Latest news with #ClubKabarett
Scotsman
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Underbelly announces Circus Hub Programme for 2025
Audiences will once again be invited to run away to the magical world of the Circus Hub – the ultimate home of awe-inspiring and one-of-a-kind live its UK debut on the Meadows is the latest show from CIRCA: WOLF. Known for their innovative and emotionally resonant performances, this troupe redefine the boundaries of modern circus and CIRCA: WOLF has captivated audiences with its physicality and exploration of primal human instincts. With daring acrobatics and intricate choreography this show has been celebrated for its "weightless dancing, great music and animalistic formations" (Tagesspiege)l, and described as "a rollercoaster ride of emotions from beginning to end" (Berliner Zeitung). Bernie Dieter, the acclaimed queen of Weimar punk cabaret, is set to make an eagerly anticipated return to the Edinburgh Fringe with her latest show Bernie Dieter'sClub Kabarett. Renowned for her one-of-a-kind blend of live music, circus, and comedy, Dieter curates a lineup which has seen sword swallowers, aerialists, fire-breathers, perform alongside her and her live punk jazz band. As an "an exuberant, juicy, guns-blazing performance that makes other cabarets look stale and tame" (Arts Desk) this show truly embodies Bernie's unique spirit: bold and unapologetic. Bernie Dieter's Club Kabarett is a celebration of freedom, individuality, and pushing boundaries, defying expectations at every song. Internationally acclaimed, and fresh off the heels of a run at Underbelly Boulevard, the show's success has continued in Australia, where it was highlighted as "unmissable" by Out In Perth. This year's programme also features the return of fan favourites such as Sophie's Surprise 29th and Trash Test Dummies alongside bold new shows making their debut on the Meadows including Edinburgh smash hit Mythos: Ragnarök – a show that truly defines the Edinburgh Fringe; a pulse-raising fusion of Norse mythology and wrestling that's redefining physical theatre. This year sees more family-friendly shows than ever, with six spectacular productions with fun for all the family at its heart. From the magic of The Flying Bubble Show to the heartwarming acrobatics of The Ugly Duckling, along with All Star Circus there's nowhere else to be this August. Since 2015, the Circus Hub has played host to world famous acts as well as emerging talent and this year will be no different. As a hub of creativity, each day performances will blow audiences away with acrobatics and awe-inspiring stunts. See below for more info on each of the shows on offer: Step into the smoky world of Bernie Dieter's Club Kabarett where debauched circus meets powerhouse live music, gender-bending acts, and fire-breathing chaos in a wild night of cabaret. where debauched circus meets powerhouse live music, gender-bending acts, and fire-breathing chaos in a wild night of cabaret. From the internationally acclaimed CIRCA ensemble comes CIRCA: Wolf — an acrobatic thrill ride where chaos transforms into primal unity through ferocious, tightly woven choreography. — an acrobatic thrill ride where chaos transforms into primal unity through ferocious, tightly woven choreography. Expect sky-high thrills in The Nose Dive Assembly , a bold new circus show packed with trapeze artists, teeterboards, custom apparatus and the UK's only female Wheel of Death duo , a bold new circus show packed with trapeze artists, teeterboards, custom apparatus and the UK's only female Wheel of Death duo Laugh, gasp and connect in Flip Fabrique: Six° , a playful, high-energy exploration of how close we really are – just six degrees – told through gravity-defying circus and comedy. , a playful, high-energy exploration of how close we really are – just six degrees – told through gravity-defying circus and comedy. Soar into a dreamlike world with The Flying Bubble Show , where shimmering bubbles, flight and imagination collide in a meditative, interactive spectacle for kids and adults alike. , where shimmering bubbles, flight and imagination collide in a meditative, interactive spectacle for kids and adults alike. Part myth, part muscle, Mythos: Ragnarök blends Viking legends with full-throttle wrestling in a rock-fuelled, critically acclaimed physical theatre phenomenon. blends Viking legends with full-throttle wrestling in a rock-fuelled, critically acclaimed physical theatre phenomenon. Full of punk spirit and playful rebellion, circus-cabaret show The Ruckus serves up a powerful mix of strong women, breathtaking aerials, human-sized balloons and cheeky circus joy for everyone. serves up a powerful mix of strong women, breathtaking aerials, human-sized balloons and cheeky circus joy for everyone. Sophie's Surprise 29th is back after a smash-hit run – part