yet effective, production design, this a must-see show for this FRINGE WORLD season.