The Wynter of Our Disco Tent | Funny Mummies
comedy, review, cabaret Kian Dillon comedy, review, cabaret Kian Dillon

The Wynter of Our Disco Tent | Funny Mummies

The duo used real-life teenage diary entries to inspire a score of original 80’s pop tunes as lyrically witty as they were melodic. The musical numbers, and the show as a whole, teetered experterly on this line of self-aware cringe. Which, for an audience whose entry was more teens-at-an-80s-concert than stand-up goers, seemed like the perfect fit.

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Club Culture Cabaret | Briefs Factory
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Club Culture Cabaret | Briefs Factory

At night, the Brisbane Powerhouse is a towering structure. When awash in a coloured glow, the industrial legacies of its brick exterior are exposed and amplified. Standing tall, it looms above the heads of those swallowed by its glass doors. Yet on Sunday night, with Fez Fa’anana (as Shivannah) sauntering amongst arriving audiences and flashing smiles over diamantéd shoulders, the building had never felt so warm.

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Diva Dive | Finucane and Smith
cabaret, circus, review Kristy Stanfield cabaret, circus, review Kristy Stanfield

Diva Dive | Finucane and Smith

This is a variety show with a travelling circus feel to it, its numerous stunning acts from around the world sewn together by MC Moira, some kind of vampiric love goddess. She carried us through a host of dazzling dances, spine-tinglingly beautiful singing, trapeze, burlesque, boylesque, physical comedy and all manner of gender-defying feats.

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Cab Suave | Sparkle Society
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Cab Suave | Sparkle Society

Cab Suave is both a fresh and flirty take on circus cabarets and well needed reimagining of film noir for the modern era. Packed with all the circus you could need, a script full of zingers, and whole lot of charm, it’s the perfect piece of escapism for the virus that shall not be named.

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Right To Party | Babushka
cabaret, musical, review Hope One cabaret, musical, review Hope One

Right To Party | Babushka

Large colourful blow up props sit comfortably within the set, bright and bold objects scattered neatly around the three microphones that accommodate the stellar trio. Add some big hair, fishnets and big socks to top off the vibrancy the cast portrays and a dance party worthy lighting show. The production was kaleidoscopic.

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The No Bang Theory | Oliver Hetherington-Page
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The No Bang Theory | Oliver Hetherington-Page

Debuting at the Undercover Artist Festival and created and performed by Oliver Hetherington-Page, The No Bang Theory is a musical journey from dating disasters to diagnosis through the lens of someone who is actually autistic, unlike Sheldon Cooper and all the ones who came before him.

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Street Serenades | Brisbane Festival
music, cabaret, dance, circus, review Catherine Lawrence music, cabaret, dance, circus, review Catherine Lawrence

Street Serenades | Brisbane Festival

I seem to have spent quite a bit of the last week lurking around Brisbane parks (and even a council pool). Don’t worry; I was waiting to see circus, dance, theatre, sword-swallowing, and to catch some local bands. And I wasn’t alone, as I was in the company of a few other hardy souls, as we waited for the latest Brisbane Festival Street Serenade.

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Dirty Laundry | Briefs Factory
circus, cabaret, review Virag Dombay circus, cabaret, review Virag Dombay

Dirty Laundry | Briefs Factory

Briefs Factory’s Dirty Laundry is sexy but it also has a lot of heart and soul. It’s a show that not only dazzles but is also about connection and finding joy and pleasure in moments of uncertainty. It’s a show that will make you wolf-whistle, stomp your feet and leave you thirsty for more.

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Chocolate Boxx Vs Charlie Love | Rumble
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Chocolate Boxx Vs Charlie Love | Rumble

Haven’t heard of Rumble? Where have you been? This is the little game show that could. A night of performance shaken and stirred in all the best ways that’s been running monthly for three and a half years and counting, which just gets better with age having recently picked up best regular event at this year’s Queens Ball. Punters keep coming back month after month for the shenanigans and it always sells out. And nestled in The Outpost Bar, one of the Valley’s hidden gems, makes it all very Kit Kat Klub in all the right ways.

