Macedonian-Greek duo Makedonka & Marie bring Aerobics: Wog Style to The Factory Theatre, Marrickville, for Sydney Fringe 2026 — a sketch, stand-up, and dance hour about culture, family, and reclaiming a word. "You will laugh so hard that you'll get a good ab workout out of it." Reviewed by Dina Dewnarain.
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Macedonian-Greek duo Makedonka & Marie bring Aerobics: Wog Style to The Factory Theatre, Marrickville, for Sydney Fringe 2026 — a sketch, stand-up, and dance hour about culture, family, and reclaiming a word.
Alright class, get your leggings on, pick up your dumbbells, and put on your favourite playlist, because we're about to learn about Macedonian and Greek culture!
Don't worry, you won't actually have to do any exercise or move at all (unless you want to), but you will laugh so hard that you'll get a good ab workout out of it.
Aerobics: Wog Style is a comedy show written and performed by Macedonian-Greek duo Makedonka and Marie, all about their cultural backgrounds and life experiences. It blends sketch comedy with stand-up, occasional audience participation, and even a few dance numbers. The duo had previously performed the show in Canberra, where they are both from, and took it to the Factory Theatre in Marrickville as part of Sydney Fringe 2026 for their first ever Sydney performance.
The word "wog" is one that carries a lot of weight, having historically been a slur targeted at ethnic and cultural minorities in Western countries, including at people of South European and Mediterranean backgrounds. However, through the years, this term has been reclaimed by people belonging to those minority groups, to colloquially talk about themselves, as well as to show off their roots with pride. Another load of weight which this show carries is the ongoing tensions between Macedonia and Greece, going on for over 30 years. That being said, Makedonka and Marie themselves are very good friends, which can be felt through their friendly banter throughout the show. The two performers lightly poke fun at themselves and each other, while also honouring their respective backgrounds and inviting the audience to learn about both of their cultures.
The Factory Theatre's intimate atmosphere made it so all of the audience was close to the stage. Not so close that you might get kicked in the face as part of the aerobics routine, but close enough that the performers could look you in the eye and talk to you, creating a familiar, friendly atmosphere. Mics aren't used during the skit portions of the show, but both performers can be heard loud and clear.
The show opens with a parody of an 80s fitness show, with bright lights illuminating the stage and booming music filling our eardrums, instantly hyping up the audience. The banter between the two performers is endearing, and immediately sets the mood for the rest of the show: one that is friendly and energetic.
After this initial warm up, we are given a brief lesson on how to pronounce certain Macedonian and Greek words. For far too long, people around the world have mispronounced the word "tzatziki," and Marie & Makedonka take it upon themselves to break it down for us and help us correct this, and other common linguistic mistakes. In this first instance of audience participation in the show, the performers invite a few volunteers on stage to hold up cue cards, and have the rest of the attendees read them out in unison, bringing everyone together and stirring up more laughs.
The rest of the show alternates between sketch comedy — with a few quick changes on stage and others behind the curtain — and stand-up segments. The stage is relatively bare, with only a few props and set pieces, leaving the audience to imagine the characters in each skit in a multitude of situations.
Two women having tea and cigarettes on a balcony in awkward silence, occasionally glancing at each other, then gasping at something unseemly in the distance, left up to the audience's imagination. Two elderly men on a porch, one dealing cards by himself while the other eats an apple, both of whom get disrupted when the latter begins to choke. A not-very-relaxing yoga class, with the instructor trash talking her student over the phone while the latter is only a few feet away from her.
An extremely short skit which stood out to me was one where Marie appears on stage in a bathrobe, and unravels it to reveal knitted evil eyes attached to her gym clothes, only to immediately wrap it back up. Each act is brief and at times surreal, offering a mixed bag of content, from sketch to physical comedy.
In between costume changes, Makedonka and Marie take turns giving a stand-up set, where they get up close and personal with the audience. They share their experiences growing up as part of cultural minorities in Australia, being queer in a Macedonian family, concerns regarding aging, working in fitness, as well as giving a nod to their families and partners.
The show which I attended also had Makedonka's mother and grandmother, or baba, in attendance. The comedian talks about how supportive her grandmother is of her work despite not understanding English, as well the fun instances of miscommunication which this has led to.
For instance, she talks about the time her baba thought she received a call from someone named "Ankola" and asked Makedonka to translate for her, when it was actually from an "Unknown Caller." She does not, however, ridicule her, but rather reinforces her love for her, and expresses her gratitude for her support.
Despite not understanding the jokes, Makedonka's baba laughs at her granddaughter's delivery. These breaks not only give the performers the chance to change costumes, but also slow down the pace and give the audience a bit of a breather amidst all the chaos, before jumping right back into the sketch comedy for more laughs.
The show ends with a bouzouki performance which, similarly to the opening act, gets the entire theatre cheering and clapping. Makedonka and Marie bring out the instrument on stage and argue over which one of them should play it, when a front-row audience member swoops in to play an upbeat tune. The sound is bright and rolling, and you can feel the room shift from theatre crowd to something closer to a family gathering. The two performers dance around the stage, then dive into the audience and offer the guests candy. Yet another unexpected development, which adds to the surreal yet amicable vibe set all throughout the hour.
Aerobics: Wog Style is a celebration of cultures and community. Exploring a range of topics from stereotypes, to language, to cultural beliefs and practices, this show offers a jam-packed hour of content, all under the guise of an aerobics TV programme. As the show's synopsis says, by the time it's over, you'll feel like you're part of one big chaotic family. What makes it land isn't the aerobics gimmick or the sketch premises, but the warmth the two performers extend outward — this is a show that wants you to belong, and it does the work to make sure you do.
Makedonka & Marie have previously performed in Canberra, and are set to perform at the Canberra Comedy Festival in 2027. If they're ever in a theatre near you, be sure to show them some love and, as the two comedians say at the end of the show, "help two wog girls make their dreams come true."
Written and performed by: Makedonka & Marie
Venue: The Factory Theatre, Marrickville
Festival: Sydney Fringe 2026
Running time: Approx. 1 hour
Photos provided by Makedonka and Marie.
Reviewed by Dina Dewnarain.
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