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Winner Of New Zealand Fringe Tour Ready Award, Em Barrett Presents Melbourne Fringe Debut: Ode To A Grape

07/08/2026 Breaking News

Prepare to be simultaneously charmed and berated by self proclaimed artist, incompetent anarchist, and lover of grapes. Award-winning clown and character comedian, Em Barrett will debut her cult comedy creation, Johann in Ode To A Grape at Melbourne Fringe 2026. An absurd exploration of artistic ambition, creative failure and the increasingly desperate search for meaning in late-stage capitalism.

With a diary full of inspiration (and sheep poo), Johann has arrived in Naarm to launch (or attempt to launch) his first poetry book. Unfortunately, the presentation is sidetracked by his hatred of society, his love for Elton John, and his ongoing frustration with capitalism. Will we ever hear the full book? Do we want to?

Developed over several years across theatre, stand-up comedy and immersive performance, Johann first appeared in Barrett’s award-winning solo work at New Zealand Fringe. Since then he has evolved into a fully realised comic antihero delivering unsolicited life advice, terrible poetry and increasingly grandiose declarations of artistic importance.

“Johann has been with me for over five years now! It’s been so fun to watch him evolve as his own character; from comedy, to theatre to real life poetry nights.” says Barrett, “He’s like a weird little brother that doesn’t always make the best choices in life, but you love him anyway because you know he’s trying his best.”

The strictly limited season at The Motley Bauhaus will feature open-captioned performances, increasing accessibility for d/Deaf and hard of hearing audiences. Directed by award winning comedian, storyteller, actor, and writer, Sameena Zehra, this is for the poetry lovers, poetry haters, or for those who simply enjoy watching a man ruminate and spiral in public, Ode To A Grape delivers a gloriously chaotic performance of clowning, character comedy and artistic catastrophe.

Join Johann for an unforgettable literary event that will change the course of history (or so he thinks).

Em Barrett: Ode To A Grape
VENUE: The Motley Bauhaus
DATES: 28 September – 3 October 2026
TIME: 6pm
WINNER of Tour Ready Award (New Zealand Fringe Festival)
Nominated for Most Talented Emerging Artist and Best Solo Performance (New Zealand Fringe Festival)
“Perfectly crafted” Theatrereview (NZ)

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Due To Phenomenal Demand Bernie Dieter’s Club Kabarett Is Extending Their Season!!!

05/05/2026 Breaking News

Due to overwhelming demand, the acclaimed international hit Club Kabarett has extended its current Melbourne season for an extra two weeks, producers Velvick confirmed today. The encore run, now playing through to Sunday, June 7th, at Melbourne’s iconic Meat Market, has proven to be a box office hit and has been met with widespread applause from critics and audiences alike. The production, a celebrated fixture on the international festival circuit with acclaimed seasons from London’s West End to Edinburgh, previously enjoyed a significant success in Melbourne in 2025, securing a Green Room Award for Outstanding Cabaret Ensemble and earning three nominations.

Creative director and producer Tom Velvick’s production design has been widely lauded for its incredible transformation of the Meat Market’s historic Cobblestone Pavilion. Velvick, who has also produced and designed Crown’s Pipers Playhouse this year – has breathed new life into the venue with an immersive design that gives the transformed Berlin club both grandeur and grit. Audiences are immediately immersed in a visceral experience, saturated in red light with stark black and crimson walls adorned with spray-painted German and English phrases.

WHEN: Extension to June 7th 2026
Meat Market, Blackwood Street, North Melbourne

Club Kabarett stars the deliciously salacious and wildly talented, Bernie Dieter, alongside her band of legendary misfits and mischief makers including show favourites, Soliana Erse, a world class contortionist whose moves defy the limits of the human body; the human heatwave known as Jacqueline Furey, a purveyor of the beautiful and bizarre, whether she is swallowing swords or breathing fire; the avante garde drag cabaret artiste, Iva Rosebud, whose work spans Cabaret, Musical Theatre, Drag, Burlesque and Performance Art; and the world renowned circus performer, Jarred Dewey, whose grace and skill as an aerialist have seen him perform on some of the most prestigious stages in the world. Joining this immensely talented group of Club Kabarett favourites in Melbourne this year will be international tap dancer Caleb Cameron, who has been dazzling the stages of the Crazy Horse in Paris with his astonishing dance moves; and the hair suspension viral TikTok sensation, Mel Lee, fresh from the stages of London’s West End.

Photography Jacinta Oaten

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No-rules, Adults-only Circus-cabaret Returns To Brisbane For A Headline Season

16/03/2026 Breaking News

Direct from sold-out seasons in Melbourne and Sydney, Strut and Fret, the masterminds behind Blanc de Blanc Encore are bringing Late Night Vice back to The West End Electric, featuring new cast! Audiences who attended the show’s sold-out Brisbane Festival debut were warned Late Night Vice has a much sharper bite than previous Strut & Fret productions and embraced the hilariously risqué show with open arms and minds.

The show’s success means it will this time return as a stand-alone headline show outside of festival season, with a line-up of world class cabaret, burlesque and circus talent from the USA and Australia.