circus, part comedy, all chaos – throwing the wildest, most nostalgic 90s house party you've ever stumbled into. is back after a smash-hit run – part circus, part comedy, all chaos – throwing the wildest, most nostalgic 90s house party you've ever stumbled into. Experience All Star Circus, a jaw-dropping display of Aussie talent featuring backflips, one-arm handstands, human pyramids and aerial grace from a cast of award-winning performers. a jaw-dropping display of Aussie talent featuring backflips, one-arm handstands, human pyramids and aerial grace from a cast of award-winning performers. With bins, balance and belly laughs, Trash Test Dummies Circus returns to take the humble wheelie bin to ridiculous, side-splitting new heights in this family favourite. returns to take the humble wheelie bin to ridiculous, side-splitting new heights in this family favourite. A classic tale flips into the circus for Underbelly's youngest audiences with The Ugly Duckling, where high-energy acrobatics and storytelling celebrate finding your tribe and embracing your uniqueness. Since its launch in 2015, Underbelly's Circus Hub has remained the home of world-class circus at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Set in the heart of the Meadows, it was the first major venue at the Fringe dedicated entirely to showcasing the boldest, most breathtaking circus work from around the globe. The Hub's iconic venues – The Lafayette, a striking 550-seat big top, and The Beauty, a stunning 500-seat Spiegeltent – pay tribute to Edinburgh's rich circus heritage. Named after legendary illusionist The Great Lafayette and his beloved performing dog Beauty, they honour the city's historic love affair with spectacle and showmanship. Each year, these extraordinary spaces continue to push the boundaries of what's possible at the Fringe, offering a home for technically ambitious, visually spectacular and emotionally resonant circus that thrills audiences of all ages. Underbelly's Head of Programming Marina Dixon said: 'This year's Circus Hub brings together a fantastic mix of shows from around the world, with more UK circus than ever before. We're thrilled to welcome back returning favourites with exciting new work, alongside fresh voices bringing something special to the Meadows. The programme is full of joy, spectacle and heart. There really is something for everyone.' For tickets and more information head to: PROGRAMME OF EVENTS – IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER ALL STAR CIRCUS Underbelly's Circus Hub on the Meadows (The Beauty) | 5.15pm Dates: 2nd–23rd August (excl. 12th & 19th) (from £14) Genre: Children's Show, Circus, Acrobatics Experience world-class circus talent, Head First Acrobats performing extraordinary feats right before your eyes! From amazing backflips and one-arm handstands to towering human pyramids and graceful aerialists, this award-winning cast of Australia's best circus performers delivers a high-energy spectacle for all ages. BERNIE DIETER'S CLUB KABARETT Underbelly's Circus Hub on the Meadows (The Beauty) | 7.20pm Dates: 1st–23rd August (excl. 11th & 18th) (from £17) Genre: Cabaret & Variety, Circus, Live Music A debauched night of breathtaking circus, powerhouse live music, gender-bending artistry, and fire-breathing sideshow at its most provocative and hilarious best. 'An exuberant, juicy, guns-blazing performance that makes other cabarets look stale and tame.' ★★★★★ (ArtsHub) CIRCA: WOLF Underbelly's Circus Hub on the Meadows (The Lafayette) | 6.20pm Dates: 1st–23rd August (excl. 6th, 12th & 19th) (from £15.50) Genre: Circus, Physical Theatre, Acrobatics Wolf is a gasp-inducing acrobatic thrill ride from the internationally renowned Circa ensemble. The wolves evolve from disruptive chaos into a ferocious pack, moving with razor-sharp physicality and raw intensity. Overflowing with danger and beauty, this is circus with fangs. Join the pack. FLIP FABRIQUE: SIX° Underbelly's Circus Hub on the Meadows (The Lafayette) | 2.05pm Dates: 2nd–23rd August (excl. 12th & 19th) (from £17) Genre: Circus, Acrobatics Are we all just six degrees apart? With five performers on stage, Six° explores the missing connections between us through astonishing acrobatics and comedy. FLIP Fabrique turns the ordinary into the extraordinary in this playful, high-energy circus for a connected world. THE FLYING BUBBLE SHOW Underbelly's Circus Hub on the Meadows (The Beauty) | 3.10pm Dates: 2nd–23rd August (excl. 12th & 19th) (from £14) Genre: Children's Shows, Circus A dreamlike fusion of bubbles and flight. Maxwell the Bubbleologist floats through the air, creating shimmering scenes of magic. This meditative, interactive spectacle invites audiences into a world of wonder, beauty and playful imagination. MYTHOS: RAGNARÖK Underbelly's Circus Hub on the Meadows (The Lafayette) | 8.40pm Dates: 1st–23rd August (excl. 11th & 18th) (from £12) Genre: Theatre, Physical Theatre, Rock Part myth, part mayhem! Mythos: Ragnarök smashes together Viking legend and full-throttle wrestling in this critically acclaimed, globally touring spectacle. Join Loki, Thor, and the gods in a no-holds-barred showdown. 