‘SNOUT: The Rock Opera’ Coming to Adelaide Fringe 2026
SNOUT is the brainchild of local author and musician Malcolm Sutton.
Image Malcolm Sutton
South Aussie author and musician Malcolm Sutton is premiering his new production SNOUT: The Rock Opera at the Adelaide Fringe 2026.
Taking over Gluttony for six nights, Sutton has been working on SNOUT for almost five years, recruiting ten incredible Adelaide musicians to bring his tale of cyberpunk pigs rebelling against the system to life.
“The music is fresh, funky, filled with attitude, and possibly shares more with progressive and alternative rock than traditional music theatre productions,” explains Sutton. “That being said, there are some more classical sections, so if you do like musicals, you’ll find this refreshing and incredibly dynamic.”
A continuation of Sutton’s 2011 experimental Fringe show of the same name, SNOUT has its roots in London’s West End, where a twentysomething Sutton worked backstage on Really Useful Group (Andrew Lloyd Webber and famed producer Cameron Mackintosh) productions such as CATS and Phantom of the Opera.
After releasing his acclaimed novel Twitchers in 2024, Sutton has returned his attention to SNOUT: The Rock Opera, his most ambitious project yet.
“SNOUT: The Rock Opera shares the same universe as my earlier, experimental production from 2011, but is a completely new show driven entirely by original music,” Sutton says. “It has been a long time in the making, and if I think back to those days in London’s West End, working backstage at the likes of the New London Theatre, The Gielgud Theatre, His Majesty’s Theatre, and then even here in Adelaide for State Theatre Company at the Festival Centre, it really does feel like a culmination of all those experiences!
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Image Malcolm Sutton
SNOUT stars lead singers Shyla Van Dock, who has gained a reputation for her fierce live performances, and Hank Probert, from Adelaide’s Roger the Band and Zombie Eaters. The band is led by local legend and bassist Tim ‘Wilko’ Wilsdon and features recent Elder Conservatorium graduates Marcus Jacob Howard on guitar and Sutton himself on drums.
Local jazz trumpet maestro Triniti Canini is also involved after returning from New York to lead the horn section, with current Elder Conservatorium students Rosy O’Connor and Sean Michael Kelley making up the choir.
Also on board to bring the sci-fi romp to life are five Adelaide University visual effects students who have been fulfilling placements at Rising Sun Pictures.
“This is a completely new, thoroughly original production with some great, enthusiastic young spirits getting on board to showcase their stuff,” Sutton said. “It’s precisely the sort of daring and different production that fringe festivals are renowned for, and I would love Adelaideans to get along and see a homegrown premiere before it takes off.
“The pigs would love to see you.”
Catch SNOUT: The Rock Opera at Tandanya Theatre as part of Gluttony at Adelaide Fringe 2026 from March 17-22. Tickets on sale now at
