From the moment Bernie Dieter invites her audience to become a little more intimate, it is clear that this will be no ordinary evening at the theatre. What follows is a provocative and irreverent celebration of Kabarett, embracing spectacle, sensuality and unapologetic self-expression.
At the centre of it all is the irrepressible Dieter, whose razor-sharp wit, formidable vocals and commanding stage presence hold the audience’s attention. She doesn’t simply host Club Kabarett; she presides over a decadent universe, surrounded by the troupe she affectionately calls her “family of weirdos”. And what a talented and unconventional family they are.
From the opening moments, the production delivers a succession of striking performances. Jacqueline Furey brings danger and sensuality to her fire-breathing and sideshow artistry, while aerial trapeze performer Jarred Dewey combines strength, precision and grace in an impressive display of acrobatics.
Ethiopian-born contortionist Soliana Ersie has the audience collectively grimacing, gasping and marvelling as she twists her body into seemingly impossible positions. Watching her performance is almost physically uncomfortable, yet impossible to look away from.
Then there is the audacious Iva Rosebud, whose avant-garde drag performance poses a question few theatre audiences might contemplate: who would have imagined shaving cream could become such a compelling, unexpectedly erotic form of performance art? It is absurd, provocative and thoroughly entertaining.
Aerialist Thom Worrell adds another dimension to the evening, spinning and twisting through the air with impressive control, while Gemima Jones demonstrates extraordinary versatility through her aerial silks and hand-balancing skills. Both performers combine athleticism with a strong sense of theatricality, ensuring that the physical feats remain as engaging as they are technically accomplished.
Beneath the spectacle, however, lies a more substantial message. This is Kabarett with attitude, celebrating individuality, sexual freedom and the right to be defiantly oneself. In the second act, Dieter offers a thoughtful homage to feminism, bringing a more reflective dimension to an evening otherwise characterised by exuberance and irreverence.
The live Haus Band, featuring Dominic Cabusi on bass, Leon Todd on guitar and Graham Hunt on drums, provides a driving musical foundation, moving comfortably between theatrical drama, irreverent comedy and moments of unexpected tenderness.
One of the evening’s most affecting moments comes with Dieter’s rendition of Nick Cave’s Into My Arms. Bringing a welcome intimacy to the song, she gradually draws the audience into the performance, with voices joining hers in gentle accompaniment. It is an understated moment of collective warmth, offering a striking contrast to the show’s more outrageous excesses.
Carriageworks proves an inspired setting for this unconventional production. Its industrial character provides an atmospheric backdrop for Dieter’s particular brand of theatrical mischief, while the relationship between performer and audience gives the evening much of its energy.
Laughter erupts, applause builds and audience participation is embraced with infectious enthusiasm. There is, quite simply, a whole lot of love in the room.
By the time Dieter brings the evening to a close, the audience is firmly on her side. The ensuing standing ovation is a fitting response to a production that combines technical skill, musicality and a wholehearted embrace of the unconventional.
Club Kabarett is an exuberant collision of music, circus, comedy and drag, held together by Dieter’s commanding presence and the collective talents of her troupe. It is provocative without losing its sense of fun, outrageous without sacrificing its humanity and, above all, enormously entertaining.
In a world that often rewards conformity, Dieter makes a persuasive case for celebrating difference. Seductive, spectacular and defiantly unrestrained, Club Kabarett is an evening that leaves its audience with plenty to celebrate.
Bernie Dieter’s Club Kabarett
Carriageworks, 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh (Sydney)
Performance: Friday 16 October 2026
Season continues to 8 November 2026
Information and Bookings: www.carriageworks.com.au
Images: Bernie Dieter’s Club Kabarett – photos by Belinda Rolland
Review: Brett Thomas