Adelaide Cabaret Festival 2023 Brochure

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GO ALL OUT

It’s cabaret time! A wonderful time of year when Adelaide takes centre stage and we see cabaret lovers and performers from all over the world flock to our state.

The State Government is delighted to have supported Adelaide Festival Centre since its inception as the first national arts centre in Australia, under the leadership of Labor Premier Don Dunstan.

I’m thrilled to see previous artistic directors return to this year’s Adelaide Cabaret Festival to celebrate the 50th anniversary milestone of the Adelaide Festival Centre, demonstrating that art is a powerful way of connecting with each other and the world. hope you enjoy the 2023 Adelaide Cabaret Festival!

DOUGLAS GAUTIER AM

Welcome to Cabaret 2023, the year when it all comes together! To celebrate Adelaide Festival Centre's 50th birthday, we welcome back The Cabaret Collective – Adelaide Cabaret Festival artistic directors from the past 22 years. These are the big names who brought you the big names that filled the stages, nooks and crannies of our theatres with cabaret performances over the years.

We’re delighted to bring you the sparkle, the laughter, the tears and the phenomenal stagecraft that keeps Adelaide Festival Centre at the top end of Australia's performing arts centres. At 50 years young, Adelaide Festival Centre looks to the future with the Class of Cabaret. Talented year 11 and year 12 students get the chance to work with and get starstruck by our 2023 collective of artistic directors and the many performers and artists featured in the program. Welcome to a very special edition of Adelaide Cabaret Festival.

“Nine artistic directors for one festival? How is THAT going to work??”

Well, if 22 years of Adelaide Cabaret Festival has taught us anything, it’s that there are no rules and anything is possible.

What initially felt like an impossible ask was met with characteristic curiosity and enthusiasm from each of these deeply creative and generous individuals. From the outset, what was most obvious was the abundant passion and fondness these ADs feel for the festival they have created, and, particularly for you, the audiences and loyal festival goers.

The resulting program is a collection of old favourites and new beginnings that speaks to the legacy of past festivals and hopes for its future. As so often happens in the world of Cabaret, this was a wild experiment that has paid off in spades. A historic collaboration in honour of a very special celebration. Happy 50th birthday, Adelaide Festival Centre! Let’s swing from the chandeliers!

CONTENTS The 2023 Variety Gala 6 Kate Ceberano – My Life is A Symphony 8 Paris Combo – A Celebration of the Songs of Belle du Berry 10 RocKwiz Salutes Adelaide 12 The Blind Date Project 14 Ali McGregor – Fool’s Gold 15 Vince Jones and Nina Ferro – Come in Spinner The Concert 16 The Blank Page with Eddie Perfect 17 Ali McGregor’s Late-Nite Variety-Nite Night 18 Michelle Brasier – Reform 19 Edge of Reality – Elvis Presley Songbook 20 Reuben Kaye – enGORGEd 22 Michelle Brasier and Ben Russell - Comedians Auditioning for Musicals 24 Mark Trevorrow – Singing Straight 24 Showqueen with Trevor Ashley 25 Mark Nadler – Hootenanny 25 Broadway Barbara – Live in Australia! 26 Adelaide Tonight – Bob Downe and Willsy 27 Michael Griffiths – It’s a Sin 28 Merrick Watts – An Idiot’s Guide to Wine 29 Sarah-Louise Young – An Evening without Kate Bush 30 Sally Ford & The Idiomatics featuring Brian Nankervis – Underscore 31 Festival Calendar 32 Rizo – Prizmatism 35 Mark Nadler – The Old Razzle Dazzle 36 Gillian Cosgriff – The Fig Tree 37 Post Dining – Brag Drunch 37 Libby O’Donovan and Michelle Nicolle – More Than a Melody 38 Robyn Archer – An Australian Songbook 40 Roscoe James Irwin – Lost in A Dream 41 An Evening with Ursula Yovich 42 Paul Capsis and Francis Greep – Dry My Tears 43 Nancy Denis – M’ap Boulé 44 Geraldine Quinn – Broad 45 THNDO – The Reintroduction 45 Haus of Kong – Klub Kong 46 Mama Alto – Follies Girl 47 Josh Sanders – Ziegfeld Boy 47 Free Events 48 LGBTIQ+ Elders Dance Club 50 Wine & Dine 51 Showcasing the New – Cabaret Works in Development 52 Class of Cabaret 53 How to Book, Venue Details & Getting Here 63 Festival Partners 65
Minister for Arts South Australia The Hon ANDREA MICHAELS MP Executive Producer, Adelaide Cabaret Festival ALEX SINCLAIR Chair, Adelaide Festival Centre Trust CEO & Artistic Director, Adelaide Festival Centre
WELCOME
The Hon HIEU VAN LE AC

JULIA HOLT

THE CABARET COLLECTIVE

Cabaret is the most flexible and accommodating of genres. Visceral, intellectual, physical, cultural, emotional, political and, of course, hitting the funny bone, cabaret fosters the alchemy between artists and audiences to create a shared human experience.

It is my most incredible privilege and honour to be part of the 23rd Adelaide Cabaret Festival, standing alongside the collective of previous Artistic Directors and the amazing festival performers, staff, crew, volunteers, sponsors, friends and families.

After the first festival in 2001, I wrote a one-page 20-year plan for Adelaide Cabaret Festival. It seemed audacious, even a bit silly, to imagine the fledgling festival so far into the future. Yet here we are in 2023... reviewing the past and looking to the future. Perhaps most importantly though, we are celebrating the present. Where we can, once again, be out together dancing cheek to cheek.

Can’t wait to see everyone!

DAVID CAMPBELL OAM & LISA CAMPBELL

We have been fortunate to work in the entertainment industry for decades, doing a variety of roles, but our time at Adelaide Cabaret Festival is a career highlight for us both. We made lifelong friendships; with performers, with colleagues at Adelaide Festival Centre and with the most important people of all – the festival goers. There is nothing more thrilling as an Artistic Director than walking around the festival talking to people about what they had just seen and hearing their immediate reaction – particularly when it’s positive!

Adelaide Cabaret Festival feels like a mad, creative village for those three weeks in June and we feel honoured to have been a part of it. We have loved seeing the festival grow over the years and we cannot wait to see this brilliant program come to life and to catch up with those familiar faces!

A message from our 2023 Artistic Directors

KATE CEBERANO

What I loved most about my time as Artistic Director was my role as host; making sure audiences and performers felt loved, seen and welcomed to Adelaide.

Working with artists like David Bromley gave me an insight into the importance of facilitating a creative environment, which in turn can inspire audiences and performers alike. Cabaret is incredibly inventive and almost beyond description. The audience experience can be as big or small as the artist intends it to be – on THEIR terms, in THEIR words, in THEIR safe place as they offer their heart and soul.

One of my favourite memories of Adelaide Cabaret Festival is of an event I coordinated for Molly Ringwald and Martha Wainwright’s children. An Australian wildlife rescue came to the hotel and let the animals run free through the lobby. However, the most thrilling part for me was that at one point the Dalai Lama walked into the room and I’ll never forget the delight on his face as one of the beautiful animals greeted him at the entrance.

My cabaret heart has always been obsessed with the creation and development of new works and new songs for the stage. Adelaide Cabaret Festival has been instrumental in my development as a composer and lyricist, so I’m excited to provide those opportunities to the next generation of original Australian writers.

We have an opportunity through this world-leading festival to create bold, intelligent and unique works for the stage here in Adelaide and find pathways for them to have a cultural impact throughout the world. It’s time that Australia’s composers and lyricists found their way to a global stage, and it starts with the support of brilliant arts festivals like Adelaide Cabaret Festival.

EDDIE PERFECT

3 2

THE CABARET

ALI McGREGOR

Cabaret can be whatever you want it to be. If you have a story to tell, or you are not seeing your story told on traditional stages, there is always a place for you at the table. It is the truest form of conversation between artist and audience.

Australians do cabaret well. As artists, we don’t have many opportunities, and DIY is in our blood. If there is no door opening for you, you can write a show and open it for yourself. Theatre has branches that take you to both familiar and unimaginable places and Adelaide Cabaret Festival is the Magic Faraway tree of festivals.

The artists I chose this year I consider some of the best the world has to offer. They are true cabaret artists. Lifers, not here on vacation. They have powerful voices with something to say. But they also have slightly filthy minds and love what they do. Which is my favourite combination of personality traits.

