The 2025 Adelaide Fringe season has come to an end. Right now I am in the process of reminding my family and gym what I look like and weening myself off asking strangers “What’s your name? What do you do?” It is safe to say this year was an absolute hoot.
Thank you very much to everyone who came out to see me perform this year. It means a lot to me to see so many familiar and new faces in the crowds. Performing to people you know is hard because you don’t want to let them down. You want to give the people you love the best you can do, so when I see so many of you at an early show I’m stressing out. There’s so much untested material in the early shows and they only become funny once someone else laughs. Every preview show has a Schrodinger’s joke; it will kill or die, but only when you open your mouth.
RUSSELL HARTUP : BACK IN YOUR DAY played over four nights, with Saturday selling out. There were three tickets available for two days, and only sold at 4pm of that day. What a relief and a joy to play to a full and boisterous crowd. Pats on the back. The show turned out great and it is my best show yet. It’s scary to think that there is still so much potential in this show. Another week and irreparable damage to the Ayres House roof would have been sustained.
A big shout out goes to Marc Ryan, Dehli Boy, and Laughing Horse for putting me on lineups, Scott for the venue, Zack for the interview and preview, and all of the comedians and performers along the way.
The biggest thanks goes to my amazing wife. Without her support and listening to my half baked ideas, pushing me into more social content, or taking on bedtimes this show
Russell Hartup 