In the South, we have the Adelaide Fringe. In the north, our Scottish friends have the Edinburgh Fringe. Both have a healthy worldwide reputation, and it’s good to see the Holden Street Theatre furthering the cross-pollination between them by sponsoring one of the best Edinburgh shows of the preceding year to make the long journey to Adelaide.

The 2026 winner was Jade Franks and her one-woman show – a Cinderella story satirically attacking the British class system – a timely topic at the moment with the monarchy currently under a blistering microscope.

Jade Franks: Eat the Rich (but maybe not me mates X)

The lead character (also Jade) greets us as a poor Liverpool waif trapped in a call centre. Her only pleasure is awarding herself bingo prizes when a customer ticks the three standard demeaning comment boxes. Convinced that she is going to rise above this drudgery, Jade follows her yellow brick road south to Cambridge University and manages to con her way in as a student. However, no one must know that Jade is working as a cleaner to pay her way through, as having a job on campus is verboten.

While she feels like a fish out of water, Jade is fearless in her determination to fit in. She tolerates the snobbery of airheads Tilly and Milly and even beds Greg, the son of a university donor. Jade finds herself slightly in contempt of the superficiality and vacuousness of being posh and prefers the company of the Polish immigrant cleaner who protects her secret, as well as her own sister, whose trip up from Liverpool brings welcome relief from the stress of maintaining her façade.

Jade Franks: Eat the Rich (but maybe not me mates X)

Franks brings this all to life with a minuscule set: an old-school desk with a drawer full of costume changes, a chair, a phone, occasional backing music, and some terrific, lithe comic movement. The audience was committed instantly, and the hour passed quickly with no low spots.

Jade admits that she willingly compromised herself in the pursuit of social elevation. The trip to posh world was a short-term distraction, but not the substantive change she craved. Even in the end, when her ruse is uncovered, Jade finds that her new friends are willing to maintain their tolerance. But that’s all it is. The foundation of acceptance is that the underclass must be eternally grateful for the privilege with which they have been bestowed. The English class system is alive and well – and Gen Z has its own special brand.

Jade Franks performs Eat the Rich (but maybe not me mates X) until 22 March.