The Meat Market is an absolutely fascinating performance space, and the perfect setting for Bernie Dieter’s Club Kabarett. Entry is poised by quaint structural beams and butchers of a bygone era. It’s a mechanical space, yet much thought was put into making it ornate. Once its original purpose became obsolete, it found new life as an iconic performance venue, famed for its unusual and atmospheric charm.
The call to let our ‘freak flag fly’ was taken very seriously on opening night. Costumes sparkled, spiked, and strutted for blocks. Feathers, leather, glitter, and neon all made an appearance. We strutted through a vomitory and straight into punk pandemonium. After a year of circus shows, my expectations were high, and Club Kabarett promised to crank the chaos to eleven.
From the outset, the premise is electric: variety cabaret collides with a rock ’n’ roll concert. Think electronica-meets-burlesque backed by a roaring three-piece band, all staged in a gritty thrust setup. There’s no storyline to follow, each act stands alone, but the show holds together through strong, recurring themes. Inclusion, individuality, and a bold celebration of difference pulse through every number.
The show launched with a burst of energy. Dieter made a dramatic entrance, breaking the fourth wall as she climbed into and over the audience, before being triumphantly carried back to the stage by willing volunteers. There were a few moments early on where the music slightly overpowered the vocals, but the atmosphere never faltered—and any balance issues quickly smoothed out as the show found its rhythm.
We were then treated to a showcase of circus acts, performed without personas—just raw, unfiltered talent. The performers pushed their skills and bodies to the absolute limit, muscles visibly shuddering with effort. Each act was as shocking as it was brilliant. Designed for a proudly adult audience, the show included full-frontal nudity and moments of deliciously unhinged decadence—one of which involved Iva Rosebud and the dramatic demise of an otherwise lovely cake.
Jacqueline Furey brought the heat, literally. She twirled and breathed fire with fierce elegance, closing her act by setting herself spectacularly alight in a jaw-dropping moment of self-immolation. Then came a clever twist on the classic sword-swallowing act featuring a glowing light-up sword. The effect was brilliant. We could see it travel down and light up from within, turning a time-honoured sideshow stunt into something truly electrifying.
We enjoyed Danik Abishev’s incredible hand-balancing act, which included daring ladder climbs and even steps set ablaze. It was a thrilling display of strength, precision, and nerves of steel. I absolutely loved this act. Every move felt more unbelievable than the last, and the flaming finale sealed it as a standout moment of the night.
My favourite act had to be Soliana’s contortion performance. It was the kind of classical contortion I love, an unusual routine filled with creative shapes and movements that defy the limits of flexibility. The whole act was elevated by the backing of the live rock band, with occasional electronic beats adding an extra layer of drama to every twist and turn.
The show closed with one final emotional showstopper. Alone on stage, Dieter delivered a heartfelt song dedicated to her Oma (Grandma). Framed as a drinking song, it revealed itself as a tender ode to acceptance and chasing your dreams. The room fell silent until the final note, when the audience erupted in cheers, some wiping away tears. The loneliness that can come from being born different is something only truly understood by those who live it. In that moment, the comfort of being seen, accepted, and celebrated felt like everything.
In a world that too often capitalises on fear of difference, shows like Bernie Dieter’s Club Kabarett feel vital. Diversity, in all its dazzling, defiant forms, isn’t just a strength; it’s the beauty that binds us. Club Kabarett is bold, brilliant, and absolutely unmissable. No wonder it’s selling out fast.
Bernie Dieter’s Club Kabarett runs until 11 May at Meat Market, 3 Blackwood Street North Melbourne Vic 3051.
Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/bernie-dieters-club-kabarett-tickets-1221907431019?aff=oddtdtcreator
Website: https://berniedieter.com/
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/clubkabarett/
Photo credits: Cameron Grant
Leave a Reply