Every year, one show comes along that reminds us that The Adelaide Fringe isn’t supposed to be about carnival rides and overpriced food truck offerings. In 2026, for me, that show is Wee Stu’s Stunted Growth – A Tragicomic Triptych in Three Gear Changes.

Stuart Campbell is ‘Wee Stu’, and this is his debut solo show. After 6 years on the local stand-up comedy circuit, Campbell is trying his hand at a more theatrical format. In Stunted Growth, Campbell gives us some recognisable stand-up material in his opening act, followed by more sedate and authentic tales of his life and trauma in the second, before finishing with some Scottish, Shakespearean-esque sonnets in the third.

At times Campbell seemed out of his depth, but that could just be opening night nerves. ‘Regular’ theatre is a different beast to stand-up, and having a crack at it in front of an audience for the first time is enough to shake even the most seasoned of comics. When he’s in his groove though, Campbell’s performance is witty, sharp, and funny. 

He certainly seemed more comfortable in the second act where he shared funny and tragic stories of his and his family’s past. Perhaps because this is the material he knows best, having literally lived and breathed it for the past 65 (and three quarter) years. 

But he enjoyed the third act best. It was easy to see that he’s quite proud of his iambic pentameter. The audience appreciated it too, although it wasn’t for me.

In this show, Campbell is doing what so many performers should do but don’t. He’s pushing himself out of his comfort zone, taking risks, and finding out what works and what doesn’t. Not all of it lands well, but that’s part of the process. Some of it landed very well, and his audience left happy, amused, and satisfied. 

If you read this in time and can get a ticket to one of Campbell’s shows before the Fringe ends this Sunday, I highly recommend you treat yourself to a reminder of what The Fringe is supposed to be all about. And true to his word, ‘Wee Stu’ won’t let you go home empty-handed.