Previous Offerings
Scroll through our past events:
Festival 2026
Cabaret Ball 2026!
Glitz, glamour, mischief and grit...
Grab your crew, don your dancing shoes and prepare for a night where the wild and unexpected partners with old world charm.
Step into the spotlight and bring your sparkle… the night is calling.
Strap in for a night of unforgettable performances, cheeky charm, a touch of mischief and a whole lot of attitude.
Join us. Dress up. Make it a night to remember.
No skills required - just bring your enthusiasm, your two left feet and your favourite friends.
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Join us for the hottest event of the festival!
Our fabulous gala show - carefully crafted just for festival 26'
Step into a night of glitz, glamour, jaw-dropping talent and fabulous fun
featuring special guests and cabaret favourites,
tailored just for the 2026 Ballarat Cabaret Festival!
From spellbinding vocals to daring feats of acrobatics, mesmerizing acts of artistry
to soul-stirring magic, our dazzling gala is the festival highlight.
It will leave you breathless and wanting more.
Knock over your trash cans – sketch trio & FedUni grads,
Sugar Bits are spilling feminism all over Camp St.
Smeared with the socio-political grime of Abbie Chatfield and the idiocy of Aunty Donna, these triple-threats are overflowing with absurd sketches, razor-sharp songs
and characters validating the feminist experience.
Multi-award nominated (always the bridesmaids) and more stars than you can recycle,
it’s no wonder they’re the cult hit of Adelaide and Melbourne Festivals.
Your power trip is our FEMINIST TRASH!
★★★★ "As bitingly satirical as it is silly.'" Time Out Melbourne
★★★★½ "A masterclass in curated chaos'" Upside Adelaide
★★★★½ "The whole production runs on contagious joy.'" On the House
★★★★★ "An absolute force of nature.'" Binge Fringe
★★★★½ “Insightful and fresh takes on rhetoric that has inspired activists for decades” InDaily (SA)
★★★½ "A winning mix of the tight and the loose.'" Chortle (UK)
★★★★ "Full of cheek, good times and irresistible energy.'" The List (UK)
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Girlhood in the Bathroom is a new Australian musical set entirely in a club bathroom.
Following five twenty-something-year-old girls on New Year's Eve,
Girlhood in the Bathroom explores love, friendship, and the truths of growing up through dynamic scenes and original songs. The show explores a simple but revealing question: why do girls always go to the bathroom together?
Set in a space that is both intimate and public, the musical captures moments
of vulnerability and solidarity that unfold behind closed doors.
Written and performed by Ballarat Arts Academy graduates Imogen Brown, Sarah Eaton, Hannah Manderson, Amaya Pardillo and Alice Quick.
“Girlhood in the Bathroom is messy, hilarious, painfully real, and honestly one of the most relatable theatre experiences I've had in a long time.” Starre TV.
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The Glitter Bug Club
The Glitter Bug Club - A Kids' Cabaret Extravaganza!
The tables are set. The audience is seated. The lights are on.
But where are the stars of the show?
The maître d’ and waiters of The Glitter Bug Club must save the day as the booked stars of the show have gone to the completely wrong venue…!
The show will go on and it’s up to them.
Everyone’s favourite pansexual, time-travelling songbird returns with a cabaret
steeped in desire, decadence, and delicious disaster.
Adore Händel revisits centuries of passion - the fleeting glances, the grand gestures,
and the glorious mistakes that make history blush.
Blending operatic splendour with pop seduction, they weave a glittering tapestry of love, lust,
and lingering regret - all delivered with wicked wit
and a velvet voice made for sin.
'A glittering humorous show with a message which is stunningly performed' Glam Adelaide ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'This is such a fun show: clever, sophisticated, risqué and bursting with originality' Barefoot Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Formidable, fabulous and fearless' Lilithia Reviews ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Best of Cabaret Winner Adelaide Fringe 2026
Best of Cabaret and Variety Perth Fringeworld 2026
Best in Cabaret Nominee Melbourne Fringe 2025
Tassels & Tummies: A Fat Burlesque is a bold, celebratory cabaret that centres fat bodies as
powerful, desirable, and artistically vital.
The show features a rotating line-up of local and interstate performers working across burlesque, cabaret, and variety. Each bringing their own style, politics, and joy to the stage.
Tassels & Tummies is a reclaiming of space.
It challenges narrow beauty standards and the marginalisation of fat performers within traditional cabaret and burlesque contexts, offering audiences an experience that is joyful, unapologetic, and deeply embodied.
Expect high production values, strong audience connection, and performances that range from sensual and playful to defiant and emotionally resonant.
The show is inclusive, accessible, and community-focused, designed to make both performers and audiences feel seen, celebrated, and welcome.
When world-class singers come together, something special happens...
Experience exceptional musicians doing what we do best.
Sharing the songs we love, the stories that move us, and the kind of music that only hits properly when it’s live and in the room with you.
Join us for an evening of extraordinary singers sharing our favourite music.
A very special experience not to be missed.
