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This show belongs to the Adelaide Fringe 2026 season. This season is now over.

Performer Hamish Annan, a white man with a moustache in his early 30's, sits cross-legged on a bed with grey striped bedding, holding a white sign that reads "BEFORE WE BEGIN" in bold black letters. The bedroom has houseplants on both sides and a laptop visible on a side table.
A man with a moustache and facial stubble brings a partially peeled banana with a condom on it towards their mouth against a grey background, shown in profile from the nose down.
A hand grips a partially peeled banana with a condom placed over the exposed fruit against a grey background, with the banana peel hanging down.
Adelaide Fringe 2026

Before We Begin

TASKMASTER MEETS SEX EDUCATION:

'Before We Begin' asks for permission.

It waits until you’re ready to play.

It hopes you’ll like it.

😏

An experimental solo about consent and queer intimacy. Explored through a series of escalating invitations for performer and audience.

Naughty, playful, awkward, joyful, and surprisingly tender. A vulnerable act of trust, patience, and curiosity - navigated in real-time. An important conversation that never feels like one.

Say yes, say maybe, say not today. Nothing happens without your say-so. What does happen might surprise you.

"We need to talk about this. And f**k me, it's hard."

Premiering at Auckland Pride, NZ audiences praised it as “some of the safest interactive theatre” they’ve seen.

Annan's previous work ‘Access’ won the NZ Fringe Touring Award, ★★★★ "Breathtaking" ArtsHub.

Presented by: Hamish Annan

Hamish Annan is an award-winning contemporary theatremaker based in Auckland, New Zealand. He's known for his work as an actor, writer, voiceover artist, acting coach, and performance artist. His work explores human connection, joyful disruption, and emotional vulnerability. His previous work, 'Access' won the NZ Fringe Touring Award, and received critical and audience acclaim on his NZ tour and Melbourne season. He was The Age Australia’s Melbourne Fringe Festival Top Pick, and ★★★★ “Breathtaking” ArtsHub. His innovative approach to performance centres on vulnerability, authenticity, and challenging traditional boundaries between performer and audience.
Theatre and Physical Theatre • Interactive
New Zealand • Australian Premiere
 
Fringe Fund Recipient
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Suitability & warnings

Content rating: MA15+
Mental Health
Coarse Language: Occasional, Mild
Nudity Level: Occasional, Mild
Sexual References: Frequent, Strong

Please note

Audience participation invited, bad language, sexual themes, potential nudity, acknowledges the existence of queer intimacy. Discussions of non-consensual intimate imagery. Explicit content, including simulated sex acts.

Accessibility

 
Audience members have the opportunity to interact or join artist on stage

Presenter

Presented by: Hamish Annan

Hamish Annan is an award-winning contemporary theatremaker based in Auckland, New Zealand. He's known for his work as an actor, writer, voiceover artist, acting coach, and performance artist. His work explores human connection, joyful disruption, and emotional vulnerability. His previous work, 'Access' won the NZ Fringe Touring Award, and received critical and audience acclaim on his NZ tour and Melbourne season. He was The Age Australia’s Melbourne Fringe Festival Top Pick, and ★★★★ “Breathtaking” ArtsHub. His innovative approach to performance centres on vulnerability, authenticity, and challenging traditional boundaries between performer and audience.