Bringing the perfect blend of physical comedy and athletic prowess, smash-hit show Elixir Revived is set to hit the Perth stage this Fringe. Known for their knockout circus and raucous comedy, Head First Acrobats are the internationally renowned artists behind popular Fringe shows, GODZ and Railed. A remake of their very first award-winning show, Elixir Revived will debut at the Aurora Spiegeltent stage in Northbridge’s Pleasure Garden on Wednesday, January 21, running until Sunday, February 15—with tickets on sale now. Natasha Paul spoke to co-founder and show’s MC, street performer turned contemporary circus artist Cal Harris.
It’s amazing to have you back for Fringe World 2026 with your circus comedy show, Elixir Revived! How are you feeling about returning to the Fringe World stage for another year?
It feels really, really good to be coming back to Perth. Fringe World always feels like a big moment in our year, and 2026 is shaping up to be a massive festival. Perth is genuinely one of my favourite cities to perform in—the audiences are up for it, they’re vocal, and they’re not afraid to lean into the chaos with us. Coming back with Elixir Revived feels like returning to a place that really understands our work.
Elixir Revived is a remake of the timeless circus comedy show Elixir, which follows four scientists who attempt to create the elixir of life. As Elixir Revived is returning for its second year, and Elixir was first performed in 2018, tell us what makes your show such a crowd favourite!
At its core, Elixir has always been about play. The idea of four scientists taking themselves far too seriously while everything around them slowly unravels is something audiences immediately connect with. The humour is physical, the characters are clear, and the stakes are constantly rising. I think what’s made it such a crowd favourite over the years is that it doesn’t rely on one trick—it’s a mix of big laughs, genuine risk, ridiculous failure, and moments where you can feel the performers pushing their limits right in front of you.
The show is set to stay true to the charm of the original, but this time with new upgrades and new acts, making it even more athletic, hilarious, and outrageous! Can you tell us more about these exciting changes to the show?
We’ve been really careful to keep the heart of the original Elixir intact—the relationships, the stupidity, the sense of experimentation—but then layer in new acts and skills that we simply didn’t have access to back in 2018. Elixir Revived is faster, more athletic, and definitely more dangerous. The acrobatics have been upgraded, the apparatus is more extreme, and the comedy has sharpened with years of touring experience behind us. It’s recognisably Elixir… just with more chaos, bigger risks, and a strong sense that things could go very wrong at any moment.
When planning this year’s show, how did you ensure that the comedic elements balanced well with the gravity-defying acrobatics and dangerous stunts?
That balance is always the biggest challenge—and the biggest joy. Comedy only works if the audience feels safe enough to laugh, but circus only works if the risk feels real. We spend a lot of time shaping the rhythm of the show so the laughs give people permission to breathe, and then the acrobatics take that breath away again. Perth audiences are actually a huge part of that process for us—often Perth is the first city on our tour after making a new show, and the audience response helps us fine-tune exactly where those moments land.
Elixir Revived features some of the world’s rarest and most dangerous circus apparatuses. What were the most challenging parts of putting together the show this year?
Honestly, just making everything talk to each other. When you’re working with rare apparatus and genuinely dangerous skills, you can’t just drop them into a show—they have to be motivated, rehearsed meticulously, and built into the story and comedy. There’s a lot of engineering, safety planning, and creative problem-solving behind the scenes. The challenge is making something that’s incredibly complex feel completely effortless and stupidly funny on stage.
What’s next for Elixir Revived after this festival? Can we look forward to another exciting revision to the current show in the future?
Absolutely. Elixir has always been a living show—it evolves as we do. Fringe World will play a big role in shaping what the next version looks like, because Perth audiences help us break the show in and discover what really sings. After this festival, we’ll continue touring Elixir Revived, and no doubt it’ll keep mutating along the way. That’s kind of the point—just like the scientists in the show, we’re always experimenting.
Elixir Revived hits the Aurora Spiegeltent in the Pleasure Garden from Wednesday, January 21 until Sunday, February 15, 2026. Tickets are on sale now from fringeworld.com.au
