Wright&Grainger's Orpheus- 9.5 out of 10
The Mortlock Library at The Courtyard of Curiosities at the State Library
TICKETS: Wright&Grainger's ORPHEUS
As you enter the second most beautiful library in the world, a simple stage stretches the length of the hall, anchored only by a guitar and a notebook. Alex and Phil welcome you in and put you at ease and have you laughing before the show even begins.
Orpheus, a production of Wright&Grainger and presented at the Adelaide Fringe 2026 by Wright&Grainger, ParrotOx, Tom Oliver Productions, and Joanne Hartstone Presents, is a retelling of the Greek myth of Orpheus through spoken word and the music of Bruce Springsteen. It’s not a combination that one would normally think of, but by the end of the show, I was left with an aching heart and a deep respect for the moments of joy we get to experience throughout our lives, no matter how grey the days may be.
Alex Wright’s writing for Orpheus is a mile a minute and must surely give Hamilton a run for its money in the words per minute measure! And he delivers it with such ease and grace – he has been doing it for 10 years after all. Wright has performed this piece for a decade, yet his delivery remains electric – possessing a nuanced ease that only comes from living inside the material for hundreds of performances.
Phil Grainger’s music and vocals take an already brilliant spoken word performance to the proverbial gods. His powerful tenor voice has the right amount of grit to ground the Boss’s songs in reality and myth. Phil’s underscoring on acoustic guitar supports Alex’s writing in ways you don’t realise till you look back. His use of an incredibly talented string quartet fleshes out the soundscape into a sumptuous feast for the ears. Their movement around the library, from the balcony to the ends of the stage, to between the audience supports and lifts the story Alex and Phil are telling.
It is their first time performing Orpheus in The Mortlock Library, and the atmosphere it brings elevates their performances to new heights. They have performed this show in bars, tents, churches, yoga studios, boats, record shops, breweries and loft apartments in the past, but our Mortlock Library will surely be a favourite of theirs by the end of The Fringe.
Lighting design in a venue like the Mortlock Library, before the sun sets, presents challenges, but the way the shadows stretch makes you forget the outside world.
Before my final words, I need to mention Orpheus’ sister show, Eurydice, that I saw the same night in the same venue. These two shows should be seen together. Whilst they each stand on their own, when combined, they truly are greater than the sum of their parts. Be sure to check out my review of Wright&Grainger’s Eurydice and then get your tickets to both shows on the same night!
Alex Wright and Phil Grainger are simply amazing storytellers. Whether you know the story of Orpheus or not, you cannot help but be moved by the emotional rollercoaster they will take you on.
Why 9.5 out of 10? Because I can't give Eurydice 11 out of 10...
–Scott
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