The Australian premiere of The Lady Boys of Bangkok has taken Gluttony by storm this Adelaide Fringe season. And what a treat it is to have them here! If you are looking for an exotic escape into a world of glitz, glamour and girls like no other, you must catch The Lady Boys of Bangkok this final weekend, before they jet off on their world tour.
Lady boy shows are a major nightlife attraction for tourists in Thailand, first emerging in Pattaya about fifty years ago as a way to draw in curious visitors to local bars and nightclubs.
The Lady Boys of Bangkok show was created in 1998 by the late Phillip Gandey and Carol Gandey, marking the first of its kind to be staged in Europe. The show had multiple runs at the Edinburgh Fringe and played a significant role in sparking conversations about gender. Over time, it has fostered an inclusive and celebratory experience that resonates with audiences of all ages, backgrounds, and identities.
Current Creative Director Hayley Gandey has created a wild party like no other for Adelaide Fringe audiences. The show is a fast-paced awe-inspiring showcase of fashion, dance and performance. There are also nods to traditional Thai culture through the incredibly stunning outfits, of which there are many. The show begins with Gloria Gaynor’s song, ‘I Am What I Am,’ cementing the welcoming essence before the beautiful cast members parade onto the stage in stunning gold costumes. From here, the party begins!
Set to the musical backdrop of hits from a range of decades, the cast of seven ladyboys strut and dance for their lives. No matter your seat in the Octagon, these stunningly beautiful performers invite the crowd into their world, smiling and winking. There are moments of sophistication and poise, cheekiness and sass, proving they are more than their gorgeous appearances. For each track, the performers appear in a new costume, which are works of art in themselves.
Most performers have a featured moment in which they play an influential figure from music history. One shining star of the show and crowd favourite is Ole (Decha Nuchangsing). Ole treats the crowd to simply the best Tina Turner impersonations and high-energy lip-synching. Much to everyone’s delight, Ole boldly approaches multiple members of the crowd for some (appropriate) lovin’ and smoochin’, sending the audience into squeals of joy and laughter.
The two ‘boy’ dancers, Arthur (Arthur Dy Saensuk) and Oak (Taweesak Samdangrit) are highly cheeky additions that help keep the show’s energy up. They hilariously lip-synch as iconic male singers, including Bruno Mars and Juicy J.
The Lady Boys of Bangkok is a celebration of self-love and the joy that comes with being who you are. Such an extravaganza like this doesn’t get to Adelaide often. Don’t miss it!
The Lady Boys of Bangkok are performing until 23 March at The Octagon at Gluttony in Rymill Park as part of Adelaide Fringe 2025.
Tickets: https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/the-ladyboys-of-bangkok-af2025
Tickets: https://gluttony.net.au/shows/show/1002/the-ladyboys-of-bangkok
Website: https://www.ladyboysofbangkok.co.uk/
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/ladyboysofbangkok/
Photo credits: supplied by Sassafras PR (by Mike Brittain, Dean Martin, Hugo Michaels, Andrew Payne, Phil Jameson, Bina Fellowes)
