What did you want to be when you grew up? When you’re little, the possibilities seem endless. An astronaut, an explorer, a banana – you could be absolutely anything. Jeromaia’s When I Grow Up takes us on a spiritual trip back to that magical time when the world felt wide open, and the question of what you wanted to be was as easy as diving into a costume box and getting creative with a sheet of fabric and a few props.

This show is pure improvised clowning at its finest, with Jeromaia inviting the audience to join in the fun by submitting their own childhood dreams. The answers range from the whimsical (a horse girl, a wizard) to the deeply philosophical (one person simply submitted “free”). There’s even room for the bizarre and hilarious, like “Peanut Butter Toaster” – and yes, Jeromaia gives it his all, playing exactly that. The beauty of the show lies in how Jeromaia takes these wildly different prompts and spins them into spontaneous characters with a mix of props, quick thinking, and, of course, hilarity.

One of the real joys of the show is how Jeromaia moves with absolute confidence as he constructs each character on the spot. The set is a riot of costumes, toys, and gadgets, and he has an impressive ability to pick up whatever is around him and use it to create something entirely unexpected. He’s fast, inventive, and, most importantly, utterly hilarious. It’s a delightful journey that taps into the pure joy of pretending, like we did as kids, with the added bonus of a highly skilled clown making it all come to life right before your eyes.

The energy, the visuals, and the sound effects are all spot-on, and it’s hard to believe that so much of it is improvised. Jeromaia’s quick wit ensures that the show never feels overly cerebral – it’s more about the immediate, infectious fun that’s happening in the moment. I particularly loved when the prompt “a spy” came up, and without missing a beat, Jeromaia threw on a Russian hat and coat before wrapping himself up in an American flag. He didn’t even need to speak to get a laugh – the physical comedy was already a riot.

The tech is fantastic too, supporting the improvised nature of the show without overshadowing it. One standout moment for me was when Jeromaia took on the character of a “horse girl.” The timing of the sound effects – the rhythmic clip-clop of hooves – was absolutely spot-on, making it all the more amusing. Considering how much of the show is improvised, this level of synchronicity between the performance and tech is especially impressive.

The audience is also part of the fun throughout the show, as we rank the career choices from least funny to most funny. There was a lot of love for the more unconventional ones, and I think the ultimate winner was “unemployed,” which had the crowd in stitches.

And the ending? I won’t spoil it, but I have to say it’s a brilliant, unexpected button to close the show. Without giving too much away, all I’ll say is that for the first minute, I was completely sold on what was happening – before I realized it had to be at least a little scripted.

When I Grow Up is simply a brilliant show. It’s funny, it’s lighthearted, and it taps into a part of our childhoods; when the world was a little bit simpler, as big as your imagination and a small as a toybox.

Recommended drink: A carton of apple juice at snack time before the sugar high hits and you raid the costume box!

Performances of Jeromaia Detto: When I Grow Up have now concluded at the Adelaide Fringe.