Frankly Takes Home Adelaide Fringe Emerging Artist Award

The 2019 BankSA Fringe Awards celebrate and acknowledge the exceptional talents of the festival’s standout events. Each category aims to recognise the most outstanding shows across multiple artistic disciplines.

During its third week, UniSA alumni Frankly (also known as Nicole O’Rielley) took home the Emerging Artist Award for her one-woman cabaret show Big Smoke Fauna, alongside Georgia Deguara’s YUCK Circus and Clare Ellen O’Connor’s PLUCKED!

‘On hearing my name called out, I didn’t actually go to walk up because I didn’t think I would win anything…I’m calling that the classic ‘imposter syndrome’, which I’m sure many artists have. After, I just grinned a long time,’ tells Frankly.

‘It’s very exciting for me, as I guess I never notice the improvement I make every year…this is a huge reward for the efforts I’ve put in.’

The creative writing/performing arts graduate has received glowing reviews about her show from various local publications, including HiFi Way: The Pop Chronicles, and Weekend Notes.

‘I think the mass amount of emerging artists taking part in the Fringe is inspiring…For me, seeing small productions before I started presenting my own shows was more accessible and identifiable and made me feel like, hey yeah I can do that—and I will!’ says Frankly.

Although Big Smoke Fauna’s Adelaide Fringe season will be coming to an end quite soon, Frankly will also take part in the upcoming charity event, Loose Change Cabaret, to save the ever-beloved La Bohème venue from closure. The night will feature some of the brightest cabaret performers Adelaide has to offer, and more information can be found here.