JULIA ZEMIRO

It was a breakaway move to ask a non-musician to be Artistic Director of this festival. It was a thrilling challenge, and I sought to bring more improv, politics, and immersive shows alongside the brilliant music.

The melancholy in my festival was that our leading light Frank Ford was not with us. He has left a generous legacy: $20,000 each year for 10 years, to commission new work from a South Australian cabaret artist or group. We were proud to present the first grant to Unsung with Amelia Ryan and Libby O’Donovan.

Covid then cancelled us in 2020. Everything stopped. Eight months of work was gone. There were bigger losses around us but I still have that shadow festival in my heart and mind.

So it was wonderful to be invited back in 2021 with Rockwiz to salute all that is Eurovision! I will be bringing back the wiz this year with a brand-new salute and LGBTIQ+ Elders Dance Club by All The Queens Men. Cabaret is a place of community and joy. The dance club did this so beautifully in 2019, celebrating diversity with a cup of tea in an afternoon disco. Heaven.

See you then mes amis x

ALAN CUMMING

When I was asked to be artistic director I really thought long and hard about the form of cabaret itself, and one of the things I realised was it has been a bit hijacked by musical theatre.

So, I really tried to present a programme that showed the true variety of possibilities the cabaret form encompasses. And with that in mind, this year I have brought back two shows that are different every night!

Bojana Novakovic’s Blind Date Project is a fusion of theatre, comedy, karaoke and improv. Adelaide Tonight is an intergenerational variety feast. I hope you enjoy gorging on both!

TINA ARENA AM

Art in all its forms is what makes life worth living, so creating a festival dedicated to this ideal was a joy.

I learned so much during my tenure as AD, and delighted in exploring the hearts and minds of the Australian cultural landscape. Creating Songs My Mother

Taught Me was my love letter to the rich tapestry of Australian multiculturalism and the gift of sharing our histories through songs and stories.

I discovered that what thrills me most about Cabaret as a genre is its audacity, its wit and its spontaneity. You’re never quite sure where the songs and stories will take you and what will surprise you along the way.

Last year we promised to Lead You Astray. May the path be long and winding.

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5
COLLECTIVE A message from our 2023 Artistic Directors

AUSTRALIA

WORLD PREMIERE & AUSTRALIAN EXCLUSIVE VARIETY GALA

THE 2023

InDaily

Adelaide Cabaret Festival’s favourite event returns in 2023 with a very special cabaret reunion!

As Adelaide Festival Centre turns 50, join us for a once in a lifetime spectacle full of surprises and iconic guests, featuring Kate Ceberano, David Campbell, Eddie Perfect, Ali McGregor, Julia Zemiro and many more.

See you on the red carpet in your cabaret best for a celebration that will light up your winter.

Festival Theatre

Fri 9 June, 7pm

2 hours (120 mins) including interval

Prem $140

A Res $120

B Res $99

Suitability all ages

Hosted by Virginia Gay

Director: Mitchell Butel Mitchell Butel’s services are provided courtesy State Theatre Company of South Australia.

Musical Director: Mark Ferguson

Line-Up Includes: David Campbell, Kate Ceberano, Ali McGregor, Eddie Perfect, Julia Zemiro and more…

Photos: Claudio Raschella

“Cemented as one of Adelaide’s true red-carpet nights.”
7
“Decadence, magic and revelry.”
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Canberra Critics Circle

AUSTRALIA ADELAIDE PREMIERE

Since bursting onto the music scene in 1983 and becoming a superstar of the Countdown era, Kate went on to become Australian music royalty — earning 13 Platinum and eight Gold sales, and dozens of major awards. From the rousing anthems to the soulful ballads, join the voice of a generation performing her favourite songs from 30 albums released across her 40-year career in concert with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra.

Festival Theatre

Sat 10 June, 7.30pm

110 mins includes 20 min interval

Prem $129

A Res $119

B Res $109

Suitability all ages

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Photo: Ian Laidlaw
“Pure, soulful and powerful.”
KATE CEBERANO 2009
Rolling Stone
Vanessa Scammell – Conductor

AURORE VOLIQUÉ

FRANCE

ADELAIDE PREMIERE & AUSTRALIAN EXCLUSIVE

PARIS COMBO A CELEBRATION OF THE SONGS OF BELLE DU BERRY

Paris Combo is returning to Adelaide Cabaret Festival for three performances in a vibrant tribute to their late songwriter and charismatic chanteuse Belle du Berry. This iconic French band wins over crowds and critics with their fun-loving mix of swinging gypsy jazz, cabaret, French pop and world rhythms.

In an Australian exclusive, Paris Combo performs with invited vocalists celebrating the songs that have made them a favourite on the international scene.

Dunstan Playhouse

Fri 9 June, 8.30pm

Sat 10 June, 5pm

Sun 11 June, 7.30pm

90 mins

Prem $89, A Res $84

Suitability all ages

Photo: Emmanuelle Ales CARMEN MARIA VEGA Photo: Cloe Harent BILLIE Photo: Sarah MANO RAZANAJATO Photo: Eric Bobrie Photo: Florent Mayolet
“My favorite French cultural export of the past decade.”
Seattle Times
10 11

AUSTRALIA

ADELAIDE PREMIERE & AUSTRALIAN EXCLUSIVE

ROCKWIZ LIVE!

ROCKWIZ SALUTES ADELAIDE

The city of churches, fine dining and festivals has produced some amazing music over the decades, from Cold Chisel and Paul Kelly to Sia and Hilltop Hoods.

Join Julia, Brian and the RocKwiz OrKestra as they celebrate 50 years of the Adelaide Festival Centre, digging deeper into the stories and stats behind South Australia’s most revered artists. As always, there’ll be questions, riffs and an anecdote or two, with players picked from the audience and some very special guests.

Festival Theatre

Sat 17 June, 7.30pm

90 mins

A Res $99

Suitability 16+

Warning coarse language, adult themes, haze effects, strobe lighting

InDaily

13 12
“That was about as much fun as this reviewer has ever had at the Cabaret Festival.”

BOJANA NOVAKOVIC

THE BLIND DATE PROJECT

ALI

McGREGOR

FOOL’S GOLD

Following sold-out runs across the US and Australia, The Blind Date Project returns to Adelaide. Desperate and looking for love, Anna (AFI Award winner Bojana Novakovic) sits in a karaoke bar waiting for someone she matched with online. Each night, her date is a different guest performer, unknown to her until the moment they meet on stage. More than just an improv experiment, The Blind Date Project is a real, risky and uncensored exploration of humanity’s deepest craving for human connection.

Artspace Fri 9 June, 8pm

10 June, 7pm & 9.15pm

60 mins

General admission $59

U30s $30

Suitability 18+

Warning coarse language, adult themes

Artistic Director Ali McGregor returns to the Festival with her six-piece band. In this, her golden 50th year, she explores how songs can find new meaning with the passing of time, bringing new arrangements of old favourites and drawing from her Yma Sumac show, the opera she recently created with Kate Miller-Heidke and Conor d’Netto, and her famous hybrid renditions of the trashy classics you know and love.

Dunstan Playhouse

Sat 10 June, 8pm

65 mins

Prem $69, A Res $64

Suitability 12+

AUSTRALIA ADELAIDE EXCLUSIVE
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Fri
Sat
Sat
Wed 14 – Thu 15 June, 7pm
16 –
17 June, 7pm & 9.15pm
“A clever show… There’s something sneakily appealing in the prospect of watching other people navigate the jittery horrors of that initial encounter, a gruelling rite of passage pretty much everyone has endured, and often regretted.”
The New York Times
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AUSTRALIA ADELAIDE PREMIERE
“Money can’t buy this much heart, sass and pure, mainlined joy.”
«««««
Herald Sun
Photo: Alan Moyle

AUSTRALIA ADELAIDE PREMIERE & EXCLUSIVE

VINCE JONES AND NINA FERRO

COME IN SPINNER THE CONCERT

In an Adelaide Cabaret Festival premiere, three-time ARIA Award winner Vince Jones performs the much-loved songs from the ABC television series Come In Spinner soundtrack which became the highest-selling Australian jazz album of all time.

Accompanied by his dynamic 17-piece big band, the man with the voice from heaven will be joined by special guest Nina Ferro showcasing magical new arrangements of WWII-era classics from Porter to Gershwin to Ellington.

