“an absolute must-see for cabaret and performance lovers this winter“
Daniel Alejandro
5 / 5 Stars
Sydney Spiegeltent
29 May to 28 July 2024
Last night’s opening of Bernie Dieter’s show was a fun and fabulous affair! The Sydney Speigeltent, aniconic tent venue known for its vibrant and historic charm, was full of Sydney’s glitterati, showing off their decadent attire, having drinks, taking photos, and laughing out loud as we waited to see the show.
Bernie Dieter’s Club Kabarett is an immersive, contemporary cabaret show created and headlined by BernieDieter. The show is a modern take on traditional Weimar-era cabaret, blending music, comedy, burlesque,and acrobatics. Last night featured the expected provocative and edgy performances, characterized by a darkly glamorous aesthetic and a subversive sense of humour. Dieter’s celebrated voice was indeed powerful, her sharp wit infused with contemporary sensibilities, characterized by a bold mix of glamour, humour, and social commentary, often addressing themes of empowerment, sexuality, and individuality. The show is dynamic and full of diverse experiences.
The best way to describe the show is to divide it into sections as follows:
Bernie’s Performance: As the host and star, Bernie Dieter brings her powerful vocals, sharp wit, and charismatic stage presence to the forefront, interacting directly with the audience throughout the show. She started by flirting with men in the audience and proceeded to sit on them, taking her stiletto boots off while sitting on them—true old-fashioned cabaret fun. At one point, she did an absolutely PERFECT Australian accent, so much so that I had to Google whether she was actually Aussie! (She is from Cologne, Germany.)
Diverse Acts: I was mesmerized by the variety and beauty of the acts, including acrobats, contortionists, and other circus performers, all contributing to an eclectic, sometimes very funny, and sexy performance. Standout performances included Soliana Ersie’s contortionist routine, Lisa Lottie’s super funny Hula Hoops, and Bella Diosa’s hair hanging and fire routine. Every moment had something new to see and experience, and all the characters roamed around the audience, making us all feel included in the show.
Audience Interaction: Your correspondent, being a trained cabaret performer himself, loves audience interaction! True to the spirit of cabaret, last night’s show had direct interaction with the audience, breaking the fourth wall with joy and wit! This created an intimate and engaging (sometimes confronting for some, but that’s part of the fun!) atmosphere. This was not only done by Bernie but also by all the cast members, who sat on people, spoke to people, breathed on them, and oozed sexiness with very little clothing. We were awakened by and immersed in the performance all the time.
Visual and Musical Style: The production is noted for its visual style, with elaborate costumes and makeup that evoke a blend of vintage cabaret and contemporary edge. The music ranges from cabaret classics to punk and rock influences, all performed live with a live band. Bernie’s voice accompanied all the acrobats and performers as they did their pieces, which was a great combination of sound and movement.
I give it a 5/5, and it is an absolute must-see for cabaret and performance lovers this winter. The ClubKabarett show is brought to us by Sydney Speigeltent and will run until 28th July 2024, with several shows a week at the EQ, Moore Park. Tickets are available at Sydney Speigeltent’s website, and various promotions may be running, so be sure to check it out. Go get tickets! You will not regret it.
Daniel Alejandro, Theatre Now
