In the intimate tent, The Yurt, within the Migratory Museum’s Courtyard of Curiosities, Conor Lynch’s one man show Chimp is a light-hearted yet absurdist improv comedy that will lift your spirits.

Behind a padlocked cage sits a lonely chimpanzee longing for connection and freedom. Through-out the 60 minute performance, Lynch (as the titular chimp) embodies the mannerisms, voice and actions of a chimp with hilarious results.

An impressive debut in mime and clownery from Lynch, it more than earns its place among the most intriguing theatrical offerings at this year’s Adelaide Fringe. Unfolding over its largely wordless hour are moments of joy (swapping fleas with willing audience members), tenderness (the discovery of the feeling of a soft curtain) and frequent surprise (seeing his reflection in a mirror among many others). It also explores what it means to be human through the lens of a cheeky chimp trying to understand the world beyond his cage. Will someone release him from his cage? Give his prized banana back? Play along with him?

Lynch’s performance is a stunning demonstration of physical storytelling. Every gesture, stumble, and curious tilt of the head is in tune with the reactions of his audience. His chimp is mischievous without being malicious and endlessly expressive. The audience is drawn into his journey not through dialogue but through the universal languages of movement, playfulness, and emotional connection.

Beneath the slapstick and absurdity lies a thoughtful meditation on social expectations, connection, and the often‑messy process of figuring out where we fit. Lynch weaves in threads of neurodivergence with sensitivity and insight, inviting audiences to consider the invisible cages we all navigate. The result is a show that is as heartwarming as it is hilarious, offering moments of genuine compassion amid the chaos.

With no spoken words outside of a screech, curious “hoo” or grunt and minimal props, the focus remains squarely on Lynch’s remarkable physicality and his ability to conjure the chimp’s world through movement. It reaches peak absurdity during a dinner date with one unsuspecting audience member that had the audience howling like chimps themselves.

Suitable for adults and children, Chimp is a quirky, charming, and unquestionably comical piece of theatre that proves silence can speak volumes.

Get in quick to see Chimp at the Courtyard of Curiosities as it’s only here until Sunday, March 1. Get your tickets here.

****

Four stars.