Review by Markus Hamence – Performance date: Wednesday 18 June 2025, Adelaide Cabaret Festival, Adelaide Festival Centre, South Australia
Welcome to the Wild Side
Yup, the Adelaide Cabaret Festival – where sequins, sass, and serious stagecraft meet under the spotlight. This year, one show is sizzling it’s way to the top of my must-see list: La Clique. Think burlesque meets circus, comedy meets chaos, and a whole lot of glitter, rose petals, pop-corn, sweat and bathtub water thrown in for good measure.
I kinda stepped into the Space Theatre half expecting to see something quirky, fun and clever. What I got though? A high-voltage, jaw-on-the-floor carnival of curiosities that left me gasping, clapping, gasping, laughing, gasping – and occasionally blushing, then gasping. In the best way possible.
Born on the Fringe, Bred for the Bold
Let’s backtrack. La Clique isn’t your average cabaret. It started life at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2004 and quickly spiraled into a global sensation, scooping up an Olivier Award and selling out across the UK, Europe, and beyond. Now celebrating its 20th birthday (cue confetti cannon – BOOM!), this show returns sharper, slicker, wilder, and, somehow more daring than ever.
The Adelaide iteration, curated perfectly for our cabaret-loving crowd, features a rotating cast of international acts. These aren’t your run-of-the-mill circus performers – they’re world-class, often half-naked, always electric. Each act feels like a carefully placed shock to the senses. Just when you think you’ve seen it all… bam, someone wets the first two rows, or dances seductively tempting you to shave them.
From High Camp to High Wire: What You’ll Witness
So what actually goes down under the big top? Here’s a taste (without giving too much away):
- Death-defying aerial acrobatics: Picture a performer writhing on red ribbons, twisting above the crowd with more grace than a ballerina in a wind tunnel.
- Burlesque with bite: One moment it’s classic striptease, the next it’s full-blown performance art complete with popcorn, popping LIVE on stage mid act – nudity included, with equal parts beauty and bravado.
- Musical madness: Funky, jazzy, sometimes borderline punk. The soundtrack alone is worth the ticket price.
- Absurdist comedy: Mesmerising and hilarious puppetry that blends the line of the puppet handler and the puppet. A salt shaker emerges from… well, not the kitchen cupboard – you’ve been warned.
This show, you are either in shock, wonder, awe or bent over hysterics.
A Spiegeltent Vibe in the Space Theatre
Although this year’s show is staged in the Space Theatre in Adelaide Festival Centre, La Clique channels the soul of a Spiegeltent complete with festoon lighting. The venue’s intimacy heightens the experience – you’re right in the thick of it. The lighting is sultry, the air electric, and when a performer makes eye contact mid-act, you can feel your pulse spike.
The cast expertly blends slapstick with sensuality, often with a wink that says, “We know this is outrageous—and you love it.” Spoiler: you will.
A Naughty Night for the Brave-Hearted
Let’s be clear – La Clique is not for the faint of heart. Or the easily scandalised. This is unapologetically adult entertainment. There’s full nudity. There are raunchy acts that would make your grandma clutch her pearls. But if you lean into the ride, it’s a total blast.
And while it’s provocative, it’s never crass. Each act is honed to an art. Even the cheekiest stunts carry an undercurrent of elegance and control. These are performers at the peak of their craft, offering up their bodies and bravado for your entertainment.
Part of a Stellar Festival Lineup
This year’s Adelaide Cabaret Festival has boasted a stunning range – from powerhouse vocalists like Jessica Mauboy to beloved duos like Vika & Linda. La Clique offers a perfect counterpoint to the musical stylings of the rest of the festival. It’s raw, visceral, and totally unpredictable.
Running from June 18–22, it’s a limited affair – and tickets are vanishing faster than a magician’s assistant. So, hop to it.
Final Curtain Call: Should You Go?
Absolutely. If you’re in the mood for something wildly entertaining, devilishly daring, and unlike anything else at the festival, La Clique is your ticket to the cabaret underworld. It’s a little bit Moulin Rouge, a little bit Mad Max, and completely unforgettable.
Just… maybe don’t bring your mum. Or do – depending on how cool she is 😉
Adelaide Cabaret Festival – 5-21 June 2025, Adelaide Festival Centre
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