AUSTRALIA

WORLD PREMIERE THE BLANK PAGE WITH EDDIE PERFECT

Festival Theatre

Sun 11 June, 5pm

90 mins

Prem $109

A Res $99

B Res $84

Suitability all ages

Banquet Room

Sun 11 June, 3pm

70 mins

Prem $45

A Res $39

B Res $35

Student $25

Suitability 12+

Warning coarse language, adult themes

Eddie returns to Adelaide Cabaret Festival for an afternoon of creative discussion on how stage songs emerge from the blank page.

Joined by incredible composers and lyricists from the worlds of cabaret and musical theatre, you’ll get an exclusive glimpse of the entire creative process from page to stage, with examples performed by the writers themselves.

Come and join Eddie for a vigorous and entertaining exploration of everything that goes into theatre writing.

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“He’s that rare and precious creature, an artist whose love for his art leaves no room for much else.”
InDaily
Photo: Sam Tabone Photo: Creswick Collective Photo: Claudio Raschella
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ALI McGREGOR’S LATE-NITE VARIETY-NITE NIGHT

Ali McGregor’s Late-Nite Variety-Nite Night is a guaranteed good time. Sample the best of the fest and beyond with a curated combo of big-name headliners, talented performers and spontaneous moments, brought together for an evening of pure, theatrical mayhem. Backed by one of the finest jazz trios in town led by pianist Sam Keevers, Ali proves her rightful place as both showstopping songstress and queen of variety shows.

REFORM

Actor, singer, writer and comedian Michelle Brasier (Shaun Micallef’s Mad As Hell, Aunty Donna, We Interrupt This Broadcast) returns to the stage after a sell-out year. Reform is a cautionary tale of an online scam and the urge to empathise with, understand and become the emergency contacts of those who have done us wrong. Equal parts hilarious and heart-rending with original songs to match.

The Sydney Morning Herald

Banquet Room Fri 9 – Sun 11 June 10.30pm

90 mins

Tickets $39

Suitability 18+

Warning coarse language, nudity, adult themes

Time Out

Space Theatre

Fri 9 June, 9pm

Sun 11 June, 5pm

60 mins

Prem $49, A Res $44

U30s $30

Suitability 16+

Warning coarse language, adult themes, haze effects

AUSTRALIA
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Photo: Kurt Sneddon
“A shot of gin for the funny bone.”
««««« AUSTRALIA ADELAIDE PREMIERE
MICHELLE BRASIER
Photo: Matt Solomon
“She’s funny. She’s smart. She’ll have you cackling and clapping and wishing the show was twice as long.”
««««« 19

Presented by RAZ Music

PAUL GRABOWSKY, JOE CAMILLERI AND DEBORAH CONWAY

AUSTRALIA ADELAIDE PREMIERE

EDGE OF REALITY ELVIS PRESLEY SONGBOOK

The King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley, remains a cultural icon who blended musical traditions that culminated in unprecedented superstardom.

Created by Paul Grabowsky AO and starring Australian performers Joe Camilleri and Deborah Conway, Edge of Reality is a unique tribute to Elvis Presley with heartfelt, reimagined renditions of the King’s greatest hits. This Adelaide exclusive will celebrate one of the 20th century’s most prolific musicians who continues to influence generations to this day.

Dunstan Playhouse

Wed 14 – Thu 15 June, 7.30pm

80 mins

Prem $84

A Res $79

Suitability all ages

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Photo: Alice Healy Photo: WILK Photo: Tania Jovanovic JOE CAMILLERI 2022

ADELAIDE CABARET FESTIVAL COMMISSION

AUSTRALIA WORLD PREMIERE

REUBEN KAYE enGORGEd

The Swarovski-studded cabaret icon is back. Fast, on the edge and brutally funny, multi-awardwinning Australian comedian, singer, writer, Reuben Kaye returns to Adelaide with the world premiere of enGORGEd.

Taking over the Dunstan Playhouse with an 18-piece orchestra in his flashiest, funniest and most fearless endeavour yet, Reuben is bigger and better than ever (it's in the title). We know, because he made us write it down.

Time Out

Dunstan Playhouse

Fri 16 June, 7.30pm

Sat 17 June, 9.30pm

70 mins

Prem $59, A Res $54

U30s $30

Suitability 18+

Warning coarse language, haze effects, adult themes

“It’s hard to know what tears are for him, yourself, your friends or simply because you’re laughing so much that you’re using your spare facemask to wipe away snot.”
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«««««
Photo: Kyahm Ross

AUSTRALIA

MICHELLE BRASIER AND BEN RUSSELL

COMEDIANS AUDITIONING FOR MUSICALS

From its sold-out stint at the 2022 Melbourne Comedy Festival, watch your favourite funny people take on the perils of the audition room in this instant cult hit.

Hosted by powerhouse vocalist and comedian Michelle Brasier, alongside her American, turtlenecked ex-ex-husband–director played by the incredible Ben Russell, worlds collide as comedy superstars take on music theatre’s classic hits. Accompanied live and with delightfully illthought-out choreography, this is a late-night romp not to be missed.

Time Out

Space Theatre

Sun 11 June, 8pm

75 mins

Prem $59

A Res $54

Suitability 16+

Warning coarse language, adult themes, haze effects

MARK TREVORROW

SINGING STRAIGHT

THE MAN BEHIND BOB DOWNE COMES OUT TO SING

After almost four decades of performing as Australia’s charismatic Prince of Polyester, the man behind Bob Downe is stepping on stage as himself. An Adelaide premiere, Singing Straight effortlessly weaves story and song into a captivating evening of cabaret. Fans of Bacharach, Sondheim, Coward and Lennon–McCartney will fall in love with their jazz, pop and showtune favourites all over again, delightfully reimagined in Mark’s signature vocal style with dazzling musical direction from Bev Kennedy.

ADELAIDE PREMIERE Banquet Room

Sun 11 June, 7pm

60 mins

Prem $49, A Res $45

B Res $39

Suitability 16+

Warning coarse language, adult themes

AUSTRALIA ADELAIDE PREMIERE Presented by TAE

SHOWQUEEN WITH TREVOR ASHLEY

In this Adelaide premiere, Australia’s awardwinning Queen of Cabaret stars in a variety night that will have you laughing and screaming for more. The effervescent writer, director, comedian, curator, and all-round icon of the screen and stage delivers an evening of showtunes, surprises and sequins — a muchloved cult show in his hometown of Sydney. Together with his musical director Bev Kennedy, and with special guests at his side, this is the wild way to send off your Cabaret Festival experience.

The Age

Banquet Room

Fri 23 – Sat 24 June, 10.30pm

90 mins

Tickets $39

Suitability 18+

Warning coarse language, adult themes, strobe lighting, haze effects

The legendary Flying Rubber Chook returns. After a 10-year hiatus, this is your chance to join the internationally acclaimed and award-winning Mark Nadler as he brings his much-loved Hootenanny back to Adelaide Cabaret Festival.

Tap dancer, singer, pianist and all-round funny man — the charismatic New Yorker shines with talent and charm on the stage. Don’t miss the maestro as he menaces the keys, unleashes mayhem and surprises with special guests!

“Mr. Show Business... a comic spark plug touched with brilliance.”

The New York Times

Banquet Room

Fri 16 – Sat 17 June,

10.30pm

90 mins

Tickets $39

Suitability 18+

Warning coarse language, adult themes

24 AUSTRALIA ADELAIDE PREMIERE
“He’s alright, I suppose.”
Bob Downe
Photo: Mark Trevorrow Photo: Jim Lee
"A must for those whose Venn diagram between stand-up and musical theatre is a perfect circle… Expect showtunes, jazz hands and failure."
Photo: Helane Blumfield MARK NADLER
HOOTENANNY 25
USA ADELAIDE EXCLUSIVE
Photo: John McRae
“An irresistible comic presence, sparkling cabaret performer, and Ashley has a voice as huge as his wigs.”

BROADWAY BARBARA

LIVE IN AUSTRALIA!

Stage legend. Social media sensation.

Subtly understated international entertainment titan. After a string of raucous, sold-out performances across the States, Broadway Barbara’s here to enrapture a whole new hemisphere of fans in her Australian debut.

Watch in wonder as Barbara overshares her way through a whirlwind tour of her life and career, complete with ribald showbiz tales and comedic spins on classic Broadway tunes. Hilarity, high energy and anything but humility — this is Barbara, baby!

