Review by Markus Hamence – Performance date: Saturday 14 June 2025, Adelaide Cabaret Festival, Adelaide Festival Centre, South Australia
A Night of Glitter, Wit, and Power: SUGAR by Tomáš Kantor
Some cabaret shows leave you laughing. Some leave you thinking. And then there’s SUGAR (by Bullet Heart Club), the kind of show that wraps you in its sequined arms, hands you a glass of pink bubbly, and says, “Buckle up, darling, it’s going to get deliciously complicated.”
This is not your garden-variety cabaret. Oh no. This is the full sparkle-studded fantasy dipped in postmodern irony and served with a twinky wink 😉 – and maybe a rhinestone or two. I caught SUGAR during its electric two performance run at the 2025 Adelaide Cabaret Festival, and I’m still emotionally hungover in the best possible way, dahhhhlings.
A Star Is Born (in Platforms)
Tomáš Kantor is the shimmering centre of this pop-cabaret universe. The second they saunter onto the stage, decked in a dressing gown, towel turban and unapologetic fabulousness, you know you’re in for a ride. Kantor doesn’t just perform the role – they command and have energetic ownership. Could well be the love-child of caberet favourites Meow Meow and Paul Capsis, but a whole lot of their own brand of anarchic charm. In fact I saw elements of Years and Years’ Olly Alexander, in regards to showmanship and presence. Tomáš is confident and strong as a performer on-stage and brings real emotional depth which is admirable. They’re funny with sound comedic timing, reads the audience well, brings the heartbreak and sadness with acute awareness PLUS with facial expression that convey feelings. Further, their voice characterisations as he tells the story is unmatched, swapping from they’re own, to Richard (the sugar daddy), to the shop attendant and his two queer friends – Kantor nails it. This is fine performer on their way to a big career. Bravo.
“This is the full sparkle-studded fantasy dipped in postmodern irony and served with a twinky wink…”
– Markus Hamence
And what a premise. SUGAR dives into the glitter-soaked world of transactional relationships through the eyes of a gender-fluid protagonist who watches Pretty Woman and wonders: what if that fantasy was actually… empowering? Kantor leans into this question with a cocktail of sass, sincerity, and camp.
A Soundtrack for the Bold
The music? Iconic. We’re talking Kylie, Robyn, and even the heartbreak anthems of Chappell Roan. Each track is perfectly chosen to enhance the narrative without ever feeling like a jukebox filler. There’s a moment in the latter part of the show – no spoilers, promise – where a classic pop banger is reimagined as a melancholic ballad, and it just wrecked me. Gorgeous stuff.
Kantor switches between piano, synth, and sassy mic drops like it’s no big deal, proving they’re not just a performer, but a bona fide cabaret auteur.
“This is a story about power – who holds it, who trades it, and what it means to take it back on your own terms…” – Markus Hamence
Style Meets Substance
Underneath all the sparkle and sass, there’s something deeply sincere about SUGAR. This is a story about power – who holds it, who trades it, and what it means to take it back on your own terms. Kantor navigates themes of queerness, beauty, and ambition with nuance and heart. It’s sexy, it’s subversive, and it’s got more layers than a mille-feuille.
Bullet Heart Club, the powerhouse team behind the production, ensures everything – lighting, sound, even the cheeky set pieces – works in harmony. It’s sleek, smart, and proudly queer.
The Word on the Street (and Stage)
Critics aren’t just throwing roses – they’re tossing bouquets. The show’s already picked up nominations for Best Cabaret at Melbourne Fringe and several Green Room Awards. And rightly so. Kantor is being hailed as a rising icon of the new cabaret wave, and if SUGAR is anything to go by, they’ve got a dazzling road ahead.
One reviewer even quipped, “It feels like watching the birth of a star in real time,” and honestly? Not wrong.
Final Thoughts: Indulgent, Intelligent, Irresistible
If you’re heading to the Adelaide Cabaret Festival and looking for something that pushes boundaries while serving up glitter, vulnerability, and a damn good night out – SUGAR is your show. It’s a wild, wise, and wickedly entertaining romp through identity, power, and pleasure. Credit to the festival’s Artistic Director Virginia Gay for bringing over this absolute gem.
Don’t just watch SUGAR. Surrender to it.
SUGAR plays again Sunday 15 June 2025, 9.00pm – Ticket Link
More Adelaide Cabaret Festival
About Tomáš Kantor
Tomáš Kantor is a Melbourne-based performing artist whose career is a vibrant blend of theatre, music, and storytelling. Born on May 11, 1995, he studied Literature and Philosophy at the University of Melbourne before sharpening his theatrical edge with a Musical Theatre Intensive at RADA in London. He later completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music Theatre at the Victorian College of the Arts in 2019. This mix of academic and artistic training forms the foundation of his layered and compelling performances.
Since stepping onto the professional stage, Tomáš has built a rich portfolio of roles that speak to his range and emotional depth. His debut in the national tour of Fangirls with Belvoir set the tone for a career marked by bold, heartful storytelling. He’s been seen as Chino in West Side Story with Opera Australia, as well as Feste in Twelfth Night, and Toby Darling in The Inheritance at fortyfivedownstairs. His versatility also shines in productions like The Lovers with Bell Shakespeare, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Next to Normal, and Brigadoon, among others. Whether navigating Shakespeare or contemporary musical theatre, Tomáš brings nuance, rhythm, and presence.
Beyond the stage, Tomáš is an accomplished pianist and cellist, often weaving music into his performances. He has contributed to immersive experiences like the National Portrait Gallery’s tour of Ralph Heimans: Portraiture. Power. Influence., showcasing his ability to blend narrative and ambiance. Open about his queer identity and using he/they pronouns, Tomáš is deeply committed to storytelling that fosters empathy and connection. His work reflects not just skill, but a palpable sincerity and a drive to make audiences feel seen and moved.
