The indie theatre powerhouse behind hits including The Inheritance, In the Club and The Gospel According to Jesus, Queen of Heaven, have announced their latest collaboration, SUGAR – a new cabaret by Ro Bright will have its world premiere at the 2024 Melbourne Fringe Festival this October.
Inspired by erotic cult classics from the 90s, this poignant, sexy and hilarious story shares insights from a contemporary gender-queer perspective about the high-end pleasures experienced by a kept Sugar Baby. The sex-positive, narrative-driven cabaret interweaves snatches of songs, alongside full renditions, re-worked to invite audiences to hear familiar tracks in a new way.
SUGAR will be performed by Tomáš Kantor (The Inheritance and Opera Australia’s Watershed: The Death of Dr. Duncan), directed by Kitan Petkovski, with arrangements by Rachel Lewindon, visual design by Bethany J Fellows and lighting design by Spencer Herd.
“I have loved collaborating with this powerhouse team across my career and have such a deep respect and admiration for their wild, incisive, imaginative, genre-bending approach to storytelling” says Tomáš Kantor.
“Starring in a perky, poppy, piano-playing, powerpuff-perfumed cabaret that explores Sugar-Baby culture through a gender-queer lens is such a deliciously exciting and meaty opportunity.”
“I’m chomping at the bit to bring my voice, skills and perspective to this unmissable theatrical romp, set to electrify, goop and gag Melbourne this fringe,” said Kantor.
“Over a decade ago, I co-directed my very first cabaret (Daffodils by Ro Bright) and I have been fascinated by the artform ever since,” says Kitan Petkovski. “The combination of storytelling, live music and song interpretation has a magic-like effect that bypasses our brains and invites us to engage purely on an emotional level.”
“It’s why I often integrate live music in my productions. I crave ‘the feels’ when making a show! SUGAR is a way to reconnect with my roots and pay homage to contemporary cabaret artists that have informed my practice, the likes of Meow Meow, Taylor Mac, Alan Cumming, Le Gâteau Chocolat and Lady Rizo,” said Petkovski.
Bullet Heart Club (BHC) is an Edinburgh Fringe First award-winning creative-industry duo based in Naarm founded by director Kitan Petkovski and writer Ro Bright. BHC collaborates with multidisciplinary artists from queer, TGD (trans and gender diverse) and migrant communities to create ever-evolving cross-form projects that integrate theatre with live music, film and performance art.
SUGAR
Festival Hub: Trades Hall – Common Rooms, Corner Lygon and Victoria Streets, Carlton
Season: 16 – 20 October 2024
Bookings: www.melbournefringe.com.au
For more information, visit: www.bulletheartclub.com for details.
Image: Tomáš Kantor stars in SUGAR – photo by Meagan Harding