the worst of us.
what’s the worst thing you’ve ever done?
a kid says something he cannot undo.
a mother holds onto something that might not be true.
a man holds a garden hoe, about to do the hardest thing he has ever had to.
woven from anonymous confessions of the worst things people have ever done, ‘the worst of us.’ explores the messiness of being human, the ways we fail one another, and how we can begin to forgive ourselves.
one storyteller. three stories. an eruption of music, spoken word, and hope.
AWARD WINNER Adelaide Fringe 2026
★★★★★ “A knockout show… Aster is utterly bewitching onstage.” – Theatre Thoughts
★★★★★ “Brought something out in me that I haven’t felt in years.” – Binge Fringe
★★★★ ½ “’the worst of us.’ isn’t just theatre – it’s a heartfelt invitation to forgive, to understand, and to hold one another a little closer ” – Stage Whispers
showings
no upcoming showings.
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cast & crew
creator &
performer
emmett aster (he/any)
collaborator &
tech support
robbie fieldwick (he/they)
sound designer
benjamin vaughan (he/him)
accessibility
accessibility information
this show has a high audio content.
fast pace and music may cause comprehension difficulties for those who struggle with auditory processing. copies of the script will be available to read along with.
there is no lockout; audience are free to leave and return whenever they would like.
if you have an access query/request, please contact us!
content warnings
this show contains discussions of and references to eating disorders, substance abuse and parental neglect, and animal violence/death.
more detailed content warnings, and when to expect them, are available in the content warning guide.
official reviews
there is a trend that has taken hold of fringe theatre over the last decade of having a guitarist speak in verse to an audience for over an hour under lamplight. it’s clearly artists and makers trying to emulate the theatre juggernauts that are wright and grainger, and while many have failed to do so, perhaps, theatre.’s ‘the worst of us.’ has not. not only have they followed the path and emerged with a knockout show, they’ve found their own style and have created a new piece that is deeply captivating and brimming with soul.
‘the worst of us.’ is dripping in yearning and longing to find peace when we have to live with parts of us we hide. i left feeling a little freer and a little more peaceful, and that is a wonderful gift.
‘the worst of us.’ stands as a startling achievement in solo performance, remarkable not for technical virtuosity alone, but for the emotional and intellectual maturity with which the performer engages with fundamental questions about morality, failure, and forgiveness.
for a solo performer, aged in their twenties, to create work so conceptually sophisticated and emotionally intelligent is genuinely impressive. the maturity evident in both writing and performance, the refusal to simplify complex human behaviour, and the commitment to explore forgiveness rather than condemnation, suggests an artist working from considerable emotional and artistic resources.
‘the worst of us.’ isn’t primarily about the terrible things people do, but rather about how we might hold space for human imperfection with grace, how we might forgive ourselves and one another. in an era of supposed moral certainty and summary swift judgement, this invitation toward compassion feels quietly revolutionary.
aster’s performance is a masterclass in empathy. his voice is tender yet assured as it draws the audience into each confession with remarkable clarity. the way in which aster communicates the raw emotion through his skilful blend of the spoken word, music, and poetry transformed what could have been simple storytelling into a collective experience of enlightenment, acceptance and healing.
of note was the audience’s response – it was profound! i witnessed real tears, hushed silence, and a palpable sense of connection as people absorbed the love and compassion that radiated from aster’s performance.
this intimate performance felt shared, performed with, rather than to its audience. it was told with delicate grace. ‘the worst of us.’ isn’t just theatre — it’s a heartfelt invitation to forgive, to understand, and to hold one another a little closer.
‘the worst of us.’ [is] a quietly extraordinary work from perhaps, theatre., woven from anonymous confessions and transformed into a meditation on guilt, forgiveness and the complicated business of being human.
what is most striking is the show’s profound empathy. these confessions are not presented for shock value, nor are they offered up for judgement. instead, aster approaches each story with tenderness, curiosity and compassion. the work acknowledges the harm people can cause one another while remaining deeply interested in the possibility of understanding, accountability and forgiveness. this felt less like a performance delivered to an audience than an experience shared with one.
the worst of us. is intimate theatre at its most affecting. delicately crafted and beautifully performed, it explores the imperfect choices people make and the stories they carry long after those moments have passed. it invites us to look honestly at ourselves, to extend grace where we can, and perhaps to leave the theatre a little more open-hearted than when we arrived.
the magic of ‘the worst of us.’ is in the writing. in any other context it would be easy to cast judgement on the decisions made by the people confessing the stories. emmett preserves the humanity of each person in the context of their situation. there’s no request for absolution. there are no excuses. the result is an opportunity to listen empathetically to the experiences of people just like you.
it’s the kind of show that makes you want to treat your loved ones with more love and yourself with more compassion. sometimes during instances of elevated stress there’s a moment of clarity. it’s like the eye of the storm. in that clarity, all the damage that’s been done is visible and all the ways forward lie at your feet. ‘the worst of us’ reminds us what that feels like.
emmett masterfully navigates some of the the most intimate moments of the lives of strangers, humanizing the experience of grief without any of irony or voyeurism. you have to live with the decisions that you make. and life is learning how to live with and forgive ourselves for those decisions. ‘the worst of us.’ shows that it’s possible.
audience testimonials
possibly the best show i’ve seen at the festival this year. this must have a huge life! it’s gentle yet gripping and deserves the standing ovation it got.
absolutely raw, fantastic. can’t stop talking about it.
beautiful storytelling. wonderful.
incredibly beautiful and thoughtfully crafted performance.
this was a lovely way to start the festival – emotionally complex and beautifully performed.
[one] of the most special and affecting pieces of theatre that i have been to in a long time.
a deftly crafted arrangement of stories, confessions, and reflections offering glances into the darkness and complexities of ordinary lives, and bringing into focus the efforts of people to make good.
creator and performer emmett aster’s skill with words – spoken and sung with delicate accompanying guitar – is the foundation of this performance, and he voiced the connected stories with powerful vulnerability, inviting us to see ourselves with honesty and compassion.
sublime, lyrical storytelling like i’ve never before seen.
there’s no better review than the audience’s reaction, we were laughing, shedding tears, and holding each other closer. emmett evoked a profound empathy from the audience for the person in each story told, exploring the taboos of humanity with his spellbinding writing, storytelling, song and lighting.