Grab your popcorn, hold onto your seats and prepare for the ultimate pop culture showdown! Pop Culture Cabaret has landed at Adelaide Fringe Festival, bringing with it a whirlwind of glitter, fire, and all the iconic movie and TV characters you know and love—reimagined in the most outrageous, hilarious, and spicy ways possible. From Austin Powers to Top Gun, this show is like binge-watching your favourite cult classics, only with more pole spins, jaw-dropping aerials, and way less plot. Produced by the mischievous minds of Lucas Andrews and Daphne Delphine from Agent Pickle Productions, this variety cabaret is an unhinged mash-up of circus, fire, burlesque, and comedy that’s so much more than your average night at the theatre—it’s a pop culture fever dream you won’t forget!
From the moment host and co-producer Lucas Andrews struts onto the stage in a royal blue crushed velvet suit, you know you’re in for a groovy ride—this is Austin Powers, baby, and he’s here to shake things up! With his thick black-rimmed glasses, red tulle boa, and a grin that screams “Yeah, baby!”, Lucas absolutely nails the role of she shagadelic ’60s British spy. Soul Bossa Nova by Quincy Jones (better known as the Austin Powers theme song) pulses through the air as Lucas flirtatiously lip syncs to sound bites of the character’s cheeky one-liners. Joined by a gaggle of Fembots (played by Miss Fortune, Quintessa, Sian Sacrifice and Fae Ruth), Lucas brings the “International Man of Mystery” to life with a dose of quick-witted comedy, pole tricks, and his larrikin stage presence. When Ace enters as the megalomaniac mastermind Dr. Evil, things take a turn for the tender—the duo shares a hilariously awkward slow dance to Unchained Melody, complete with a dramatic Dirty Dancing lift. Will Lucas and Ace keep their clothes on? Unlikely. But will you love every moment of it? Absolutely.
Geri Blossom’s turn as Napoleon Dynamite is everything you didn’t know you needed but absolutely can’t live without. With a glorious, floppy blonde afro, nerdy glasses, and a “Vote for Pedro” tee, Geri perfectly channels the awkward, lovable high schooler from the beloved 2004 cult classic aptly named Napoleon Dynamite. Canned Heat by Jamiroquai sets the groove as Geri busts out some surprisingly slick pole work, impressive splits and dance moves that are too cool for school, all while remaining completely in character and maintaining that endearingly dorky awkwardness. Geri’s performance is pure dynamite, proving that sometimes the most unexpected explosions are the most unforgettable.
Sarah takes the stage as the ultimate vengeance-fueled antihero, Beatrix “The Bride” Kiddo from Kill Bill, and trust us—she’s got a score to settle. Dressed in Uma Thurman’s iconic yellow jumpsuit and thigh-high boots, Sarah oozes the kind of fierce determination that could make even the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad take notice. Her aerial hoop routine is nothing short of breathtaking—she spins, twists, and defies gravity with such grace you’d think she had a personal vendetta against physics. Set to The Grand Duel (that iconic Mexican standoff tune) and Shot Me Down (the David Guetta remix), Sarah’s sinuous floor work and acrobatic flair capture the bold, no-holds-barred energy of Tarantino’s cinematic masterpiece. Packing a powerful punch and filled with a fiery determination that would make even the most skilled assassin quiver—Sarah is a woman on a mission, and nothing’s standing in her way.
Get ready for a spellbinding twist on Hermione Granger by Phoebe Ophidia, who’s far from the straight-A student you might remember from the Harry Potter franchise. Phoebe starts her act in potions class, casting spells and making potions bubble and catch fire, before transitioning into a cheeky, seductive routine set to Good Girls Go Bad by Cobra Starship. She rips off her wizard’s robes and cheeky Hogwarts uniform to reveal a fiery red rhinestone-encrusted ensemble beneath that’s anything but innocent. What follows is pure magic—Phoebe delivers a cheeky lap dance to Professor Snape (get that extra credit, girl), a dazzling fire baton routine that sends sparks flying, and a smokin’ hot fire chair routine. This Hermione is definitely up to no good—10 points to Gryffindor for the most fiery performance of the night.