Banquet Room

Fri 9 June, 6pm

Sat 10 June, 4.30pm & 7.45pm

75 mins

Prem $54

A Res $49

B Res $44

U30s $30

Suitability 16+ Warning coarse language, adult themes

AUSTRALIA ADELAIDE EXCLUSIVE

AdElaidE ToNighT

WITH BOB DOWNE AND WILLSY

Back by popular demand — get ready to revel in the golden age of variety television once more as two small-screen veterans team up to recreate Channel 9’s Adelaide Tonight.

Nineteen-time Logie winner Anne ‘Willsy’ Wills joins Countdown and Mardi Gras icon Bob Downe for one hilarious hour of teatime entertainment with a cabaret twist.

Featuring an ever-changing line-up of fabulous artists and quick-witted comedy that will have you rolling in the aisles, Adelaide Tonight is a raucous reinvention of TV history.

Space Theatre

Thu 15 – Sun 18 June, 6pm

60 mins

Prem $54

A Res $49

Suitability 12+

Warning coarse language, haze effects

26 USA AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE & AUSTRALIAN EXCLUSIVE
Photo: Thann Clark

Director – Dean Bryant

Presented by Michael Griffiths

Violinist – Julian Ferraretto

Double Bass – Dylan Paul

MICHAEL GRIFFITHS

IT’S A SIN SONGS OF LOVE AND SHAME

AUSTRALIA

Presented by Grapes of Mirth

MERRICK WATTS

AN IDIOT’S GUIDE TO WINE

Comedy meets wine, laughter meets learning — and you get to drink!

The West Australian

Renowned Australian comedian Merrick Watts is also a qualified wine specialist, bringing together his two great loves in An Idiot’s Guide to Wine. Join Mez on a journey into the world of wine as you sample six of his favourite drops, accompanied by an anecdote or two, and settle in for a guaranteed good time.

For young Adelaide boy Michael Griffiths, coming of age in the ‘80s and coming out in the ‘90s was a real time. Long before marriage equality and social media, pop songs were a safe space to explore being queer and Pet Shop Boys provided a soundtrack to a gay new world.

In this global premiere, the Helpmann Award winner takes a very personal deep dive into these modern-day queer poets and their songs, exploring the melancholy and romance of being different. Directed by Helpmann Award winner Dean Bryant (The Normal Heart).

Space Theatre

Sat 10 June, 6pm & 9pm

70 mins

Prem $52, A Res $47

Suitability 12+

Warning adult themes

Arts Review

Banquet Room

Sun 18 June, 2pm & 8pm

70 mins

Tickets $65 Includes a 6-flight of wine

Suitability 18+ Warning coarse language, adult themes, haze effects

AUSTRALIA WORLD PREMIERE
“One of the most consummate male cabaret performers in Australia at the moment.”
Photo: Claudio Raschella
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MICHAEL GRIFFITHS 2017 Photo: Alan Moyle
“An Idiot’s Guide to Wine is a confidently assembled, snappily paced wine tour.”
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SARAH-LOUISE YOUNG

AN EVENING WITHOUT KATE BUSH

Howl with the Hounds of Love. Dance on the moors with Wuthering Heights. Kate's not there, but you are. Premiering in Australia at Adelaide Cabaret Festival after sold out UK tours, this award-winning cult cabaret pays glorious homage to the music, majesty and mythology of one of the most influential voices in British music.

Whether you’ve been a ‘Fish Person’ for decades or recently joined the shoal via Stranger Things, release your inner Bush and let your soul belt it out.

SALLY FORD & THE IDIOMATICS with special guest BRIAN NANKERVIS

Space Theatre

Thu 15 – Sat 17 June, 9pm

65 mins

Prem $49, A Res $45

U30s $30

Suitability all ages

Warning coarse language

Herald Sun

The Idiomatics provide a lush latin, ska and funk-inspired backing to Sally Ford’s wryly observed stories of life, love and lived experience.

Blurring the lines between song and the art of spoken word, the ensemble produces a unique, groove-drenched sound drawing on the performers’ respective backgrounds, including with ARIA-winning Melbourne Ska Orchestra and The Black Sorrows.

Special guest Brian Nankervis (ABC Radio and RocKwiz) will weave his trademark musings over synths, samples, sax and more in this immersive musical experience.

Space Theatre

Wed 14 June, 8pm

70 mins

Prem $45

A Res $39

Suitability all ages

UK AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE
“Spellbinding... honouring the eccentricity and talent of its subject with outlandish costumes, force of nature dancing, and a voice that attains ethereal perfection.”
The Telegraph (Critics Choice) «««««
Photo: Steve Ullathorne
30 AUSTRALIA WORLD PREMIERE UNDERSCORE
Made with Russell Lucas Photo: Ponch Hawkes
“Horn player and vocalist Sally Ford brings an intense passion to [...] songs that even when extremely joyful, are tinged with tragedy.”
The
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BR 75 mins 8pm

