It was a spectacular take-no-prisoners VIP Opening Night at RUNAWAY Festival Park as the audience wined and dined in style, lapping up lascivious entertainment from Bernie Dieter’s Club Kabarett, and were entranced by the extraordinary Runaway Festival Park at Queen Victoria Market.
The night’s proceedings were opened by speeches from Melbourne Fringe Creative Director and CEO, Simon Abrahams, whose joy to be back radiated through a crowd of over 600 fringe fiends. A performance from YUCK Circus followed, and they brought all of their trademark larakinism along for the ride.
Photo credit: Original Spin
Shimmying their way around the event were the likes of reality TV stars Khanh Ong and Dr. Matt Agnew, Melbourne’s own design duo Josh and Matt, plus TV and radio host Ash Pollard of My Kitchen Rules fame. Australia’s most fabulous drag queens came out in force, including RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under winners Kitamean and Spankie Jackzon along with fellow superstars Art Simone, Queen Kong and Karen From Finance.
Presented with maximum allure by the award-winning and always-bejewelled Bernie Dieter, and anchored by her unconventional band of entertaining misfits, the shenanigans under the tent top produced an intimate and electrifying night of cabaret and live music! With lashings of laughter and glasses full of gin, it was wild, rollicking, and a little bit sinful; the audience didn’t want it to end.
Fresh off a five star review from The Age, the entire crowd leapt to their stilettos to give a rousing round of applause to the performers, who had them gasping and clutching their pearls all evening. There was sizzling sexuality from fire-breathing sensation Ms Fury; death-defying danger from the hair-hanging Fancy Chance; a terrifyingly talented Cirque du Soleil aerial straps performance by Reed Kelly and Jack Dawson (aka The Two Fathoms); side-splitting comedy and drag from ‘The Siren from South Yorkshire’ Myra Dubois; the wondrous hula hoop hottie Adam Malone, and an outrageously athletic routine from the scantily clad Blue Phoenix, winner of Mr Pole Dance World 2022.
Guests enjoyed an array of sumptuous food offerings from superstar food vendor That Arancini Guy, who dished up parmesan fries, out-of-this-world cheese wheel gnocchi and of course, their classic arancini. An undeniably thirst-quenching range of beers were pulled by Atomic, and some homegrown drops were poured by Zilzie Wines.
Photo credit: Original Spin
For the duration of the season, festivalgoers will be able to indulge in these food and beverage offerings, as well as drinks from Archie Rose with their award-winning spirits, French Champagne from Pommery and espresso martinis by Mr. Black. RUNAWAY Festival Park is open for all your gastronomic needs from 4 – 10 pm Tuesday to Thursday, 12 noon – 11 pm (Friday and Saturday) and 12 noon – 10 pm (Sunday).
The debut four-week season of eccentric and uproarious performances in Bernie Dieter’s Club Kabarett will run until Sunday 30 October as part of the 2022 Melbourne Fringe Festival.
Runaway Festival Park featuring Bernie Dieter’s Club Kabarett has been supported through the Melbourne City Recovery Fund, a partnership between the Victoria Government and the City of Melbourne.
Stay up to date with Bernie Dieter’s Club Kabarett:
Purchase Tickets: https://melbournefringe.com.au/event/bernie-dieters-club-kabarett/
Dates: 6 October to 6 November 2022
Venue: Magic Mirrors Spiegeltent, Runaway Festival Park, Queen Victoria Market
Follow Melbourne Fringe: @melbfringe
