Following a sold out premiere season in 2015, legends of 21st century Melbourne cabaret and circus, Anni and Maude Davey return to fortyfivedownstairs with the next instalment of Retro Futurismus – a colossal future-focussed vaudeville featuring zero gravity circus acts, siren songs, boutique burlesque, and breathtaking performance art.
Joined by Anna Lumb (flame-haired pocket rocket of incendiary circus), Gabi Barton (performance wunderkammer and slapstick dance-nik), Teresa Blake (taking body based performance art into a post human future) and some very special guests, this cabaretic prophecy channels the cultural catalysts who led us into this century including Gary Numan, Bjork, Margaret Atwood, Barbarella and more.
When everyone else succumbs what will be left but carousing and revelry? Astronauts, space sirens and shiny alien life forms reinvent past glories and conjure wild new visions of how we wish we used to be.
These hyper-driven prima donnas are inter-connected nodes, weaving together the most significant performance movements of the last two decades. They are new circus royalty, neo-burlesque icons, demented dance divas and performance art adventurers. Their combined history includes Circus Oz, La Soiree, The Town Bikes, Finucane & Smith, Peaches and Dark MOFO.
Special guests taking to the stage with these local legends of 21st century cabaret and circus each week as part of Retro Futurismus: New World include, experimental feminist performance artiste and burlesque luminary Azaria Universe; and powerhouse singer/songwriter Kira Puru takes a break from working with a colourful bevy of collaborators including The Preatures, Illy and Paul Kelly;
Fresh from a smash-hit seasons at the Melbourne and Adelaide Cabaret Festivals, the unbalanced diva Yana Alana joins the revelry; and the true glitterati of Melbourne’s underground arts scene, Will and Garrett Huxley top things off in style following performances at the most sought after ticket in Tassie, Blacklist at Dark MOFO.
An immersive performance extravaganza presenting an alternative nostalgic vision of the present – this is Retro Futurismus.
“Fuelled by pop culture nostalgia and delirious visions from science fiction, this is a variety show with few limits.” – The Age
Retro Futurismus: New World
fortyfivedownstairs, 45 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Season: 8 – 31 July 2016 (previews: 6 & 7 July)
Information and Bookings: www.fortyfivedownstairs.com
Image: Retro Futurismus – photo by Jo Duck