Ode to a Grape, Em Barrett

The Motley Bauhaus, 2 October 2026

One poet, two inner voices and a herd of ukulele loving cows.

Em Barrett’s Ode to a Grape is a gloriously chaotic character comedy showcase built on six years of developing Johann, a fragile, flamboyant, catastrophically earnest poet whose entire identity hinges on the launch of his “life’s work,” a book of poetry. The book may be new, but Johann is not; Barrett’s long term crafting of this character shows in every twitch, tangent and meltdown.

The show’s framing, Johann’s official book launch gives Barrett the perfect playground for his unraveling. What begins as a simple reading quickly spirals into a psychological tug of war as Johann’s inner child and inner demon emerge, each battling for control of his confidence, creativity and sense of worth. The inner child is hopeful, sweet and full of validation with a Scottish accent to boot; the inner demon is snarky, self sabotaging and brutally honest. Their vocal and lighting interruptions become one of the show’s comedic engines, exposing Johann’s insecurities with both tenderness and wicked humour.

Barrett’s performance is razor sharp. She responds to the inner child and inner demon’s voice over interruptions with precision, building a world where Johann’s emotional instability feels both absurd and strangely relatable. Audience suggestions are also woven into improvised songs and poems, making each performance feel spontaneous and genuinely collaborative. The clowning is clever, the improvisation nimble, and the character work deeply considered the kind of layered comedy that only comes from years of refinement.

What makes Ode to a Grape shine is Barrett’s total commitment. She gives Johann depth beneath the chaos, allowing the audience to laugh at him, root for him, and occasionally feel protective of him.

Quirky, deranged and unexpectedly heartfelt, Ode to a Grape is a Fringe standout driven by a performer in complete command of her craft. Johann’s riotous mix of verse, voices and ukulele Loving cows delivers udderly brilliant poetic chaos!

Em Barrett’s, Ode to a grape continues at Motley Bauhaus until Saturday 3rd of October 2026

https://www.melbournefringe.com.au/whats-on/events/ode-to-a-grape