Dummies Corp.’s Dumtectives in Cirque Noir have had to cancel their Perth show, shortly after having to pull out of Adelaide’s Fringe.

SCORES of Fringe World Festival shows have had to be cancelled with the borders staying closed past February 5, but organisers are staying upbeat saying most shows will go ahead given the high rate of homegrown performers this year.

Among the cancellations are Melbourne comic Michael Shafar who’s had a few previous attempts to perform his show In Perth Covid-cancelled (“Fourth time funny,” Perth Voice, January 22 2022). He’s announced he’s rescheduled his show for 2036 hoping the borders will be open by then.

Adelaide’s Dumtectives have also had to pull out of their Perth performance after cancelling their Queensland Fringe show as well, as has Melbourne’s Andrew McClelland who was going to give us “A Seated Walking Tour of Western Europe”, a guide on Covid-safe travel via clicking around on Google street view.

Fringe organisers have put on a happy face amid news of the borders staying closed, saying in a statement: “Despite there being some show cancellations, there’s still more than 450 events in the festival to choose from with 80 per cent of shows presented by Western Australian artists.

“The border announcement means you can still keep on Fringing” and “with our city being such a safe place right now, there’s no excuse why absolutely everyone can’t make the most of it and get out and enjoy live entertainment at Fringe World”. 

Ticket holders for cancelled shows will be given the option to donate the ticket price to the artist, or they can take a refund. 

The Perth Festival, which starts February 11, cancelled its big opening event due to concerns over crowd control but organisers are currently seeking state entry exemptions for interstate artists to still come.