Festival 2025
Cabaret Festival Gala 2025!
Gather your favourite and most adveturous friends and secure your tickets for our Festival centrepiece: the Cabaret Gala.
Witness an electrifying showcase of world-class performers from the worlds of cabaret, circus, opera, magic, and more, all coming together for a bespoke Ballarat show.
Identity Quest - a trans existential drama
By Julie Peters
As a child, people kept telling Julie Peters she was a boy, and she could never be a girl.
It took her decades of multi-directed epic quests to become herself and unbecome all the negative labels and the unbecoming-stressful drama her life had become.
Along the way she tried showbiz, academia, politics, environmentalism, promoting social justice and equity and became an accidental archivist and fashionista.
We meet the `personae dramatis’ of her life, family, teachers, religion, Macbeth’s witches, movie stars, colleagues.
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Mama Alto: Transcendent
One of Australia’s finest cabaret artistes, the velvet-voiced Mama Alto makes her
Ballarat Cabaret Festival debut with “Mama Alto: Transcendent.”
following sold-out, smash-hit performances at Joe’s Pub in New York,
Perth International Cabaret Festival, and Melbourne Recital Centre.
Mama Alto is a jazz singer, cabaret artiste and gender transcendent diva. Her liquid velvet voice comes to the fore in stunning and beguiling interpretations that turn already rich material inside-out. Traversing smoky torch songs, sumptuous jazz ballads and luscious vocals, Mama’s repertoire holds both familiar melodies and unexpected morsels.
With her soaring voice, exquisite sense of musicality and wondrously statuesque stage
presence, Mama Alto continues to establish herself as one of Australia’s pre-eminent
interpreters of the art of torch singing. Enigmatic, multifaceted and resplendent, her
weaving of song and story, triumph and tragedy, poignancy and pathos make for an
unforgettable musical experience.
Festival 2023
The Sandman and Flacco
Forevelyn
Steve "The Sandman" Abbott & Paul "Flacco" Livingston exhume the scattered remains of their own characters in 'Forevelyn': a touching tribute to themselves, the men behind themselves, and the two women behind the men behind themselves.
Combining stand-up comedy and sit-down musings, these two legends of Australian comedy share stories, readings, and revelations regarding their fictional creations, including the never before revealed contributions of their deceased mothers (both named Evelyn).
Their beloved alter egos, The Sandman & Flacco, have their own views on these matters of the heart and are on hand to offer advice to their aging creators. Both of their egos, altered or otherwise, are survived by the skin of their teeth, elevated toilet seats and the age pension.
Featuring sublimely adequate musical talents and original songs trumpeting their slow demise into irrelevance and beyond.
Festival Club Variety Show
After our mainstage show, Ballarat Cabaret Festival kicks on till late with the Festival Club.
Drinks, music, and cabaret fabulousness! Featuring operatic cabaret sweetheart Issie Hart, plus extra special guest entertainers and other surprises.
Festival 2022
Online Szalons
to brighen up the Lockdowns
November Szalon 2021
Fog Theatre Takeover
Fog Theatre is a dynamic and diverse performing arts program for adults with disability where members explore and develop skills in drama, acting, singing, improvisation, script, dance, movement and choreography in a socially, creatively and culturally inclusive, safe and welcoming environment, supported by highly experienced inclusive arts practitioners and accessibility specialists.
Fog Theatre’s bold artistic practice and culture of inclusivity embeds creative leadership development opportunities and nurtures vital pathways to further artistic collaborations, partnerships and exchanges across industries and sectors, as well as the production and presentation of numerous critically successful theatre and film works since its formation in 1991.
October Szalon 2021
Dark Legend - Patrick Bath
Internationally acclaimed writer, director, actor, musician, teacher
and clown, Ballarat's dark treasure Patrick Bath has worked professionally world wide for over twenty years with acts including the Dead Salesmen and the Dirty Brothers Dark Party.
Patrick is a isa member of The League of Sideshow superstars and a regular performer with The Australian Shakespeare Company.
Wholesomely terrifying - Clara Cupcakes
Burlesque dropout, vaudevillian vagabond, fanatic flailer, raconteur & cute-as-fuck clown, Clara Cupcakes is bringing vaudeville back and them other rubes don’t know how to act.
This bearcat will have you in stitches with her insane antics before you can say horsefeathers. Dancer, madcap flapper, gin soaked floozy, complete and utter clown, you’ll go positively doolally for Clara Cupcakes.
Gothic Royalty - Immacualta
From seedy goth lounges to movie sets, since the 1990's Immaculata have brought their own flavour of the dark side of electronica to variously adorned creatures of the night.
Mixing in a touch of camp new-romantic sensibility they are a cocktail worthy of Halloween.⠀⠀
Ballarat's Cabaret Queen - Nellie Minnelli
Ballarat born and bred with a theatrical career spanning 30 years, Nellie Minelli has worked in cabaret, classical dance, musical theatre, vaudeville, and comedy.
