Sugar, Spice and a whole lot of sparkle – Tomáš Kantor’s cabaret debut is a riotous plunge into the sweet and salacious side of transactional relationships. Sugar is a party mix of pop hits, sexual politics and emotional vulnerability that collide in the most deliciously chaotic way.It is no wonder that Sugar is an award-winning cabaret debut.
Bringing Sugar to the 2025 Adelaide Cabaret Festival for the first time is Bullet Heat Club, a gig-theatre company formed in 2013 by this show’s writer Ro Bright, and director, Kitan Petkovski. In collaboration with artists from queer, TGD (trans and gender diverse), and migrant communities, Bright and Petkovski work to create cross-form projects that merge theatre, live music, film, and performance art into bold new forms.
Sugar is a show that is pioneering a new wave of cabaret. It perfectly entices Gen Z and millennials into a bubble-gum pop princess dream. Tomáš Kantor plays the role of Sugar, who shares an outrageously silly, yet heartwarming story of how they explored the act of being a Sugar Baby.
Acting as Sugar’s subconscious guide throughout all this is Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman. Along the way, facets of their identity are questioned and unleashed, culminating in a tale of power-play and the cost of living a short life of luxury.
Kantor is an absolute force onstage. They invite you into Sugar’s bedroom as if you are friends, plonk you down, and unleash a gossip sesh that you have been craving. From the moment Kantor sings their parody cover of Gaga’s Abracadabra (yes, and it is iconic), you are cast under their spell for the next 70 minutes.
Kantor saunters across the stage and through the crowd with an ease and comfortability that asserts their status as a performer to watch. They prove that they can do it all. They sing with charm and control. Land a punchline. Deliver moments of raw vulnerability. Slip into quickfire costume changes. And play at least five different instruments. All whilst holding their own as the sole performer onstage. Kantor just oozes charisma. The kind you can’t fake, only flaunt.
A highlight for me, as a 20-something pop girly, was the music choices. They effortlessly blended with the storyline in a way that some jukebox musicals can’t even hack. Suiting the themes perfectly, expect incredible covers of Chappel Roan, Kylie Minogue, and Charli XCX.
The audience, even for 9pm on a Sunday, was lapping it up, singing and bopping along. On top of their vocals, Kantor flitters between multiple instruments, impressively nailing each one. Never have I seen a performer transition from keyboard to cello in the same show to play a pop-banger. But let me tell you, it just works!
Visually, the Sugar is a deliciously sweet picture for your eyeballs. The set is a Y2K fever dream, designed by Bethany J. Fellows. Pink, plush, and dripping in sticker-clad nostalgia, it’s like walking into the sleepover scene of your favourite 2000s rom-com.
The design further transports you into the world of youthful fantasy and hyper-femme pop culture, perfectly framing Sugar‘s identity. Spencer Herd’s lighting design further complements this dreamy escape into Sugar’s realm, enhancing the emotion, glamour, and cheek of each moment.
Rightly so, Sugar is on its way to the Edinburgh Fringe, where it will no doubt make waves overseas. Australia, do yourselves a favour and make sure you see it now before it soars into its well-deserved international success. You’ll be treated to a deliciously unhinged blend of pop-culture fantasy and theatrical honesty in a show that satisfies your sweet tooth and then some.
Sugar by Tomáš Kantor ran from 14 – 15 June at the Bullet Heart Club, Space Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre as part of the 2025 Adelaide Cabaret Festival. The season has now ended.
Check Tomáš’ Instagram page for further Australian tour dates.
Tickets to the Adelaide Cabaret Festival are on sale now! Explore the program here.
Website: https://cabaret.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/tomkantor
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/adelaidecabaret/
Hero image photo credit: James Reiser