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Lesbian Love Stories | The Local Lesbians
cabaret, review Kristy Stanfield cabaret, review Kristy Stanfield

Lesbian Love Stories | The Local Lesbians

There really aren’t that many live shows around made by lesbians about lesbians for lesbians. It’s a beautiful thing to be able to make sense of your own story through hearing those of others, and to realise the commonalities of lesbian experiences in confrontation with homophobia, compulsory heterosexuality, the many layers of denial and the internal struggle between passion and fear. I was really impressed with the range of topics the 60 minute show managed to cover. It was well planned and well-written, unfolding in an entertaining and engaging way.

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Coterie Cabaret
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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.

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Pink Martini Pop-up Cabaret | Evoke Dance & Theatre Company
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Pink Martini Pop-up Cabaret | Evoke Dance & Theatre Company

Showcasing a range of dance styles including salsa, tango, samba, the cancan, contemporary, jazz and even a conga line, gorgeous costuming and backed by a stellar eight piece band, the cabaret hit all the right places. As someone who got swept up in learning Latin dance years back, it made for great night of nostalgia, leaving me smiling and humming along. The local audience seemed to agreed, as they clapped and stamped their feet throughout.

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It Takes A Lot Not To End Up Dead | NiK NaK Productions
cabaret, musical, review Kristy Stanfield cabaret, musical, review Kristy Stanfield

It Takes A Lot Not To End Up Dead | NiK NaK Productions

In this unique musical cabaret, local folk singer-songwriter Lizzie Flynn takes us on a heartwarming journey through her youth via the key people and events that inspired her repertoire of original songs. It Takes A Lot Not To End Up Dead is a fun and wholesome time. I’m a big fan of putting singing and storytelling together. Singing itself is storytelling, but add a sprinkle of honest, in-character storytelling and you’ve got something extra special.

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The Pageant | The Beryls
physical theatre, comedy, cabaret, review Lauren Hale physical theatre, comedy, cabaret, review Lauren Hale

The Pageant | The Beryls

Roger Seahorse, played by Laura Trennery, was a stiff, wide-eyed dork of a man, clad in a bedazzled pale blue suit. He was timid but endearing and practically plastic with fake tan and glowing white teeth. Victoria Beauvoir, played by Patrick Dwyer, was lush, larger than life, suggestive and sexually available in a shimmery gown and a cloud of blonde curls. Both characters were extreme, almost demonic, caricatures of pageant hosts. The footlighting cast shadows across their faces that twisted their white smiles.

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Coterie Cabaret
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Coterie Cabaret

If I had only one word to describe Coterie Cabaret, it would undoubtedly be sexy! Coterie is a celebration of human bodies and all the kinky ways that they connect. This is not a show for the prude, and you will leave with a new checklist of kinks to try!

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Brisbaret
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Brisbaret

MC’s Sophie and Thien do provide the necessary glue that binds it all together though. Their chemistry is beyond infectious and they both radiate an enthusiasm and joy at being on stage that brings a freshness to Brisbaret that’s not often seen.

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Shanty Club | The Salty Sirens
music, cabaret, review Jaydem Martin music, cabaret, review Jaydem Martin

Shanty Club | The Salty Sirens

There’s such a power to communal singing. When a large group of people can come together with a similar interest and sing in union, whether you think you’re a good singer or not, it feels special joining in on the choruses and sharing in the collective voice. Elyse and Kristy have that understanding and knew how to get the audience engaged as they built up to the final shanty which allowed members of the crowd to come up with their own lyrics for us all to sing along to.

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Coterie Cabaret
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Coterie Cabaret

The show is cheeky without being immature. Sexual acts and fetishes are truly celebrated, rather than used for a cheap joke. You may find this one a bit challenging if you’re adverse to exploration, liberation, diversity, and... packets of condoms being thrown into the audience. And honestly, if that’s you, I dare you to go.

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Bigger & Blacker | Steven Oliver
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Bigger & Blacker | Steven Oliver

Accompanied by Helpmann-Award winner Michael Griffiths on piano, the duo titillated the audience with their ‘naughty’, fun, original score. The spicy banter between Michael and Steven was nothing short of sensational, making them a formidable duo on stage.

Add a disco ball to the mix and you have a flawless match made in heaven!

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