GASHA is Cirquework’s newest contemporary circus work — a vivid, sensual, and chaotic vision of near-future Japan where bodies, cultures, and aesthetics collide.
The production imagines a world reminiscent of a futuristic pleasure district: a labyrinth of neon haze, fragmented memories, and digital noise. Performers of diverse backgrounds enter this strange landscape, their bodies marked by different histories and physical vocabularies. As they gather, clash, and intertwine, the stage becomes a living organism — shifting between seduction and volatility.
Japanese aesthetics appear only as flickering traces: the shadow of a traditional silhouette, the rhythm of a ritual gesture, the sharp geometry of ink-black light. These fragments merge with digital projections and pulsing electronic sound to create a world where tradition is not preserved, but fractured and reassembled.
Aerials slice through beams of cold light. Acrobatics unfold with both tenderness and danger. Bodies spiral through fog and color, moving like circuitry brought to life.
The cast brings an array of kinetic languages: aerial technique, acrobatics, contemporary dance, and object manipulation — refracted through a distinctly Japanese filter that makes the movement feel both ancient and futuristic.
Lighting sculpts shadows into sharp silhouettes. Video projections shimmer like unstable memories. Digital sound pulses with a seductive urgency.
GASHA is not a narrative. It is a state — a fever dream of identity, intimacy, and transformation. A place where beauty emerges from friction, and chaos becomes its own form of poetry.
This is the beginning of a new style of Japanese circus: bold, borderless, and irresistibly alive. Perth’s Fringeworld:- https://fringeworld.com.au/
Blanc de Blanc Encore (World Champagne Day) Rating
★★★★★
Click if you liked this article
4
Blanc De Blanc Encore is a cheeky cabaret-cirque fusion that contains more fizz than the champagne it’s themed around. Masterfully weaving elements of comedy, cirque, dance, cabaret and singing; it’s a titillating time. Furthermore, the West End Electrique feels like the perfect venue allowing for action in, on, amongst and over the audience proving to never allow a dull moment. The interactivity between the performers and audience provides an experience that will be ever changing with each show, making it feel fresh and unpredictable. An all-star cast also elevates this performance to be a next-level experience.
Dylan Ingwersen and Eric Allen enthrall the audience, be it through their comedy or the anxiety of knowing no-one is safe from their crowd work. Ingwersen does a great job embodying his outrageous French character, and has an almost sweet chemistry with Allen. Allen is no-joke, flexing his muscles in skillful work on a static pole as well as for some fun bits that play with physicality and sound recordings. The entire cast show great skill in group dance numbers, most with a fun champagne flair or mischievous twist. Abi Wells uses her talent to mesmerise us with great fluidity and control throughout her dance numbers, showcasing her temptress abilities. Brett Rosengreen is equally as established, showcasing a diverse dance skillset from thigh-high heels to isolations to feather fans. Rosengreen had great on-stage presence, constantly flirting with the audience.
Ruby McQueen makes a great addition to the dance team, but really proves herself in her aerial number. McQueen shows confidence and makes her technical movements through the air look effortless, all while remaining connected to the audience. Similarly, Maria Moncheva does expert work on the aerial chains, captivating attention skyward. Moncheva interestingly doesn’t emphasise the ‘danger’ or metallic clanking of the chains during her performance, which assists it to feel gentler and more high-class. Finally, Lily Bourne offers some vocal talent to the mix, with sassy powerful vocals that feel stylistically perfect for the show. She teases and at times bullies the audience all through song, showcasing her vocal range and character capabilities.
All the great talent on display really shines through thanks to adventurous and creative staging. Performers are often situated right amongst the audience, or doing numbers that include interaction such as a giant parachute being sent out over everyone. These interactive additions elevate this from a show to an experience that really includes everyone present. The choreography felt well suited, combining elements and style from more classical jazz with a contemporary flare. The lighting design created a heightened atmosphere, with fantastic use of backlighting to provide silhouettes at times, or spots to highlight performers situated throughout the venue. The content of the show was unique and didn’t feel contrived or dated; bringing an exciting modern feel to the classic tropes of cabaret. With the exception of two numbers, the pacing felt perfect throughout the show with well placed transitions driving us forward. Blanc De Blanc Encore is an exceptional, classy and playful experience that ensures every member of the audience will leave with a smile. Be sure to catch this one before February, when the fizz runs out and they leave the West End Electrique.
Smash-hit ‘champagne cabaret’ Blanc de Blanc Encore celebrates World Champagne Day on 24 October and announces a season extension until February 2026, making it one of the river city’s longest running shows.
Since opening in November last year, Blanc de Blanc Encore has wowed audiences so much that the show is still running, with new dates now on sale until February 2026 at bespoke and award-winning theatre and bar The West End Electric.
“Blanc de Blanc Encore has run longer than many major musicals do, and we couldn’t be more thrilled with the overwhelming response. It shows just how much Brisbane loves a cheeky ‘champagne cabaret’! So we’ll be sticking around for the ‘party-season’ with shows all through summer,” says Producer Jess Copas, who has had a busy year, with the company presenting shows in London as well as all over Australia.
