‘What do you do when your husband of 23 years leaves you for your 17-year-old goddaughter? You dye your wedding dress black, write a few killer songs and make a show’.
Tracey Yarad is an Australian-born, New York-based singer and songwriter and this musical memoir is inspired by her own true experience of heartbreak and learning to live and love again. This was previously performed at Edinburgh Fringe 2024 and Adelaide Fringe, 2024 to critical and public acclaim.
Wearing her original wedding dress, (dyed black) and string of pearls. she sits at the piano to relate her personal, painful story through poetic lyrics of ballads and torch songs. ‘l’ll never give up on true love, never turn away’ & ‘They say love comes once in a lifetime’ illustrate how she met a charismatic musician who captured her heart and proposed – Tracey had found a soul mate.
In between the songs, Tracey steps on to the stage to share amusing anecdotes and stories about performing gigs and extensive tour of China – she played piano, her husband on drums – following the rhythmic beat of their romantic relationship. On screen are vintage photographs of her travel adventures, people and places.
Having studying at the Sydney Conservatoire of Music, Yarad developed a successful and broad musical career with her original compositions receiving international recognition. The rich, deep quality of her vocals captures the soulful emotion of classic jazz with slow bluesy tempo - ‘ You never bought me flowers or wrote me song’ she sings plaintively, - then switching chords to belt out a number with soaring operatic pitch.
In her blisteringly honest show, Tracey Yarad reveals through a songbook of beautiful ballads, the highs and lows of love and marriage, betrayal and renewal, on a journey from Australia to Asia and beyond. As a jazz pianist, singer and conversational storyteller, she is an all-round musical theatre performer who is captivating to watch. Glamorous costumes too.
Make your way to Fingers Piano bar, and settle down with a drink for Cabaret and cocktail time at 4.20pm. Embark on a rollercoaster ride of a dramatic true life tale in this bittersweet tragi-comedy blending humour and heartache.
Showtimes:
2 – 15 August, @ 16.20
PBH Free Fringe. Donations welcome
Age guidance 18+ (licenced bar)
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/all-these-pretty-things