Triage! A Nursing Cabaret, DISCHARGED!

Triage! A Nursing Cabaret, DISCHARGED! is the sequel to Zuleika Khan’s highly successful nursing cabaret, Triage! The new show makes its debut at Fringe World and promises to be just as successful as its sister.

We open with historical Matron Melena Smith cheerily welcoming potential war nurses, with the not so cheery realities they are about to face on the battlefield. We are treated to some hilarious parody songs before (huzzah), Matron disappears and we meet Division 1 Registered Nurse Zuleika Khan. Zuleika entertains us with the modern realities of nursing, a bit about her background and some great songs.

Zuleika Khan is indeed multi-talented. Obviously an extremely good nurse, she worked as a nurse, including in the Trauma Ward at Melbourne’s The Alfred Hospital while studying at NIDA and the Victorian College of the Arts. She is a natural comedienne, a smooth raconteur and possesses a gorgeously warm and beautiful singing voice.

Funny and self-deprecating, the audience are in the palm of Zuleika’s highly scrubbed hand. With over half the audience nurses (and I suspect more than a few nursing students) there is the occasional joke that flies over non-medical heads (including almost the opening line) but that does not diminish the fun for the general public. Highlights include the delightful puppetry with speculums and some truly hilarious audience interaction.

A great choice for nurses, medical professionals and anyone who has ever met a nurse. You may need to nurse your own aching sides after the show.

Kimberley Shaw

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