McGregor –Fool’s Gold 15 DP 65 mins

9pm

Michael Griffiths – It’s a Sin 28 ST 70 mins

SUNDAY 11 JUNE

1.30pm

ABC Radio Adelaide Live Broadcast

51 DP 120 mins

3pm

The Blank Page with Eddie Perfect 17 BR 70 mins

5pm

Vince Jones and Nina Ferro –Come in Spinner The Concert 16 FT 90 mins

5pm Michelle Brasier –Reform 19 ST 60 mins

7pm

Mark Trevorrow –Singing Straight 24 BR 60 mins

7.30pm

Paris Combo –A Celebration of the Songs of Belle du Berry 10 DP 90 mins

8pm Comedians Auditioning for Musicals 24 ST 75 mins

9.30pm

Dr Trevor Jones –Piano Man 48 QB 10.30pm

THURSDAY 15 JUNE

6pm Adelaide Tonight – Bob Downe and Willsy 27 ST 60 mins

6pm

Dr Trevor Jones –Show Tunes Trivia 49 QB 60

Ali McGregor’s Late-Nite VarietyNite Night 18 BR 90 mins FREE Event

9.15pm

The Blind Date Project 14 AS 60 mins 9.30pm

Dr Trevor Jones –Piano Man 48 QB 10.30pm

Ali McGregor’s Late-Nite VarietyNite Night 18 BR 90 mins

32 33 WEDNESDAY 14 JUNE
CABARET CALENDAR VENUES Artspace
Banquet
Dunstan
Festival
Quartet
Space
ST WEEK 1 WEEK 2 FRIDAY 9 JUNE 6pm Broadway
26
The
6
8pm The
14
Michelle
48
10.30pm
10 JUNE 4.30pm
7pm
Kate
Broadway
26
7pm The Blind Date Project 14 AS 60 mins 7.30pm Edge of Reality – Elvis Presley Songbook 20 DP 80 mins 8pm Sally Ford & The Idiomatics featuring Brian Nankervis – Underscore 31 ST 70 mins
AS
Room BR
Playhouse DP
Theatre FT
Bar QB
Theatre
Barbara –Live in Australia!
BR 75 mins 7pm
2023 Variety Gala
FT 120 mins
Blind Date Project
AS 60 mins 8.30pm Paris Combo –A Celebration of the Songs of Belle du Berry 10 DP 90 mins 9pm
Brasier –Reform 19 ST 60 mins 9.30pm Dr Trevor Jones –Piano Man
QB
Ali McGregor’s Late-Nite VarietyNite Night 18 BR 90 mins SATURDAY
Broadway Barbara –Live in Australia! 26 BR 75 mins 5pm Paris Combo –A Celebration of the Songs of Belle du Berry 10 DP 90 mins 5.30pm Artistic Directors in Conversation with Julia Holt 48 QB 60 mins 6pm Michael Griffiths – It’s a Sin 28 ST 70 mins
The Blind Date Project 14 AS 60 mins 7.30pm
Ceberano – My Life is A Symphony 8 FT 110 mins 7.45pm
Barbara –Live in Australia!
Ali
mins 7pm Gillian Cosgriff –The Fig Tree 37 BR 70 mins 7pm The Blind Date Project 14 AS 60 mins 7.30pm Edge of Reality – Elvis Presley Songbook 20 DP 80 mins 9pm Sarah-Louise Young – An Evening without Kate Bush 30 ST 65 mins 9.15pm Mark Nadler –The Old Razzle Dazzle 36 BR 75 mins 9.30pm Dr Trevor Jones –Piano Man 48 QB FRIDAY 16 JUNE 6pm Adelaide Tonight – Bob Downe and Willsy 27 ST 60 mins 7pm Libby O’Donovan and Michelle Nicolle – More Than a Melody 38 BR 70 mins 7pm The Blind Date Project 14 AS 60 mins 7.30pm Reuben Kaye –enGORGEd 22 DP 70 mins 9pm Sarah-Louise Young – An Evening without Kate Bush 30 ST 65 mins 9.15pm The Blind Date Project 14 AS 60 mins 9.30pm Dr Trevor Jones –Piano Man 48 QB 10.30pm Mark Nadler –Hootenanny 25 BR 90 mins SATURDAY 17 JUNE 11am Post Dining –Brag Drunch 37 ST 60 mins 1.30pm LGBTIQ+ Elders Dance Club 50 QB 90 mins 2pm Libby O’Donovan and Michelle Nicolle – More Than a Melody 38 BR 70 mins 4pm Robyn Archer –An Australian Songbook 40 DP 150 mins 6pm Adelaide Tonight – Bob Downe and Willsy 27 ST 60 mins 7pm Libby O’Donovan and Michelle Nicolle – More Than a Melody 38 BR 70 mins 7pm The Blind Date Project 14 AS 60 mins 7.30pm RocKwiz Salutes Adelaide 12 FT 90 mins 9pm Sarah-Louise Young – An Evening without Kate Bush 30 ST 65 mins 9.15pm The Blind Date Project 14 AS 60 mins 9.30 Reuben Kaye –enGORGEd 22 DP 70 mins 9.30pm Dr Trevor Jones –Piano Man 48 QB 10.30pm Mark Nadler –Hootenanny 25 BR 90 mins SUNDAY 18 JUNE 11am Post Dining –Brag Drunch 37 ST 60 mins 2pm Merrick Watts –An Idiot’s Guide to Wine 29 BR 70 mins 3.30pm Carol’s Cabaret Choir 49 QB 75 mins 5pm Robyn Archer –An Australian Songbook 40 DP 150 mins 6pm Adelaide Tonight – Bob Downe and Willsy 27 ST 60 mins 8pm Merrick Watts –An Idiot’s Guide to Wine 29 BR 70 mins 9.30pm Dr Trevor Jones –Piano Man 48 QB

7pm

FRIDAY 23 JUNE

6.30pm

24 JUNE

The powerhouse provocateur invites you to immerse yourself in an evening of light and colour; your own dreamscape where the femme divine reigns. Rizo has been described as Edith Piaf meets Freddie Mercury — a Grammy Awardwinning chanteuse with an electrifying stage presence, master of glamour, seduction and her own voice. Her joyful, sensorial, combustible mix of rock‘n’roll bravado, vintage pop diva and comedic antics has earned a cult following across the United States and the world.

The New York Times

Suitability 16+ Warning coarse language, adult themes, haze effects, strobe lighting, nudity

21 JUNE
Nancy
M’ap
44
WEDNESDAY
6pm Grit to Glitz (In Development) 52 QB 45 mins 7pm
Denis –
Boulé
ST 90 mins
Rizo
Prizmatism 35
CABARET CALENDAR 34 35 USA AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE
Thu
Sat
BR 60 mins WEEK 3
PRIZMATISM RIZO Banquet Room Wed 21 June, 7pm
22 June, 9.15pm
24 June, 5pm 60 mins Prem $69, A Res $64, B Res $49
“A formidable belter who can sustain phrases and notes even when sprawled on her back on a piano and scissoring her legs.”
Photo: Michael Doucett
JUNE
Needle in
(In Development)
THURSDAY 22
6pm
the Hay
52 QB 45 mins
THNDO – The Reintroduction 45 BR 90 mins 7.30pm An Evening with Ursula Yovich 42 DP 60 mins 8pm Nancy Denis –M’ap Boulé 44 ST 90 mins 9.15pm Rizo –Prizmatism 35 BR 60 mins 9.30pm Dr Trevor Jones –Piano Man 48 QB
6pm 11 O’Clock On the Dot (In Development) 52 QB 45 mins 6pm Paul Capsis and Francis Greep –Dry My Tears 43 DP 60 mins 7pm Mama Alto –Follies Girl 47 ST 60 mins 7.30pm Geraldine Quinn –Broad 45 BR 60 mins 8.30pm Roscoe James Irwin –Lost in A Dream 41 DP 70 mins 9pm Josh Sanders –Ziegfeld Boy 47 ST 60 mins 9.30pm Dr Trevor Jones –Piano Man 48 QB 10.30pm Showqueen with Trevor Ashley 25 BR 90 mins SATURDAY
3pm Class of Cabaret 53 ST 70 mins 5pm Rizo –Prizmatism 35 BR 60 mins 6pm Class of Cabaret 53 ST 70 mins 6pm The Desert Plea (In Development) 52 QB 45 mins 8.15pm Geraldine Quinn –Broad 45 BR 60 mins 8.30pm Haus of Kong –Klub Kong 46 DP 90 mins 9.30pm Dr Trevor Jones –Piano Man 48 QB 10.30pm Showqueen with Trevor Ashley 25 BR 90 mins

THE OLD RAZZLE DAZZLE

AN EVENING OF LIES, LYING AND LIARS

Mischievous, seductive and slick with satire, Mark Nadler masterfully cajoles his audience through an evening of lies, lying and liars. From power-hungry pollies to secretive lovers, Nadler articulates what we know to be true — that humans are fundamental fakers. Don’t miss the ‘debonair devil of the keys’ as he sings, plays and tap dances around the truth, celebrating songs of trickery, deception and dishonesty.

GILLIAN COSGRIFF

THE FIG TREE

A NEW MUSICAL WORK-IN-PROGRESS SHOWING

The multi-talented Gillian Cosgriff has graced our screens and stages since 2010, racking up a slew of awards and earning a reputation for her unique blend of quick-witted musical comedy. Now, she presents Adelaide audiences with an exclusive first glimpse of her latest work-inprogress musical, The Fig Tree. Over five days, Cosgriff will workshop select scenes exploring relationships, choice, indecision, monogamy, figs, parallel universes and love before showcasing them on the stage.

WORLD PREMIERE

POST DINING

BRAG DRUNCH

Take your seat for a decadent de-gay-station. This immersive dining and performance experience features a spread of South Australian drag artists serving up a queerstory of drag culture across the decades. Learn about the crispy etymology of the term, the spicy protest era of the 70s and 80s, and the present-day artists informing the drag of the future. Refill your mimosa and loosen your corset; we’re getting drunched!

“Artful, stylish, and delicious in every respect.”

Adelaide Now

Space Theatre

Sat 17 – Sun 18 June, 11am

60 mins

Food & Drink Ticket $49

U30s $30

The Herald Sun

Seat Only (balcony) $30

Suitability 18+

Warning coarse language, adult themes, semi-nudity, non-graphic and brief mentions of violence against queer communities

A FRANK FORD COMMISSION AUSTRALIA
Photo: Rosina Possingham
USA
AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE
Photo: Helane Blumfield
“The performance was a miniature master class in the interpretation of song lyrics.”
The New York Times
Thu
Banquet Room
15 June, 9.15pm 75 mins
B
36 AUSTRALIA WORLD PREMIERE
Prem $59, A Res $54
Res $49 Suitability 16+ Warning adult themes
Photo: Sarah Walker Photography
Banquet Room Thu 15 June, 7pm 70 mins
Adult $39, Student $25 Suitability 16+ Warning coarse language
“ ...her way with music and lyrics is pure genius. ...There’s not a single gag that doesn’t land, nor a hair out of place.”
««««« 37

MORE THAN A MELODY

What’s the true secret of a hit song?

There’s the soaring melody, the lyrics you love and a beat you can sink into — and then there’s the harmony.

From the famous doo-wops of the 60s to the boyband/girlband craze of the 90s, harmony is at the heart.

Join Cabaret Icon Award winner Libby O'Donovan, renowned jazz vocalist Michelle Nicolle, and the Yankalilla Miracles as they raise their voices and celebrate the unsung hero of our favourite songs.

