Let Me Be The Cool Aunt
“Aunt Energy Incoming!” Meet Sophie Banister, Australia’s Cabaret Queen Turned Cool Fringe Aunt
Darlings, I’ve rifled through my satchel and pulled out a flyer so fresh it still smells like eucalyptus and ambition. Let me introduce you to a whirlwind of sequins, satire, and sibling side-eyes – the fabulous Sophie Banister!
Now, Sophie might describe herself as “mostly well-adjusted” (and frankly, that’s more than I can say for most of us at the Edinburgh Fringe), but don’t be fooled – this gal’s got the chaotic charm of a Type A older sister on a European beach holiday… who forgot her sun hat and is now emotionally spiralling into a plate of calamari. In other words: she’s my kind of performer.
So, who is Sophie Banister?
She’s classy, she’s fun, and her brother happens to have a son – which makes her the self-appointed Cool Aunt™. And trust me, Sophie owns the title like it’s a limited-edition Mamma Mia boxset. In her latest musical comedy hour, she brings high-energy satire, original songs, and the kind of Aussie wit that turns homesickness into a showstopper.
She’s asking the big Fringe questions:
How do you make friends as an adult?
Why does FOMO strike hardest during gender reveals you didn’t want to attend anyway?
And most importantly: Are you a Tanya or a Rosie from Mamma Mia? (For the record, Sophie might be a Tanya in the streets, but there’s a little Rosie backstage, and I adore that for her.)
From Brisbane to Brisbaret to Edinburgh
Sophie’s got more feathers in her cap than your average showgirl at a seagull convention. Back home in Brisbane, she founded Brisbaret, a variety show that sounds like a fever dream I want front-row seats for. She’s won awards, .performed at every Aussie festival worth its weight in Victoria sponges and even trained with the Upright Citizens Brigade in New York. Not to mention her work as an arts facilitator in the disability sector – talent and heart? We stan.
And just when you think she’s done, she whips out her Musical Comedy Awards shortlist like a glittery mic drop. Honestly, if this cabaret star gets any cooler, she’ll need to be kept in an ice bucket between sets.
Grace’s Gossip Verdict?
Sophie Banister is exactly what the Fringe needs – a fearless, funny, fiercely talented force of nature who can belt a show tune and unpack her emotional baggage in the same breath (with impeccable comedic timing, naturally).
So if you’re strolling through Edinburgh looking for something that will tickle your funny bone, pluck your heartstrings and make you call your favourite aunt – Sophie’s your gal. And if you spot me in the front row, trying to work out my own Mamma Mia identity crisis, don’t be shy. (Spoiler: I’m 40% Tanya, 60% still hungover.)
Catch Sophie Banister before she flies off to her next #EuroSummer. She’s got songs to sing, laughs to dish, and aunt energy to spare.
Love and limited edition cast recordings,
Grace Hatchell
2nd Act Couriers | Theatre Village
Delivering gossip with a tap shoe and a stamp x
Fringe Tip from Grace: Bring tissues – not for crying, but for the sheer joy-induced snorts.
Let Me Be the Cool Aunt | Edinburgh Festival Fringe
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