Fire alarm forces Aussie comic Dane Simpson into the alleyway

The Fringe wouldn’t be the Fringe without fire alarms sending shows out into the street.

And Assembly got the ball rolling on day one of previews, when a smoke machine triggered the alert in the George Square Studios around 11pm last night.

Among those affected was Aboriginal Australian comic Dane Simpson, whose was midway through a long anecdote when the theatre had to be evacuated.

True to the Fringe spirit, he took the show outside and continued the anecdote, performing right next to the venue’s bins, with his audience perched on a flight of steps. 

The all-clear to head back into the venue came with perfect timing for the Wagga Wagga comic – it was the exact moment in the show when his didgeridoo - still onstage - was needed.

Published: 3 Aug 2023