Australian comedian Dave "Hughesy" Hughes had quite the unexpected moment during his performance at the Adelaide Fringe Festival this past Friday, March 7, 2025. While performing at The Woodcroft Hotel, Hughes interrupted his show to confront three chatty women sitting near the front, expressing his frustration with their persistent talking.
Footage of the incident captured the comedian passionately scolding the women, saying, "I’m sorry, it’s my fking show, you have to shut up. If you talk one more time, you’re out. Alright, that's it. This is fking ridiculous." His outburst quickly garnered attention as audience members chanted 'out' for the disruptive trio.
The situation escalated to the point where the three women were eventually escorted from the venue. Interestingly, the footage also showed one of the women kissing Hughes on the cheek and shaking his hand as they were led away. Hughes later expressed his frustration, saying, "This is frustrating for me as a performer and the audience as well. Look if you’ve paid money to go to a show — you’ve got to shut up." Audience member Sharmila Robertson echoed Hughes's sentiments, stating, "You know he’s just trying to do his job and entertain people and have fun. You’ve got these people being totally rude and disrespectful like what are you meant to do?"
This unusual incident caught major attention across social media, with many supporting Hughes’s stance. One user commented, "While I don't find him funny, I do agree with him, it’s his show, and the women shouldn’t have been interrupting." Other comments ranged from agreeing with the necessity of respect during performances to criticisms of Hughes for his language. "I do believe you could have done it in a slightly more polished way," one commenter remarked, acknowledging the comedian’s frustration but also pointing out the colorful language.
Following the incident, Hughes addressed the situation on social media, asking his followers if they agreed with his actions after multiple warnings to the disruptive group. He emphasized the importance of etiquette at live events, stating, "Look if you’ve paid money to go to a show - you’ve got to shut up. Don’t have your own conversations loudly. Especially if you’re in the second row because it’s not TV. The performers can hear you." Hughes’s comments not only highlighted the performer-audience relationship but also suggested broader etiquette concerns within the entertainment sector.
Hughes’s hour-long show, titled "WTF?", ran over the weekend from March 7 to March 9, with ticket prices ranging from $39 to $49. It took place within venues specified for guests aged 18 and over, with warnings issued about the content featuring "occasional, mild" coarse language. The Adelaide Fringe Festival, known as Australia’s biggest arts festival, continues until March 23, 2025.
For many attendees, this incident served as not just entertainment but as reinforcement of the social contract expected within live performances. Hughes, knowingly or unknowingly, redefined boundaries around audience behaviour, sharing valuable lessons about respect during the shared experience of live entertainment. The event seemed to resonate widely, sparking conversations about decorum at shows and engaging many with the very notion of what it means to attend performances respectfully.
While the three women may have depopulated their evening, Hughes proved to be the pivotal figure reminding audiences of their responsibilities during performances. Their exit not only reignited debates about appropriate behaviour for viewers attending shows but also contributed to the buzz around the Adelaide Fringe Festival, solidifying Hughes's presence as one of the memorable highlights of the event.