“I am always looking for love, and I find it,” performer Ember Flame chants in one of the several spoken verse pieces at the centre of this beautiful show.
This must-see burlesque at the Adelaide Fringe revolves hypnotically around the theme of connection. While the seeking and finding of love is the heart of the show, Ember Flame’s one woman show Solo unfolds in a nonlinear way. That is, she moves through her childhood, youth, and adulthood like a hologram or mandala.
Ember weaves together poetry, dance, music, sex, and sophisticated humour into a matrix of personal revelation. Beginning with childhood memories – an 11-year-old silenced for “indecent” singing, a Catholic upbringing she rebels against with gleeful blasphemy – the narrative traces her path through schema therapy (owning her “inner bitch”), coming out as queer, and political awakenings.
Her disclosures create a psychological geography that feels intensely personal and also universally resonant. The show’s focus on politically progressive thinking around agism, sexism, classism, and sex positivity adds a layer of modern relevance, alongside stories of connection, first love, and bullying.
The performer’s journey from her childhood experiences to her queer identity and political maturity is marked by a blend of truth-telling and activism, culminating in wedding vows to authenticity.
Three key aspects struck me as compelling. First, the power of Ember’s physical, personal, and political presence was a masterful combination of sexiness and vulnerability.
Second, by changing costumes on stage and allowing herself to be respectfully helped, the show felt spacious, giving the audience time to appreciate the human vulnerability of the moment.
And, finally, the inclusion of political and social activism effectively repurposed the sexy dancing as a personal geography of connections and stories, inviting the audience to ground politics in the body and sexuality.
This show speaks to people who enjoy modern feminist stories that make you think while also entertaining. Older viewers will see their own life experiences shown with care, while younger audiences will connect with one woman’s journey through relationships, sexuality, and finding her voice.
The show takes a progressive approach and includes a fresh take on Catholic traditions that might not be for everyone. But if you enjoy honest, funny, and bold performances, this personal burlesque show delivers both sensual excitement and real emotional connection.
The small theatre makes everything feel more personal, the sound is great, and costume changes happen without a hitch. Some jokes might seem a bit unusual, but overall, the show creates a powerful feeling of connection and self-discovery.
SOLO
Little Reid Theatre at Goodwood Theatre and Studios, 166 Goodwood Road, Goodwood (Adelaide)
Performance: Thursday 27 February 2025
Season continues to 1 March 2025
Information and Bookings: www.adelaidefringe.com.au
Image: Ember Flame – photo by Rachel Mia
Review: Paul Bard