House of Oz has unveiled the shortlist for the 2026 Purse Prize, celebrating five standout Australian productions that will compete for a supported run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Partnering with Adelaide Fringe for the third year, the Purse Prize offers emerging and mid‑career artists a crucial launchpad to international stages. This year’s selection highlights work that challenges form, explores identity and blends comedy, drama and experimental performance.
Fuccbois: Live in Concert brings a gleefully chaotic pop parody to the stage. Featuring Brendan, Brandon, Tyler and also Brendan, the boyband satire from ARIA Award‑winning writer Bridie Connell combines sharp commentary on toxic dating culture with high‑energy musical comedy.
How Not to Make It in America by Emily Steel follows an aspiring actor navigating New York in 2001 as heartbreak, visa issues and the aftermath of 9/11 drastically alter the course of his life. Performed by James Smith, who embodies 28 characters, the piece fuses humour, pain and memory.
I Can Have a Dark Side Too introduces Ray, a children’s entertainer whose cheerful persona fractures following a personal tragedy. Confiding in his puppet Emmett, he confronts a buried past in a black comedy exploring grief and identity.
Tilly Oddy‑Black – Tilly Does A Show marks the online comedy creator’s first live outing. Known for her eclectic characters and sketches, she turns her digital world into an unpredictable stage experience.
Man Sings The Same Song Over And Over Again For An Hour sees award‑winning comedian Conk take on exactly what the title promises. What begins as a simple conceit morphs into a live‑art‑meets‑comedy experiment in escalating absurdity.
The Purse Prize aims to provide meaningful pathways for Australian artists, offering financial support, touring development and global industry exposure. Last year’s winners, FLICK by Madelaine Nunn and Lady Macbeth Played Wing Defence by Crash Theatre Company, used the prize to successfully transfer their acclaimed productions to Edinburgh.
The selected winners from the 2026 shortlist will be announced soon and will represent Australia at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2026.
Listings and ticket information can be found here
