Coterie Cabaret
Wow, wow, wow! What a shit hot and sexy show!
Coterie Cabaret Creative Directors Anna Johnston and Emily Stockwell have struck gold with their debut show, Coterie Cabaret, producing a gasp-inducing, laugh-out-loud, sexy, international quality show that celebrates kink and sex-positivity in all the best ways. Starring some of Brissy’s finest circus, dance and cabaret performers, Coterie Cabaret is a stellar night out that hits all the right spots and leaves the audience begging for more.
Coterie Cabaret’s premise is a unique one, regaled to us by our host, Venus, played by Emily Stockwell. Yeah, the God.
See, Venus was bored in the bedroom with her husband Vulcan, a certified missionary man, and gave into temptation and seduced his brother, Mars. Cue slut shaming from her fellow gods, who punish her by kicking her out of Mount Olympus to a new den of debauchery, lil ole Bris Vegas.
You didn’t think she’d be stuck in Berlin now did ya?
In the only time that Brisbane will ever be the coolest city in the world (her words not mine), we meet our hero. Venus is down on her luck and desperate to get back into Mount Olympus, trying to find a way back home by recreate the circumstances of her birth, which are, shall we say, complicated. And so the scene is set, and Venus takes us with her on journey by exploring some of her favourite kinks as a way of coming home.
Geddit? This stuff writes itself.
Venus’ journey is embodied by cast of some of our finest dancers and cabaret performers. They give us body worship, bondage, domination, ABDL (don’t look it up if you don’t want to be spoilt), odes to bonobos, a history lessons on bras and the creation of Wonder Woman, kitty play and a whole lot more.. All represented across a range of bodies, gender expressions and sexualities, celebrated with joy, camp, sex positivity and a whole lot of laughs.
In lesser hands, this could have been purely titillation, or even exploitation, but it never veers into that territory. In face, it delivers on all levels.
Venus’s pun-driven narration and songs drive the show, as she shares her attempts at rebirth. Once or twice the puns are more wince-inducing that laugh-out-loud, and a few spots of narration could be tightened slightly, but she effortlessly holds the audience in the palm of her hand in this star-making performance.
There is a not a weak link in the rest of the stellar cast. Amira Younan-Wise and Rachel Dowse dance, sing and heat up the stage. True triple threats who left my hubby and I with serious girl crushes after the show. Chris Braithwaite brings strength, silliness and sex appeal in equal doses. Amber Donnelly is the best kitty girl, limber, lithe and acrobatic, and Dion Bello rounds out the cast with all the moves, charm and stupid that left us giggling throughout. All backed by metal gods, Jarrod Waerea and Dane Pulvierenti on drums and guitar and a sound, who gave that extra oomph to each act.
Being a Sunday night, regular cast member and local drag superstar, Luna Thicc, had to be replaced by Bear Grillz due to her regular gig at Fluffy. Luna leaves some big shoes to fill, as she is undoubtedly one of the best drag performers in the country whose charisma and dance moves can overshadow everyone around her. Luckily, the Coterie crew struck gold with Bear, who stolen every moment on stage with their sharp moves and sass.
I won’t say any more about the acts, because I don’t want to ruin any of the many surprises throughout the show. Let me just say that the props, set and costuming were all used to great effect.
Coterie was designed for a big space with a state of the art sound system, with its previous runs playing at The Warehouse in the Valley (the old Family nightclub). As such, there were some niggling sound issues during a few of the songs, where the music threatened to drown out Emily Stockwell’s vocals in a few songs. Her charismatic turn as Venus more than made up for these niggles though, effortlessly holding the audience in the palm of her hand for the whole performance.
Coterie Cabaret is smick, sexy, camp and near perfect cabaret showcasing some Brisbane’s best talents in dance, pole and acrobatics. Be sure to catch their upcoming Winter season, because it might be their last before Venus spreads her message of love and lust to an eager and willing international audience.
I will definitely return for another roll in the hay with Venus and her crew when the return to The Warehouse for their Winter season. Front row, centre. Ready and willing to take it all.
Coterie Cabaret returns to Brisbane for their Winter season from 5 June – 3 July at The Warehouse in the Valley. Tickets on sale now.