Banquet Room

Fri 16 June, 7pm

Sat 17 June, 2pm & 7pm

70 mins

Prem $59

A Res $54

B Res $49

Suitability all ages

AUSTRALIA WORLD PREMIERE
Photo: Claudio Raschella
38
39
“Nicolle has killer qualities as a vocalist… a mix of uncanny precision in timing and phrasing, stretching and compressing words and notes to perfection, and an inventiveness that doesn’t let up.”
The Age
"Her richness of vocal range and emotionfilled song interpretations are captivating and instantly engaging.”
2022
Rip It Up CABARET ICON AWARD WINNER

ROBYN ARCHER

AN AUSTRALIAN SONGBOOK

CABARET ICON AWARD WINNER 2016

ROSCOE JAMES IRWIN

LOST IN A DREAM

Limelight Magazine

THE LIFE AND SONGS OF CHET BAKER

Prolific Australian trumpeter, singer, and composer/arranger Roscoe

James Irwin (The Cat Empire, The Bamboos) presents a hauntingly beautiful tribute to one of the most revered yet tortured figures in popular jazz history, Chet Baker. Once considered the James Dean of Jazz, Chet left behind the legacy of West Coast Cool.

Joined by a jazz trio and string orchestra, Irwin will present his own gorgeous reworkings of Baker’s classic material, with all the cinematic romance, heartbreak, and soul of 1950s California.

Accordion/Vocals – George Butrumlis

Guitars/Vocals – Cameron Goodall

Keyboards/Vocals – Enio Pozzebon

Dunstan Playhouse

Sat 17 June, 4pm

Sun 18 June, 5pm

150 mins

includes 20 min interval

Prem $69

A Res $59

Suitability 12+

Robyn Archer — living legend, industry pioneer and provocateur — has delighted audiences around the world with her powerhouse shows. Now, she’s back home again to perform a fearless, political and personal celebration of Australian song (just don’t expect Land Down Under).

This surprising showcase of national storytelling is unexpectedly rich — a melodic road trip through more than 150 years of alternative Australian voices spanning rock, folk, country, musical theatre and satire, punctuated with Robyn Archer originals. Don’t miss its Adelaide premiere.

The Advertiser

Dunstan Playhouse

Fri 23 June, 8.30pm

70 mins

Prem $59

A Res $54

Suitability 16+

40
Photo: Brett Boardman
AUSTRALIA ADELAIDE PREMIERE
ROBYN ARCHER 1986
“This is what live theatre is about.”
AUSTRALIA
Photo: Lord Media
“A truly special show.”
««««« 41

AN EVENING WITH URSULA YOVICH

Soul, story and song divinely intertwine in this moving love letter to language.

Taking inspiration from her Arnhem Land roots and tri-lingual childhood household, the inimitable Ursula Yovich enraptures audiences with a captivating and deeply personal exploration of culture and connection. Having earned glowing accolades across film, TV and live musicals, the awe-inspiring storyteller continues her national tour with Midnight Oil’s Adam Ventura and an incredible live band in this unmissable show.

PAUL CAPSIS AND FRANCIS GREEP

DRY MY TEARS

Time Out Sydney

Dunstan Playhouse

Thu 22 June, 7.30pm

60 mins

Prem $49

A Res $44 Suitability 12+

Warning coarse language, adult themes

Legendary Australian performer Paul Capsis leaves the characters and costumes behind in his first-ever solo acoustic program — up close and unplugged. This gritty musical journey will break your heart in 1930s Berlin and then bring back your smile with ragtime tunes.

Accompanied by Francis Greep on piano, Dry My Tears is an unexpected, intimate, moving recital borrowing from Kurt Weill to Johnny Mercer, and one that is well deserving of its rave reviews. Francis Greep appears courtesy of The Song Company.

Dunstan Playhouse

Fri 23 June, 6pm 60 mins

Prem $59 A Res $54

Suitability 16+

can hold an

a

in his thrall for over an hour with no mic, no props, just a piano accompaniment and his effervescence, that is a true talent indeed. And that is Paul Capsis."

City Hub

AUSTRALIA ADELAIDE PREMIERE
Photo: Richard Hedger
“The term ‘living legend’ gets thrown around a little too loosely these days, but if anyone denies its appropriate usage when applied to supreme being Ursula Yovich, well, they can get right outta town.”
42 43 AUSTRALIA ADELAIDE PREMIERE
Photo: Jacquie Manning
"When
performer
audience
CABARET ICON AWARD WINNER 2021

M’AP BOULÉ NANCY

Raw and riveting, comical and confronting — M’ap Boulé sets the spirit alight.

Writer and creator, Nancy Denis, explores the stories of her Ancestors revolting against their colonisers and setting their country ablaze, overlaid with re-enactments of pivotal moments along her own journey to embracing her Black, queer, Australian and Haitian identities.

Haitian Creole for ‘I’m on fire’, M’ap Boulé is a profound solo storytelling performance combining theatre, poetry and song in an interdisciplinary masterstroke.

Time Out

Space Theatre

Wed 21 June, 7pm

Thu 22 June, 8pm

90 mins

Prem $49, A Res $44

Suitability 12+

Warning adult themes, haze effects

ADELAIDE PREMIERE

THNDO THE REINTRODUCTION

Following critically acclaimed performances on The Voice Australia in 2022, Zimbabwean-born ‘First Lady of Soul and R&B’ thndo presents The Reintroduction — a showcase of immersive truthtelling from her forthcoming album, performed under the musical direction of Cristian Barbieri. Earning a reputation for her rich, buttery vocals, one-of-a-kind charisma and genre-transcendent artistry, thndo’s music seamlessly weaves stories of strength, openness and conflict with those of love, empowerment and sensuality.

BROAD

Agnes Moorehead. Rhonda Burchmore. Vivienne Westwood flashing the photographers at Buckingham Palace. Geraldine Quinn grew up idolising bold, brassy (mostly ginger) older women. Now she's becoming one.

Direct from the Melbourne International Comedy Festival where she garnered two major award nominations, sold out shows, extra shows and multiple five-star reviews, it’s Adelaide’s turn to drink in Queen Quinn. Unlock the Auntie Mame inside you and polish your brassiness — welcome to the BROAD church.

their

Time Out

GERALDINE QUINN Banquet Room

Fri 23 June, 7.30pm

Sat 24 June, 8.15pm

60 mins

Prem $45, A Res $39, B Res $35

Suitability 16+

Warning coarse language, adult themes

Banquet Room

Thu 22 June, 6.30pm

90 mins

Prem $59

A Res $54

B Res $49

Suitability 16+

Keith Urban, The Voice Australia 45

Warning coarse language, adult themes

AUSTRALIA ADELAIDE PREMIERE
Photo: Leila Maulen
“Hands down, we just saw one of the best performances I've ever seen on this stage.”
AUSTRALIA
“The sort of electric thunderclap that inspires audience members to hoot out loud and bump the air with
seats in empowered solidarity, it lays down the gauntlet for the moment to beat.”
«««««
Photo: Evan Munro-Smith
AUSTRALIA
ADELAIDE PREMIERE
44
Photo: Ibrahim Intwari
DENIS
“Denis is commanding, informative, purposeful and captivating... she has the audience in hysterics just as often as she has them pausing to think.”

AUSTRALIA ADELAIDE PREMIERE

HAUS OF KONG

KLUB KONG

Fresh from RuPaul’s Drag Race

Down Under, the legendary Kween Kong is back on the main stage. The alter ego of award-winning dancer, choreographer and emerging leader Thomas Founa, Kween is a true trailblazer worthy of her crown — choosing to channel her talking chief heritage through art, and founding ‘Haus of Kong’ to create windows of opportunities for the SA LGBTQIA+ communities. Now’s your chance to meet the drama Kween at Klub Kong; an epic, variety extravaganza celebrating the best drag, burlesque, circus and cabaret.

Dunstan Playhouse

Sat 24 June, 8.30pm

90 mins

Prem $69

A Res $64

U30s $30

Suitability 16+

Warning coarse language, adult themes, haze effects, nudity

AUSTRALIA ADELAIDE PREMIERE

AUSTRALIA ADELAIDE PREMIERE

JOSH SANDERS MAMA ALTO

ZIEGFELD BOY FOLLIES GIRL

Celebrated jazz singer, acclaimed cabaret artiste and gender transcendent diva Mama Alto glitters as Follies Girl in this stage spectacular inspired by the ‘Folies Bergère’, the Ziegfield Follies, and the golden age of MGM movie musicals.

