Adelaide Fringe is no stranger to boundary-pushing performances, but one of 2026’s most provocative new arrivals is daring audiences to step directly into the allure of the forbidden.
B.D.S.M. is an R18+ circus experience landing at Fool’s Paradise, inviting audiences into a world where beauty, control and vulnerability intertwine. Unflinching and unapologetic, the show explores desire, power and sensation through a striking blend of aerial artistry, contemporary dance and the intricate discipline of shibari.
From the moment the lights dim, B.D.S.M. asks its audience to lean in. This is a performance where intensity builds through physicality and atmosphere, with each movement drawing spectators deeper into a carefully choreographed exploration of pleasure, pain and trust. The result is a visceral, immersive experience that pulses with tension and theatrical seduction.
The show’s central question, “Will you surrender?”, hangs in the air as the performance unfolds, inviting audiences to confront their own curiosities and boundaries. Expect nudity, adult themes and a raw embrace of BDSM aesthetics, presented through circus and dance rather than shock for shock’s sake.
At its core, B.D.S.M. is a celebration of local artists who challenge convention while championing diversity, accessibility and autonomy. The cast are proudly queer, spanning diverse ages, bodies, genders, neurodivergence and sexualities, coming together in a work that honours vulnerability, discipline and creative bravery. This production offers a platform for performers unafraid to bare themselves, emotionally and physically, not for shock, but in service of truth, trust and radical self expression. In doing so, B.D.S.M. asserts itself as more than a show, it is a declaration that pleasure, power and art can coexist on our own terms.
Direction and production are led by arts professional Skye Bee, working closely with co-producer Nicholas Montgomery. Together their practice centres artistic rigour, consent led process and ethical care, ensuring the work is held with integrity as well as impact. The production is anchored by a strong creative team, with choreography by professional choreographers Bonnie Williams [Santosha Storm] and Felicity Boyd, whose movement language balances precision with bold sensuality.
They are joined on stage by a fearless cast including some of Adelaide’s most loved circus and dance performers, Lumi, Ariel Drop, Starling Strix and Sebastian Wolf, alongside emerging performers Witch Aurora, Will Bound, Rope Puppet and Shae la Sirène. The team is strengthened by stage manager Martin Knoll of F13 Media, providing technical leadership across media and sound.
Critics have already responded to the show’s hypnotic pull, with The Lonely Archaeologist describing it as capturing “the appeal of the forbidden” and awarding it five stars. It is an experience designed to linger long after the final moment, leaving audiences both unsettled and exhilarated.
Seductive, daring and undeniably adult, B.D.S.M. positions itself as one of Fringe’s most talked about late night offerings, an invitation to indulge curiosity, embrace discomfort and explore the edge where thrill meets art.
So as they say… what’s your safe word?
B.D.S.M.
Where: The Vault at Fool’s Paradise
When: Saturday, 21 Feb – Saturday, 21 Mar
Duration: 60 min
Tickets: $47.50 to $55
For more information, click here.
