Many of the best Fringe shows are all concept, no plot. Chookas is a clucking brilliant example of this universal truth. Three outstanding performers flock together to deliver a silly, surreal and utterly egg-warming ode to the humble chicken. If you like your eggs fried and chooks cooked, this is a must-see for you.

Gently hustled into The Bunker at Fool’s Paradise, my fellow audience members and I are kindly instructed to fill from the front. Within pecking distance of our feathered cast, if you will. From behind black curtains, three eggs with amazing legs strut onto the stage and proceed to hatch to a lively opening number. This cast are clear quadruple threats, and wowed us with their singing, dancing and physical theatre prowess.

Fully unshelled, the Chookas performers wear colour-coordinated costumes in a palette I can only describe as KFC bucket chique. All cast members rock towering orange beehives and red hairpieces reminiscent of a rooster’s comb, atop clownish white painted faces. This allows the performers to jump between their human and poultry caricatures with style and ingenuity, proving that being a good chicken is a mindset and not a fashion statement.

Chookas, as a show that seamlessly blends high brow and low brow comedy, will have you laughing from start to finish. There are some expected gags, such as three very pregnant hens struggle to give birth to tiny eggs. However, this show thrives on the delightfully unhinged and includes a tiny taste of biting social commentary. Noting this, I walked out of the theatre wondering whether it was time to become a vegetarian again – while also battling an inescapable craving for nuggets and chips.

Probably the stand-out element of Chookas is its audience interaction. Punters were pulled onstage to place eggs lovingly into one basket and whisked back again for a 11 secret herbs and spices dance party with drumstick maracas. At one point, a brave audience member shared a jelly worm, lady and the tramp style, with a performer dressed in an iconic 2000s fluffy bucket hat. It was chaotic, magical and extremely fun to watch.

Chookas is an absolutely delight, taking audiences from the hen house to the counter of their local chicken shop with whimsy and wonder. Ten out of ten would bwawk bwawk bwawk again.

Five stars

Wednesday 25 Feb – Sunday 1 March

R18+

Tickets available here

Reviewed by Phoebe M.