Melbourne Fringe Festival is back this October with a stacked line-up of more than 470 events – think comedy, cabaret, burlesque, circus and more in one of the city’s biggest celebrations of independent art.

A lot of the action is around the city, but Prahran’s 10-day So Soiree Fringe Garden on Greville Street returns this year. Complete with a bar and box office, the precinct offers a wonderland of award-winning performances that are quirky, hilarious and plenty of fun.

Happy hour runs from 5pm and offers $10 Aperol spritzes, plus two-for-one tickets for shows that night. Within the Fringe Garden is the intimate 180-seat Ukiyo circus tent which will host a series of eclectic, fabulous (and somewhat chaotic) acts just for the grown-ups – including a Y2K circus party, Granny Bingo with Edith Vale and Maureen McGillicuddy, and spicy cabaret shows by the likes of Dolly Diamond and Leather Lungs.

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If you want to grab a bite before or after the event, So Soiree Fringe Garden’s location in the heart of Prahran means you’re near some of Melbourne’s best bars and restaurants. We’ve highlighted our must-see picks for the Fringe Garden, plus where to eat and drink.

Speed: The Movie, The Play

All aboard this comedic and interactive homage to the 1994 Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock film of the same name, back by popular demand. Get on a vintage bus parked outside Prahran Town Hall for 60 minutes of part-scripted, part-improv, full-hilarious comedy. Audience members play the extras in this fast-paced tribute to the original action-thriller, all performed inside a bus.

Apricity

Prepare to be wowed by Australian contemporary circus company Casus Creations’ captivating stage show, Apricity. The multidisciplinary production features state-of-the art acrobatics, music, flying apparatuses and all-round entertainment for the family. Inspired by the image of winter sun breaking the cold, the mesmerising show will remind you that there’s light even in dark times.

Jekyll & Hyde

This chaotic, action-packed tribute to Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1886 novella Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is good vibes with just the right amount of absurdity. New Zealand-based theatre company A Slightly Isolated Dog performs in the Ukiyo tent for three days only with a unique retelling of the classic tale. It’s dark comedy meets theatre meets participatory performace.

Where to eat and drink around So Soiree Fringe Garden

Right opposite Grattan Gardens lies the French party palace of Prahran, Entrecote. Their menu and setting encompass all the best in French cuisine and style. During So Soiree, you can get its signature cheeseburger and frites with either a house wine or Kronenbourg lager for $34.90. Not peckish? Entrecote’s Apero Time runs from 4pm to 6pm daily on its terrace, with a house wine or Kronenbourg lager for $7.90 or a Pampelle Spritz for $14.90.

Just down from Entrecote on Greville Street is Hopper Joint, an 80-seat diner dedicated to Sri Lankan cuisine and culture. The restaurant will be running a happy hour called Twilight Tipples from 5pm to 6pm just for the festival. Patrons can score a Pony Beer for $5, house wine for $8 or a Peacock Pimms for $11.

Experience a taste of Tennessee at White Oaks Saloon Bar with good vibes and Southern-style snacks. Or head further south for classic and traditional Latin American dishes and spirits at Casa Nom. Mention “So Soiree” in your booking or show your tickets on arrival for a complimentary classic cocktail.

For a bevvy and a bite right before or after a show, buy any bottle of wine at Ruelle Wine Bar and get one of their chicken toasties for free.

For something more intimate, Don’s is a tiny wine bar just a short stroll from the So Soiree Fringe Garden. It has an impressive but accessible wine offering, a selection of small plates and a chill communal vibe. There’s handmade pasta, fluffy focaccia and a selection of local and international wines – (mostly) natural.

This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with the City of Stonnington. So Soiree Fringe Garden is at Grattan Gardens, Greville Street, Prahran from October 10–20. Find out more and plan your visit.