On a cold winter’s evening, under the glow of lights and the unmistakable scent of nostalgia, artists, performers, and supporters gathered at Nineteen-Ten for what may have been the final curtain call for the Adelaide Cabaret Fringe Festival. It was a quiet Tuesday, but inside, warmth radiated from the stage, along with the stories of resilience, artistry, and legacy.

Now, in what many believe could be its final year, the Adelaide Cabaret Fringe Festival was celebrated with heart and gusto, true to the values upon which it was founded. This year’s Awards Night honoured not only the artists who dared to play but also the rich, vibrant, and sometimes precarious history of a beloved independent festival, one that has long been a crucial platform for emerging and experimental cabaret voices in South Australia.

The festival was the brainchild of the late Frank Ford AM, revered as the father of the Adelaide Fringe and the founder of the Adelaide Cabaret Festival. In 2001, Frank envisioned the Cabaret Fringe as the ‘enfant terrible’ of its more polished counterpart, an open-access, affordable, and daring alternative, where new talent could cut its teeth before adventurous crowds in Adelaide’s West End.

Images by Frank Lynch of Image Construction

Backed by then-Arts Minister Diana Laidlaw, and assisted initially by Arts SA through the Adelaide Festival Centre Trust, the Cabaret Fringe ran alongside the main Cabaret Festival, carving out its own irreverent and impassioned path.

The third chapter began in 2008, led by Paul and Adam Boylon with Jay Robinson, with Frank Ford’s continued blessing. With a home at La Bohème, the festival flourished, growing into an essential part of Adelaide’s cultural calendar. When La Bohème closed in early 2019, the Boylon brothers joined forces with cultural champion Greg Mackie OAM to form a board and sustain the festival into its fourth incarnation.

The board was soon bolstered by some of South Australia’s finest minds in the arts, business and governance: former Executive Director of Arts SA Alex Reid PSM, Mark de Raad, Alison Kimber, and Lauren Thiel. In 2023, Simone DiSisto joined as Producer, bringing renewed energy to a festival, and it’s with her guidance that this year’s festival and awards night were brought to life.

Throughout the evening, presenters and recipients echoed a common sentiment: the Cabaret Fringe matters.

In a sector often challenged by risk-averse funding and limited performance spaces, this open-access model has long been a crucible for innovation. A place where artists could have a go, whether seasoned or brand new, and where audience and artist could connect outside of the polish and prestige of curated stages.

Congratulations to the winners of the 2025 Cabaret Fringe Festival:

✨Debut Award: Charlee Watt – Caffeine Fiend

✨ Encore Award: Oliver John, Leticia Lee & Euan Safey – Bond Songs: The Music of 007

✨ Boylon Brothers Award: Leon Bishop – The Other Team

✨ Frank Ford Award winner: Kylie Ferreira Music – Speakeasy

Honourable Mentions:

✨ George Glass, THE JUSTASS LEAGUE, Bloom Luna Collective Lylah Bloom— for their bold, inclusive, community-driven contributions to CabFringe.

The awards celebrated bold, creative voices, risk-taking performances, and the spirit of community that underpins this fringe. As speeches were made, applause rang out, and hugs were shared, the night felt like both a joyful reunion and a bittersweet farewell.

Whether this truly marks the final year for the Adelaide Cabaret Fringe remains to be seen. However, what is certain is the impact it has had on countless performers who found their voice, on audiences who discovered unexpected magic in backroom bars, and on a city made brighter by its cabaret heart.

As the lights dimmed on Nineteen Ten, one thing was clear: the Cabaret Fringe may be small in budget, but it is vast in soul.

If you have an interest in how you can support or get involved with the Cabaret Fringe Festival – https://cabaretfringefestival.com/