★★1/2
Adelaide Fringe. South Australian Maritime Museum. 26 Feb 2026
PYRATES! is a chamber musical about… well, pirates… and being performed aboard a ketch inside the SA Maritime Museum creates atmosphere that the show seriously needs. AI-generated images pertinent to the show’s narrative were projected on the ship’s sails.
According to the shows’ publicity material, the action follows the “true(ish)” story of English mariner John Husk who finds himself set upon by pirates and subsequently pressed into their service. John subsequently enters a love tryst which results in tension and swashbuckling belligerence before a resolution emerges.
There are only three in the cast, including Jassy Husk (a descendant of John Husk) who is also the principal creative behind the show. She co-wrote the music, arrangements, and the script. The show has toured the Perth and Sydney Fringes with varying actors playing the other roles. Local opera singer Adam Goodburn was billed to perform in the Adelaide production but was replaced for an unstated reason on opening night.
The cast are clearly all trained singers, and apart from the (uncredited) male cast member, they projected clearly in the cavernous and echoey space. The musical accompaniment is enjoyable, but because of the appalling acoustics in the performance space, much of its nuance is lost, as is the clarity in the speaking and singing voices. Because the work is almost completely sung-through, the audience relies on the clarity of the singing to understand the narrative. Sadly, it was not possible.
This would be an enjoyable show if performed in a venue that assists rather than thwarts sound production.
Kym Clayton
When: 26 Feb to 28 Feb
Where: South Australian Maritime Museum
Bookings: adelaidefringe.com.au