This stunning hour of vaudeville delights and transports audiences to a classic era of mid-century glamour reinterpreted with contemporary queer flair.

Never before has so much talent been packed into so little clothing. In the indulgent tradition of the Ziegfeld Follies, this boylesque flips the traditional gender roles through songs, skits and plenty of skin.

Experience the infamous diva songs of the 20th century reimagined for the gay male gaze, including Le Jazz Hot, Let Me Entertain You and The Man that Got Away. This is vaudeville the way it should have been — a decadent world of glitz, glamour and glutes.

Adelaide

The Advertiser

Space Theatre

Fri 23 June, 7pm

60 mins

Prem $44

A Res $39

Suitability 16+

Warning haze effects, adult themes

Space Theatre

Fri 23 June, 9pm

60 mins

Prem $44

A Res $39

Suitability 18+

Warning nudity, haze effects, adult themes

46
Photo: Jake O’Donnell Photo: Alexis Desaulniers-Lea Photo: Joel Devereux
"Gloriously high camp."
Glam
«««««
"One could have heard a pin drop, until the cheering and applause at the end."
47 Presented by Smoke and Mirror Productions
"The era of Kween Kong has begun and she has gracefully stepped into her queendom.”
The Star Observer
BUY TO BOTH AND SAVE!

AUSTRALIA AUSTRALIAN EXCLUSIVE

ARTISTIC DIRECTORS IN CONVERSATION with JULIA HOLT

celebrates the Golden Anniversary of the Adelaide Festival Centre — 50 years of celebrating live performance. This ‘Late Show in the afternoon’ sees Founding Festival Director Julia Holt (2001–08) interview The Cabaret Collective members David and Lisa Campbell (2009–11), Ali McGregor (2016–18), Eddie Perfect (2016–17) and Julia Zemiro (2019–20) about their visions, accomplishments and favourite moments from their respective reigns.

Quartet Bar

Sat 10 June, 5.30pm 60 mins

Suitability all ages FREE

Bookings essential Limited capacity Register at cabaret.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au

DR TREVOR JONES PIANO MAN

Grab a cocktail and gather ‘round to belt out a tune or 10 with our resident piano man, Dr Trevor Jones. Expect classic ballads, chart-topping bangers and some good old rock’n’roll. No two shows are the same, with guest requests strongly encouraged and a revolving door of surprise appearances.

So swing by for a quick drink after your show or make a night of it; it’s up to you — this feelgood fun’s happening every night of the festival.

“A crowd favourite at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival.”

Glam Adelaide Quartet Bar

See calendar for dates 9.30pm – late FREE

AUSTRALIA ADELAIDE PREMIERE

DR TREVOR JONES SHOW TUNES TRIVIA

A whizz with Wicked? A connoisseur of Carousel? Hooked on Hamilton? For one night only, put your knowledge to the test alongside your fellow diehard fans. Broadway buffs of all generations will enjoy questions from the golden days through to the modern pop-rock hits, sprinkled with exclusive live performance elements.

Led by your high-energy host, Dr Trevor Jones, Show Tunes Trivia is the perfect way to hype up the whole gang for a rowdy Thursday evening of cabaret entertainment.

Quartet Bar

Thu 15 June, 6pm

60 mins

Suitability all ages FREE

Bookings Essential Groups of up to 6 people Limited capacity Register at cabaret.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au

CAROL YOUNG CAROL’S CABARET CHOIR

What good is singing alone in your room? Come join the choir today! Calling all Sallies, Roxies, Peters and Allens — raise the roof with this rowdy chorus in an afternoon crooning to cabaret classics, Broadway belters and tearjerking torch songs led by Adelaide’s favourite community choir conductor and renowned musical director, Carol Young. All are willkommen; no experience necessary. Right this way, the fun is waiting!

Quartet Bar

Sun 18 June, 3.30pm 75 mins

Suitability all ages FREE

Bookings essential Limited capacity Register at cabaret.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au

Photo: Claudio Raschella Photo: Nick Morrissey
48
Photo: Claudio Raschella
49
FREE EVENTS FREE EVENTS AUSTRALIA WORLD PREMIERE ADELAIDE EXCLUSIVE
The 2023 Adelaide Cabaret Festival

FREE EVENTS FREE EVENTS

AUSTRALIA

ALL THE QUEENS MEN

LGBTIQ+ ELDERS DANCE CLUB

ABC Radio Adelaide presents OFF THE CUFF CABARET with Sonya Feldhoff and Jules Schiller

Choose from a variety of food and drink options before, between, and after every performance.

The 2023 festival will feature favourite food trucks, winter warmers, cheese platters, and the return of festival darling, the Corryton Burge Bar.

For more details and to plan your visit ahead of the festival, please visit the website: cabaret.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au /wine-dine

Come one, come all — you’re invited to the most flat-out fabulous social event of the Queer year.

Created by All The Queens Men, this long-time festival favourite unites rainbow and allied communities through the joy of dance. Inclusive and intergenerational, and all a good bit of fun — LGBTIQ+ Elders Dance Club is your chance to learn a few new steps and make some surprising connections out on the floor, No dance experience required, only enthusiasm!

Becky, ATQM Superfan FREE EVENT

Quartet Bar Sat 17 June, 1.30pm

90 mins

Suitability all ages

Bookings essential Limited capacity Register at cabaret.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au

On the first weekend of the 2023 Adelaide Cabaret Festival, Sonya and Jules will be live on stage, bringing together a variety of cabaret artists to go ‘off the cuff’. There will be music, interviews, and tongue-incheek banter, sure to make you smile.

Free tea and coffee. Refreshments available for purchase.

Dunstan Playhouse

Sun 11 June, 1.30pm

120 mins

Suitability 12+

FREE

Bookings essential Limited capacity Register at cabaret.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au

PREMIUM ENTERTAINMENT

Share an unforgettable experience with our corporate boxes, show packages, private functions, and more. Contact the hospitality team to arrange your bespoke event for this year’s festival. Email hospitality@ adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au or call 08 8216 8600

Photo: Claudio Raschella
“Well done for being amazing Leaders. It is my opinion that every so often there are true and authentic change makers born into the world and ATQM are definitely the real deal.”
Photo: Claudio Raschella
50 Free tea and coffee provided by Office for Ageing Well and Seniors Card 51
Photo: Ben Macmahon

SHOWCASING THE NEW

CABARET WORKS IN DEVELOPMENT

AUSTRALIA WORLD PREMIERE AUSTRALIA WORLD PREMIERE

SUNITRA MARTINELLI GRIT TO GLITZ

The Extraordinary Adventures and Loves of Emily ‘Mickey’ Hahn

From the jazz bars of Harlem to the jungles of Africa and the opium dens of Shanghai — Chanteuse Sunitra Martinelli of Mélange à Trois recounts Mickey’s trailblazing life.

Quartet Bar

Wed 21 June, 6pm 45 mins

Suitability 16+

$10 Donation upon entry*

LYNDON GRAY EMILY TULLOCH LAUREN

HENDERSON

NEEDLE IN THE HAY

Two decades after his tragic death, the beauty and brilliance of Elliot Smith lives on through this world-class ensemble’s celebration of Smith’s repertoire.

Quartet Bar

Thu 22 June, 6pm 45 mins

Suitability all ages $10 Donation upon entry*

CLASS OF CABARET

AUSTRALIA

ADELAIDE EXCLUSIVE

Vivid storytelling and unexpected perspectives, shared through the magic of musical performance — this is how the next generation makes cabaret its own.

Class of Cabaret sees gifted senior students from 13 South Australian schools turn their study to the stage, challenged to create, rehearse and perform their own show within a single semester. Class of Cabaret shines a spotlight on tomorrow’s most exciting young stars.

Mentors: Joanne Hartstone & Mark Oates

Director: Brock Roberts

Vocal Coach: Rosie Hosking

Accompanist: Ciara Ferguson

PHILIPPA LYNAS

11 O’CLOCK ON THE DOT UNDER THE MICROSCOPE THE DESERT PLEA

If one thing’s a given on Broadway, it’s a showstopper before the curtain closes. Philippa Lynas and friends perform hit 11 o’clock numbers from the 1940s to today.