Straight from a Vegas residency as the opening act for Kylie Minogue and Christina Aguilera, Jake DuPree (RuPaul’s Drag Race) stars alongside Spencer Novich (Cirque du Soleil’s KA, FX’s American Horror Story); leading vocalist Em Mylott (Les Misérables, We Will Rock You); Melanie Hawkins (Saturday Night Fever, Baz Luhrmann’s Strictly Ballroom musical); Brett Rosengreen (The Voice, X Factor, Britain’s Got Talent) and Brisbane’s seductive cirque performer Katrina Louise, who has toured across five continents.

VICE Images by Carl Finocchiaro_CD_3462.jpg

VICE Images by Carl Finocchiaro_2178.JPG

“Brisbane is my home town and I’m so excited for this to come back to West End. I’ve performed in 18+ entertainment around the world, and I think we’ve needed a show like this for a long time. It’s wild, it’s fun and it’s absolutely filthy,” says flame wielding hair-aerialist cast member Katrina Louise.

Described by the creators as a ‘cocktail-drenched fever dream where cabaret collides with chaos’, Late Night Vice opens on 19 March.

The scandalous content of this sell-out show has remained under wraps with no cameras, no phones and no reviews allowed. The X-Rated experience is strictly Adults Only 18+ with a valid ID.

Dress to impress in black tie or all black and enter a world of mystery, mischief, and midnight glamour. Late Night Vice is set to become Brisbane’s bold after-hours escape once again, showing off the river city’s glimmering wild side.

Expect shadowy glamour, whispered secrets and a rogue’s gallery of theatrical renegades in an electric feast captured by your eyes only!

CONTENT WARNING: The show contains nudity, profanity, strobe effects, pyrotechnics. Explosions of feathers, confetti—and quite possibly your mind.

WHERE: The West End Electric, 125 Boundary St, West End (Brisbane)
WHEN: 19 March – 19 April; Thursday to Saturday 9:45pm | Sunday: 8:00pm
TICKETS: $69.00 (ticket types General, Premium, Moët & Chandon Tables); https://latenightviceshow.com/brisbane/

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Picnics, Pop And Pride: Fair Day Returns For 2026

15/01/2026 Breaking News

Feature-Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Fair Day

Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Fair Day returns to Victoria Park on Sunday 15 February 2026, bringing together music, performance, community and pure daytime euphoria as the Festival’s largest free, all-ages event under the 2026 theme ECSTATICA.

Music Line-up
Leading the celebrations is international house music icon Janice Robinson of Livin’ Joy (Miami, USA), making her Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras debut with an exclusive Fair Day performance. A defining voice of 90s house, Robinson will deliver sun-soaked dancefloor energy with iconic anthems including Dreamer, Don’t Stop Moving and There Must Be Love featuring David Morales, tracks woven deep into queer dance culture and collective joy.

“I am super excited to be coming to Australia to perform for Mardi Gras,” said Robinson. “I am a dreamer who continues to live her dreams, and Australia is a country I love deeply. This moment means more to me than words can express.”

Joining Robinson is Blusher (VIC), one of Australia’s most exciting pop acts to watch, arriving fresh from supporting Rebecca Black and performing at Laneway Festival the week prior. They are joined by genre-blurring pop artist Go-Jo, bringing bold, feel-good energy, and drag icon Courtney Act delivering unmistakable star power and Mardi Gras flair.

Kathy Pavlich and Mits Delisle - Co Chairs of SGLMG.jpg

Mits Delisle and Kathy Pavlich - Co Chairs of SGLMG.jpg

Also appearing across the day are dance music icon Zoe Badwi (VIC) serving up classic house vocals, DJ James Alexandr taking the stage with Nada Leigh for a club-ready set, Kath Ebbs bringing queer country tunes for a boot-stomping round of line dancing, and IVANA (VIC) in her Mardi Gras debut live show, will electrify the Main Stage with her euro-dance hits including ‘Liar Liar’, ‘Need Your Love’ and ‘Burning’.

Beyond the Main Stage, international acts Mila Jam (Los Angeles, USA) and Arisce (New York City, USA) join local stars Felicia Foxx, Aunty Tamara, Atomic Kiss, Jackel Doll, Tiddalicious, DJ Nate and more across Fair Day stages and activations, rounding up a full day of pop, dance, drag and party from first light through to golden hour.

Across the Park
Fair Day transforms Victoria Park into a vibrant playground of culture, creativity and connection. The day begins at the First Nations Circle with a Smoking Ceremony and performances by the Buuja Buuja Butterfly Dancers, honouring Country and grounding the celebrations.

Beloved Fair Day favourites return, including Doggywood, the country’s most adored canine pageant, Trans Camp, back for its second year as a proudly trans-run community zone, Karaoke Cave: Disco and Divas hosted by Vybe, serving unapologetic sing-along chaos and the Drag King Games with their signature mix of muscle, mischief and mayhem.

Also strutting back on stage is the Queer Fashion Runway, showcasing works from 10 local designers in a fast, fabulous 50-minute show. EOIs are open until Friday, 30 January 2026 via fairday@mardigrasarts.org.au

More than 200 community stalls, food trucks, pop-up bars and picnic spots fill the park, creating a relaxed, joy-fuelled day of wandering, grazing and gathering with friends, family and chosen family.

Festival-goers are encouraged to download the Mardi Gras App for maps, set times and on-the-day updates.

Event Details
Sunday 15 February
Victoria Park, Parramatta Rd, Broadway
Free, all-ages event
Mardi Gras App is Free to download via App Store and Google Play
More info: mardigras.org.au/event/fair-day

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