Jester’s Privilege

Created by Handful Of Bugs
Directed by Ayesha Harris-Westman
Produced by SKINT
Lighting Consultation by Harrie Hogan
★★★★
'A brilliant lineup of comic creations ... expertly juggles pathos and absurdity'
- The Age
'Donnelly and Gough are a brilliant artistic duo' - My Melbourne Arts
'Clever scripting, impeccable timing, and hilarious facial expressions'
- R L Smith
‘Lusciously designed and so immersive in their world-building’
- Ryan Hamilton
2025:
Melbourne Fringe Hub, Trades Hall, Melbourne Fringe Festival
SEASON EXTENSION: Melbourne Fringe Hub, Trades Hall, Melbourne Fringe Festival
'The Handful of Bugs team has a handful of my heart. Exceeded expectations and beyond! what a delight for the soul.'
‘It was so witty, and effortlessly comedic. It brought us all into such a fun little mind scape of a struggling jesters final hurrah!'
'Theatre that sucks you up like a tornado! You will laugh, they will cry, the floorboards will creak!'
'Jester's Privilege was the perfect mixture of thought provoking introspection, dark humour and lighthearted fun.'

A Jester is only as funny as their last joke

'The life of a fool may seem jovial, to be surrounded by laughter, but behind the curtain lies a deeper truth.

Set in a Queens medieval ruling, a long-serving Jester battles with the fact that after years of bringing joy to others, their heyday may have come to an end. Alone in their quarters, the sound of laughter and applause is replaced by the deafening dread of one's own mortality.

From the minds of Handful of Bugs (BIGFOOT: In Plain Sight, The John Wilkes Booth) comes a new dark comedy that explores the private self, life's purpose and the heart of a fool. Every Jester tells their final joke eventually, whether they know it or not.

Show & Promotional Photos by Claudia Howarth

Special thanks to Sunny Youngsmith, Olivia Mckenna, Roie Williams and James Colbourne-Keogh