City of Stonnington’s eight-day festival So Soiree is coming up on 2-12 December and has just announced more shows across comedy, cabaret and circus, for a line-up not to be missed. Presented in partnership with Melbourne Fringe, the new intimate pop-up performance space The Parlour will come alive with some of the best artists Melbourne has to offer.
3, 4 and 11 December
From New York’s notorious club scene, comes Welcome to Blunderland, featuring kitschy cabaret and burlesque acrobatics, the night is vibrant, shocking and uproarious. Welcome to Blunderland is an evening that is as naughty as it is wholesome, and as raunchy as it is sweet. This show is juicy and super fresh, not for the meek. Come prepared for anything.
Director Eric Schmalenberger explains ‘Our roots are in underground queer nightlife in Brooklyn. We eventually found our home at the famed NYC club House of Yes and by the end of 2021 we will have shows running here in Melbourne as well as in San Francisco, New Orleans, New York, and London which I will be directing remotely from here in Melbourne.’
2 and 9 December
Enjoy the new show, Josh Glanc: The Best Bits. Josh has won a host of comedy awards, sold out shows around the world, and now he’s home after spending 2020 locked down in a small flat in London, slowly losing his mind. To celebrate, he’s doing ‘the best bits’ from his acclaimed theatre-comedy shows. Come see why he’s been named one of comedy’s ‘most exciting emerging talents’ by The Age. Josh said ‘The show was initially written as a response to being locked down in London in 2020, but then I came back to Australia — London is free and Melbourne got locked down again! I’m basically just chasing lockdowns around the world!’
10 and 12 December
From the people who brought you Neon and Can’t Face, Werk It – Tight Fit, (pictured) is an all-new, late-night, high-energy, acrobatic comedy romp. Celebrating spandex, high-vis, vitality and vigour — expect never seen before acrobatic feats and jaw dropping skill. It’s the low carb love-child of a tradie, a spin instructor and a cross-fit fiend, featuring outrageous circus by Australia’s hottest acrobats including award-winning Vincent van Berkel (Can’t Face), hula hoop sensation Lisa Lottie (Neon), manipulation idol Richard Sullivan (Throw Catch Collective), real life strong woman Cassia Jamieson (NICA) and fierce as hell Malia Walsh (Circus Trick Tease).
3 and 5 December
Damian Callinan, three-time Barry Award Nominee and Melbourne Fringe Comedy Winner, along with Paul Calleja, stand-up and writer on Before The Game, are joining forces to present a comedy wine masterclass. After selling out shows across the country, The Wine Bluffs will be performing an interactive, cellar door masterclass with a comedic twist.
Other program highlights include the formidable Selina Jenkins who will perform her powerful, thought-provoking show BOOBS where she reveals her decision to undergo a voluntary double mastectomy. Dave Thornton will take to the stage to perform, pondering over that pesky question that has stumped everyone the last 12 months ‘What have you been up to?’ Where do you start? Everything… nothing… and whatever can be found in between, and the hilarious Cal Wilson will bring her engaging and witty stand-up comedy to the stage.
