The concept of Sweeties is described by the players as being somewhere between Squid Game and Toddlers & Tiaras. We see two women (Brynley Stent and Ella Hope-Higginson) competing in a game show with plenty of prizes but no real winner – much like the real-life work, family and social arenas where women are pitted against each other in a battle none of us ever signed up for.

Marrying sketch comedy with absurdism and physical theatre, this super-slick and thoroughly enjoyable show is a masterclass in creating a profound theatrical piece for a ‘fringe’ context.

Brynley and Ella’s performances are flawless and the show is fast-paced, with enough space to pick up subtext and symbolism, while enjoying some big laughs.

This is an exquisite piece of theatre and it’s little wonder the show was the recipient of the Adelaide Fringe Tour Ready Award.

Darkly comic, perfectly constructed and deeply important, this exploration of female rivalry and our universal obsession with winning is one of those shows that needs to be seen by anyone who’s ever thought, ‘Why are we competing, when we should be lifting each other up?’ (which should be all of us).

Adelaide Fringe is so fortunate to have shows and performers of this calibre as part of our festival and I hope this duo return for many Fringes to come.

5 stars

Sweeties is playing at Dom Polski Centre. Tickets HERE

Libby Trainor Parker