Daphne Delphine prowls onto the stage as Catwoman, a fiery force straight from the DC Comics universe, ready to steal the spotlight—and your heart. Performing to the intense beats of Toxic by 2WEI whilst dressed in a sleek black latex catsuit, she oozes seduction, danger, and the kind of charm that could make even Batman weak at the knees. Accompanied by Lucas Andrews as the ever-dutiful Batman, the pair engage in a fight scene that’s more flirtation than fisticuffs, with Daphne expertly cracking her whip while Batman tries (and fails) to keep up. As the music transitions into Drink You Sober by Bitter Sweet, she sheds her catsuit to reveal a sultry black ensemble, moving across the stage with feline prowess. Feisty, fearless and irresistible, Daphne shows Gotham that when it comes to crime—and cabaret—this bad kitty always lands on her feet.
Hannah the Aerial Footarcher takes the stage as Deadpool, the “merc with a mouth” from the Marvel Comics universe, and it’s a wild, gravity-defying ride from start to finish. Sporting the character’s signature red and black uniform in the form of a leotard, from the moment Like a Prayer by Madonna blasts through the speakers, Hannah’s Deadpool is all snark and swagger. With the flexibility of a contortionist and the precision of a trained assassin, Hannah effortlessly transitions from a flawless handbalancing act on three canes, to jaw-dropping floorwork made of up backbends, handstands and more cheeky attitude than you can handle. As Only You (And You Alone) by The Platters plays, Hannah seductively strokes a Wolverine poster that stands on an easel in the background—let’s just say it’s a love/hate relationship between the two. The show’s unexpected highlight? A foot archery routine. Yes, you read that right. Foot archery. Hannah contorts their body backwards on three canes, shooting a bow and arrow with just their two feet, aiming straight for that ever-present poster of Wolverine. Talk about hitting a target. Bye Bye Bye by *NSYNC blares as they finish the routine with jaw-dropping agility. Deadpool would most definitely approve.
Jackel Doll takes a juicy bite out of Disney history as Snow White, bringing a cheeky, camp twist to the beloved princess from the 1937 animated classic. Dressed in Snow White’s original peasant dress, she begins her performance lip-syncing to I’m Wishing / One Song from the Snow White soundtrack. The stage comes alive with snappy, risqué sound bites from rapper Cupcakke, and emerging from a makeshift brick well on stage is a hand holding several phallic adult “toys”—each one perfectly matching each of the personas of the Seven Dwarves. As the song transitions into Man! I Feel Like A Woman! by Shania Twain, Jackel rips off her peasant dress to reveal the ultimate princess ensemble: Snow White’s iconic blue and yellow dress with a big red bow atop her head. It’s camp. It’s drag. It’s absolutely iconic. But what’s a princess without her villain? Enter Jared Gerschwitz, emerging from the well as The Evil Queen, dressed in a dramatic purple and black gown with a silver crown. With a glittery red apple in hand, he forces it into Jackel’s mouth and she drops “dead” in a dramatic heap. Disney in drag has never looked so wonderfully twisted.
Get ready to take off with Quintessa in her high-flying tribute to the 1986 action cult classic Top Gun. Dressed in a brown bomber jacket and a bedazzled khaki green leotard, it’s clear she’s got the “need for speed”. As a remix of the ever-iconic Danger Zone by Kenny Loggins blasts through the air, Quintessa heats things up with a sensational fire fan routine, expertly maneuvering flames that will have you burning with desire. Then, as if that wasn’t enough, she ascends into the air with the grace of a fighter jet in her aerial act—wrapping herself around the trapeze like a snake, defying gravity and taking you to new heights. From fiery thrills to aerial chills, Quintessa’s routine is a full-throttle ride through the worlds of circus, aerial and fire arts. It’s a performance so intense, you’ll feel the G-force!
Pop Culture Cabaret is a high-octane mix of theatrical flair, sideshow, circus acts, and absolute comedic chaos that movie buffs, pop culture nerds, and cabaret goers alike are sure to adore. Straight from the madness of this year’s Adelaide Fringe Festival, this sass and sequin-filled cabaret brings all your favorite movie icons, TV legends, and unforgettable heroes and villains to life in ways you’ve never seen before. Produced and hosted by Lucas Andrews and co-produced by the incredible Daphne Delphine from Agent Pickle Productions, this show brings together seasoned performers and exciting new talent for a night of unhinged fun. Between each showstopping act, the entire cast teams up for hilarious skits that pay homage to iconic pop culture moments and characters. From supporting performers Taj and Ace, to stage kitties Fae Ruth, Miss Fortune, Sian Sacrifice, and stage manager Sabre Delight, no corner of pop culture is left untouched. The love child of a glitter bomb and a cult classic movie marathon, Pop Culture Cabaret is where burlesque meets blockbuster, blending circus, fire, aerial, and pole performances into a high-octane ride that’s as unpredictable as your favorite movie plot twist.