A trailblazer of variety performance, Nellie founded the first and only regional burlesque and vaudeville school here in Ballarat.
Nellie is a performer, choreographer, production manager, stage manager, director, producer and mentor. Nellie is incredibly passionate about cabaret and firmly believes that live entertainment is needed now more than ever.
Operatic Cabaret Sweetheart - Issie Hart
Purveyor of Charm, Issie Hart (They/Them) is an award winning soprano and creator of radical cabaret works that have toured extensively across Australia and internationally.
Hart’s work has been described as ‘The Rarest of things... Theatre that mattered’ Arts Hub Australia and ‘Radical, Transgressive Chic’ The Guardian, UK.
Hart was part of the creative development team of award winning circus cabaret show, Rouge and toured with the show for 3 years.
Hart has also received a number of awards in prestigious Australian classical singing competitions. Hart has worked in theatre, opera, independent film, community radio and television. ‘Gutsy and Likeable’ Cameron Woodhead – The Age.
“Hart is amazing, she projects a voice better than any I’ve heard this (Edinburgh) festival. I loved it." - ScotsGay
September Szalon 2021
The Incredible Trevor Jones!
Trevor Jones is one of Australia's leading Piano Bar entertainers and cabaret performers. He has performed to great acclaim in cabaret venues around Australia and around the world.
Trevor has hosted the Piano Bar for Adelaide Cabaret Festival, Melbourne Cabaret Festival, Ballarat Cabaret Festival and the Parlour Piano Bar New Zealand. He has hosted regular piano bar nights at Butterfly Club Melbourne, Doo-Bop Jazz Bar, Brisbane and Austin Club, Christchurch.
Trevor regularly performs at Piano Bar Geelong and Ballarat.
Tash York is a multi-award-winning singer, improviser, cabaret performer, producer, podcaster and Emcee!
Known for her ballsy voice, dynamic energy and an uncanny ability to rap on command, Tash “is a phenomenal performer, charismatic and courageous” (Theatre People).
Tash has performed to sold-out audiences at Perth Fringe World, Adelaide Fringe, Edinburgh Fringe, Melbourne Cabaret Festival, Ballarat Cabaret Festival, Brisbane Wonderland Festival, Melbourne International Comedy Festival and many more.
You’ll find her at almost every major festival performing her solo comedy cabaret shows or onstage as the resident host of The After Hours Cabaret Club.
The Hilarious Tash York
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Ballarat's Own - Dandyman
Dandyman - Welcome to the wonderfully wacky and absurd world of Australia’s front man of Circus & Physical Comedy.
Join Award winning, five star, International icon of idiocy, Daniel Oldaker aka “Dandyman” as he presents a not to be missed online Odyssey full of magical moments and preposterous possibilities.
Whether on screen or stage Dandyman transforms the dull into the delectable and creates sensational visual symphonies engaging circus & physical comedy.
Come on the journey and discover another world waiting for you to be immersed and amazed.
Operatic Cabaret Sweetheart Issie Hart (They/Them) is an award winning soprano and creator of radical cabaret works that have toured extensively across Australia and internationally.
Hart’s work has been described as ‘The Rarest of things... Theatre that mattered’ Arts Hub Australia and ‘Radical, Transgressive Chic’ The Guardian, UK.
Hart was part of the creative development team of award winning circus cabaret show, Rouge and toured with the show for 3 years.
Hart has also received a number of awards in prestigious Australian classical singing competitions. Hart has worked in theatre, opera, independent film, community radio and television. ‘Gutsy and Likeable’ Cameron Woodhead – The Age.
“Hart is amazing, she projects a voice better than any I’ve heard this (Edinburgh) festival. I loved it." - ScotsGay
Purveyor of Charm - Issie Hart
Ballarat's Cabaret Queen - Nellie Minnelli
Ballarat born and bred with a theatrical career spanning 30 years, Nellie Minelli has worked in cabaret, classical dance, musical theatre, vaudeville, and comedy.
A trailblazer of variety performance, Nellie founded the first and only regional burlesque and vaudeville school here in Ballarat.
Nellie is a performer, choreographer, production manager, stage manager, director, producer and mentor. Nellie is incredibly passionate about cabaret and firmly believes that live entertainment is needed now more than ever.
The Incomparable Geraldine Quinn!
Rock comedy singer, actor, writer and sparkle warrior Geraldine Quinn has been performing her award-winning original pop/rock cabaret around the world for a decade.
Quinn has appeared on Spicks and Specks, Adam Hills Tonight, Upper Middle Bogan, Hamish & Andy's True Story, Rockwiz, Whovians, When TV Was Awesome and provided singing vocals for Get Krack!n. She has been a cabaret judge for Short + Sweet, Melbourne Fringe Festival and the Green Room Awards Association's cabaret panel.
In 2013, Stranger debuted in Melbourne International Comedy Festival, and she took You’re the Voice to Western Australia, Tasmania, Queensland, regional Victoria, New Zealand and Adelaide Fringe.