The cast and venue are celebrating their success with a World Champagne Day event for the ages, on Friday 24 October. The one-of-a-kind night will feature free-flowing Moët & Chandon, champagne oysters, exclusive surprise show moments, ‘champagne glam’ best dressed prizes and more.
“You haven’t lived until you’ve eaten champagne oysters – where the vinaigrette is replaced with unadulterated French champagne, thanks to our official sponsor Moët & Chandon,” says Venue Manager Rachael Hale.
Festivities will begin at 5:30pm, with the Blanc cast sabreing a bottle of French to begin the night of decadence. Flowing Moët & Chandon is included in the standard ticket price to see Blanc de Blanc Encore on World Champagne Day only. Which might just make it one of the hottest tickets in town!
After the show, the two most gloriously dressed attendees will be crowned ‘Champagne Monarchs’, in a nod to the drink’s history as the official libation of kings and queens.
Blanc de Blanc Encore transports guests from a sophisticated French lounge to a pumping nightclub party with the world’s finest acrobatic talent, great tunes, big laughs, lots of skin and more than a few surprises.
The international cast includes world-class circus, theatre and dance performers who have worked alongside the likes of Kylie Minogue, Robbie Williams and Rihanna, ripped up the floor on Dancing with the Stars and graced major stages on many continents.
Global powerhouse production house Strut & Fret are thrilled to extend the Blanc de Blanc Encore season again at Brisbane’s bespoke new theatre and bar The West End Electric.
The minds behind The Garden of Unearthly Delights, The Spiegeltent, The Grand Electric and now The West End Electric, Strut & Fret have toured their signature circus-cabaret shows to 25 countries from Brussels to Bogota and Perth to Prague.
Tickets are selling fast for World Champagne Day and all other dates via The West End Electric. Bookings are also being taken for Christmas parties and group events. Audiences are encouraged to be quick to secure their favourite seats for the festive season.
VENUE: The West End Electric, 125 Boundary St, West End, QLD 4101 DATES: Season extension until February 2026; World Champagne Day on Friday 24 October SHOWTIMES: Wednesdays & Thursdays 7:30pm, Fridays 7:30pm, Saturdays 4:30pm & 7:30pm; Sundays 5:30pm (times may differ, see the website for all show times) PRICES: Tickets from $64 + booking fees with special discounts and balcony bar hire options for parties.
“The Blanc experience serves up the top shelf of cabaret-burlesque-circus entertainment with a devilish smile and a knowing wink. This show is bubbling over with hilarious hosts, talented performers dressed up (and down) in dazzling couture-fashion-level costuming, interactive stunts and so-rude-it’s-right jokes.” — Time Out Sydney
“Whether it was risqué cancan in stilettos, striptease, slapstick, vamping, the pole or aerial rings…. [the performers] did not miss a beat” — Theatre Thoughts
Praise for The West End Electric
“Officially Brisbane’s coolest theatre venue” — The Westender
“The West End Electric evokes a sense of bohemian opulence” — Brisbane Times
“Think vaudeville, New York cabaret, Moulin Rouge vibes mixed with cocktails upon cocktails. What’s not to love?” — Urban List Brisbane
Produced by seventh-generation circus performer Merrik Ahston and creatively directed by Mitchell Woodcock, Lassú is a fusion of tradition and innovation. Their combined experience is evident in a seamless blend of circus, dance, and burlesque, delivering a cabaret that feels both fresh and timeless.
Billed as a Cosmic Cabaret, the show transports audiences into the glittering confines of the saloon with space cowboys, alien drifters, and the legendary Rodeo Sisters. Beneath the big top, transformed with bars, banquettes, private tables, and rings of chairs encircling the stage, the atmosphere captivates the audience before the first act even begins.
That anticipation was instantly rewarded when a poised aerialist strode onto the stage in boots and a high bun. To the audience’s amazement, she clipped herself onto the corde lisse (smooth rope) by her hair and soared, spinning and twisting with both grace and daring. The crowd erupted with cheers and whistles, fueling her performance even further. She later returned for a more traditional aerial routine, showcasing extraordinary artistry. For me, she was the standout performer in a show already brimming with remarkable talent.
From there, the show surged from thrill to thrill. A knife thrower had the audience holding its collective breath, his blades thudding into the board beside his assistant with precision—made all the more nerve-wracking once he donned a blindfold and relied only on her shouted commands: “Left! Right! Up! Down! THROW!” Gasps and nervous laughter rippled with each loud thunk.
A slack rope walker defied balance and logic by juggling atop a ladder and later a unicycle; a hypnotic fire act illuminated the stage with fiery beauty; feats of strength impressed with sheer power; and an unexpected clown act (IYKYK) had the audience laughing in surprise. Bringing it all together was the glamour of accomplished burlesque dancers and the soaring vocals of a powerhouse singer, ensuring the energy never faltered.
Lassú is not just a show—it’s a feast for the senses, a wild ride through the cosmic saloon where tradition, daring, and decadence collide to deliver an unforgettable night of entertainment.