52

Quartet Bar

Fri 23 June, 6pm 45 mins

Suitability 12+

$10 Donation upon entry*

Original rock music meets contemporary poetry — this semi-biographical story about mental illness and climate change explores the hurt and healing of one South Australian town.

Quartet Bar

Sat 24 June, 6pm 45 mins Suitability 12+ $10 Donation upon entry*

Space Theatre

Sat 24 June, 3pm & 6pm 70 mins

Prem $49, A Res $44

Suitability all ages

Warning coarse language

53
Photos: Ashan Qureshi
Class of Cabaret Scholarship is supported by Adelaide Festival Centre Foundation
The Nathaniel O’Brien
AUSTRALIA WORLD PREMIERE AUSTRALIA WORLD PREMIERE
* All proceeds go to Adelaide Festival Centre Foundation. General Admission only. Donations are not tax deductible.
Your donation to Adelaide Cabaret Festival will support the next generation of performers and audiences to experience the magic of cabaret. GIVE A GIFT TODAY All donations over $2 are tax deductible
GO ALL OUT AND SHARE YOUR LOVE OF CABARET!
Photo: Claudio Raschella – Adelaide Cabaret Festival
A CROWD PLEASER!Always Always Adelaide 6-9am Weekdays

ARRIVE RED CARPET READY

THE ALL NEW LEXUS RX

Completely reimagined, the all-new Lexus RX with rebellious spindle grill defies convention. Experience the scintillating driving dynamics of this luxury SUV, especially that of the first ever RX 500h F SPORT Performance Hybrid. It moves like nothing else.

Book your test drive today.

Pre-production model shown. Final specifications may differ from those depicted. All images indicative only.

Getting Here

Pedestrian and vehicle access is open around Adelaide Festival Centre.

Drop off locations are located on King William Road (Festival Theatre and Quartet Bar) and Festival Drive from Montefiore Road (Dunstan Playhouse, Space Theatre, and Artspace).

Parking

Parking is available around the riverbank precinct.

For visits to the Festival Theatre, the closest car park is Festival Car Park (please be prepared for post-show congestion).

For Dunstan Playhouse and Space Theatre, the nearest car park is Adelaide Convention Centre’s Riverbank car park. Both car parks are located on Festival Drive. For parking, access routes and a map, visit: adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/your-visit

Access Services

Accessible facilities include a wheelchair loan service, assistive hearing systems, accessible toilets and seat allocations, lifts, and stairfree drop off/pick up locations.

For more information visit: adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/access

When booking tickets, please inform the operator if you have specific access requirements.

How To Book

Online: adelaidecabaretfestival.com.au or ticketek.com.au

In person: Selected Ticketek outlets

By phone: Ticketek at Adelaide Festival Centre on 131 246

Conditions of Ticket Purchase

Lost or Stolen Tickets

For lost or stolen ticket enquiries please contact Ticketek on 131 246.

Concessions

Pensioners, seniors, patrons experiencing unemployment, and full-time students may be entitled to concession prices.

Proof of entitlement may be requested at time of purchase or at the venue. Please make sure you carry your concession cards.

Under 30s Tickets

Under 30s tickets must be collected from the box office with photo ID. Note that capcity for Under 30s tickets is strictly limited.

Transaction Fees

A one-off, non-refundable service and handling fee of $9.25 applies per transaction; this is regardless of the number or value of items purchased. For further information regarding fees, visit our website: adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/tickets-info/ general-ticket-information

Adelaide Festival Centre respects your privacy and meets government policy requirements. Ticket Pricing on pages is indicative only. Concessions may apply. Eligibility for concessions will vary across events. Artist lineup subject to change without notice.

Every effort has been made to ensure that performance dates, times, prices and other information contained herein are correct at time of publication. Refer to adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au for full, updated information and terms and conditions.

& & & & & & & & SKYCITYADELAIDE.COM.AU WHERE ELSE? Gamble Responsibly 1800 858 858. Office for Ageing Well and Seniors Card are proud to be a Program Par tner in this year’s Adelaide Cabaret Festival. www.seniorscard.sa.gov.au 1800 819 961 Time
Card Like Seniors Card SA on Facebook #timetoenjoymore Photo: Peter Barnes 63 For other enquires, contact: 08 8216 8600 or contact@adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au
to play with your Seniors
RP
Sincere thanks to all staff at Adelaide Festival Centre whose work makes this festival possible. The Cabaret Collective Julia Holt Ali McGregor David Campbell OAM Julia Zemiro & Lisa Campbell Alan Cumming Kate Ceberano Tina Arena AM Eddie Perfect Adelaide Cabaret Festival Founder Frank Ford AM Adelaide Festival Centre Foundation Board Miranda Starke (Chair) Cain Cooke Georgina Duckworth Sheryn Foord Rupert Hallam Kathryn House AM Penny Johnson Marlon Motlop Jasmin Shahin Legh Davis (Patron) Joan Hardy OAM (Patron) Adelaide Cabaret Festival Advocates Jane Doyle OAM Sam Harvey Amanda Blair Paul Kitching Grant & Helen Burge Adelaide Festival Centre Management Douglas Gautier AM CEO & Artistic Director Carlo D’Ortenzio Chief Operating & Financial Officer Christie Anthoney Head of Public Affairs Renato Capoccia Head of Marketing Nathan Luscombe Head of Production & Technical Heather Poole Head of Customer Experience Alex Sinclair Head of Programming – Commercial Susannah Sweeney Head of Programming – Public Purpose Abbie Taylor Director, Philanthropy Natalie Adam Manager, Ticketing Francesca Belperio Manager, Publicity & Content Creation Bernadette Brennan Manager, WHS & Risk David Cations Manager, ICT Mark Cullen Manager, Facilities Services Janine Eckert Manager, Corporate Partnerships Claire George Manager, Human Resources Julia George Manager, Digital & Social Kate Hagan Manager, Patron Services Jeff Owens Manager, Hospitality Olivia Power Manager, Philanthropy Abhishek Shaw Manager, Finance Production Kerry Ireland Production Coordinator Françoise Piron Production Coordinator Robert O’Mahony Head of Staging Jane Rosetto Head of Sound Phil Haddy Head of Lighting Adelaide Festival Centre Trustees The Hon Hieu Van Le AC (Chair) Jacqui McGill AO (Deputy Chair) Katherine Tamiko Arguile Mitchell Butel Bruce Carter Steven Woolhouse Maggie Zhou Marketing & Customer Experience Meral Nieman Marketing Executive Cassandra Ackerman Marketing Coordinator Stephanie Rossetto Publicity Coordinator Emma Piscioneri Digital Marketing Coordinator Adrian Cowell Senior Graphic Designer Peter Maddock Senior Ticketing Executive Heather McGinn Ticketing Coordinator Natalie Patron Services Schwarz-Hancock Coordinator Yany Orm Food & Beverage Executive Hannah Knott Senior Event Sales Executive Liam Goodwin Event Sales Coordinator Cathy Barrett Retail & Tours Executive Programming Terri Dichiera Senior Producer Joel Allan Assistant Producer Jenny Ainsworth Assistant Producer Livia Abreu Programming Coordinator Ali Jones Festival Design Kathryn Sproul Special Events Design Des O’Neill Sound Design Renee Gibson Education Officer Executive Producer Alex Sinclair 64 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Cover Model Sam Matthewman Adelaide Festival Centre is located on Kaurna Yarta. We respect First Nations people around Australia and acknowledge the Kaurna people as the traditional custodians of the Adelaide Plains. We honour their spiritual relationship with their country and we do so in the spirit of reconciliation. Adelaide Festival Centre celebrates Adelaide’s designation as a UNESCO City of Music THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS Produced & Presented by Government Partner Arts South Australia Department for Education Vehicle Partner Media Partners Accommodation Partner Wine Partner Ticketing Partner Creative Partner Festival Partners King William Road Adelaide 5000 Phone +61 8 8216 8600 contact@adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au Follow us Adelaide Cabaret Festival @AdelaideCabaret #AdCabFest Foundation Partners

ADELAIDE FESTIVAL CENTRE IS THE HEART OF THE ARTS IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Established in 1973 and located on Kaurna Yarta, Adelaide Festival Centre is Australia’s first capital city arts venue and hosts more than one million people annually.

As well as presenting theatre, dance, music, and exhibitions, Adelaide Festival Centre creates diverse festivals to inspire, challenge, educate, and entertain.

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