'The maddest, baddest show on the Fringe... A phenomenon.' (Daily Mail) THE NOSE DIVE ASSEMBLY Underbelly's Circus Hub on the Meadows (The Lafayette) | 4.10pm Dates: 2nd–23rd August (excl. 11th & 18th) (from £16.50) Genre: Circus Big-top circus with heart and spectacle from Revel Puck. The Nose Dive Assembly brings large-scale contemporary circus to the stage, withtrapeze artists, bespoke apparatus, teeterboards, and the only female Wheel of Death duo in the UK. Daring, dynamic, and defiantly joyful. THE RUCKUS Underbelly's Circus Hub on the Meadows (The Beauty) | 1.05pm Dates: 2nd–23rd August (excl. 11th & 18th) (from £15) Genre: Circus, Cabaret Circus meets punk in The Ruckus — a celebration of power, play and rebellion. Featuring strong women, giant balloons, breathtaking aerials and the cheeky spirit of The Revel Puck Circus, this is a circus that's as inclusive as it is exhilarating. SOPHIE'S SURPRISE 29TH Underbelly's Circus Hub on the Meadows (The Beauty) | 9.45pm Dates: 1st–23rd August (excl. 11th & 18th) (from £17) Genre: Circus, Cabaret Sophie is turning 29, and the house party is on! After a smash-hit 2024 debut, this chaotic blend of circus, comedy and 90s nostalgia returns. Featuring jaw-dropping performances and non-stop party vibes. 'Loved every minute of it.' ★★★★★ (Scottish Sun) TRASH TEST DUMMIES CIRCUS Underbelly's Circus Hub on the Meadows (The Lafayette) | 12.05pm Dates: 2nd–23rd August (excl. 11th & 18th) (from £13.50) Genre: Children's Shows, Circus, Comedy Everyone put your rubbish out – tonight's bin night and the Trash Test Dummies are on duty again! This award-winning, slapstick circus extravaganza turns the humble wheelie bin into a tool of hilarity, acrobatics and delight. A family favourite returns! THE UGLY DUCKLING Underbelly's Circus Hub on the Meadows (The Beauty) | 11am Dates: 2nd–23rd August (excl. 11th & 18th) (from £13) Genre: Children's Shows, Circus, Theatre A classic tale reimagined through circus from Revel Puck. The Ugly Duckling fuses storytelling and acrobatics in a joyful coming-of-age story that celebrates difference, belonging and finding your flock. High-energy fun with a big heart for the whole family. For ticketing information, head to and follow Underbelly on social media @FollowTheCow 1 . Contributed Mythos Ragnarok to head to Underbelly for the first time. Photo: Submitted Photo Sales 2 . Contributed Bernie Dieter's Club Kabarett makes a triumphant return to the Fringe Photo: Submitted Photo Sales
The Guardian
01-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘Somehow they managed to survive': Weimar cabaret star Bernie Dieter on her family's extraordinary past
Fast-forward on a tape and whole worlds open up. For Jen Byrne, the creator of legendary Weimar cabaret singer Bernie Dieter, it came at the end of her own christening video: filmed in Germany where she was initially raised. Fast-forwarding past the usual scenes – moments in the church, family celebrating afterwards, drinking champagne and eating cake – she suddenly came across the remnants of a German prison porno, circa 1970. 'Lots of men with moustaches and all these very large bushes,' Byrne says, laughing. The discovery echoed an experience she had as an eight-year-old watching The Rocky Horror Picture Show with her parents, who 'would stop it just before the orgy scene in the pool – one night I was on my own and I just kept watching. I was like: 'Oh my God, there's a whole new ending!'' Somehow those abrupt shifts into adult spaces, from pious naivety to unmitigated raunch, stayed with her and maybe partly explain the deliciously febrile sexuality of her cabaret alter ego. Having only ever been interviewed in character as Bernie Dieter, Byrne is finally dropping the mask of the chanteuse and chats to the Guardian for the first time as herself. 'It's a little bit scary but in an exciting way,' she says over coffee as she prepares to open her new show, Club Kabarett, in Melbourne. Dieter is an international fixture on the cabaret scene, having hosted the ribald circus antics of La Clique for a number of years, as well as touring her own shows Little Death Club and Berlin Underground throughout Europe and the UK. In her Louise Brooks wig, Dieter deliberately evokes the heady maximalism of interwar Weimar cabaret, with its sharp edges and politically subversive sensibility. If Byrne isn't quite as sexually outrageous as Dieter – who often climbs over audience members in her predilection for hirsute men – she still suggests levels of allure and depravity under her gamine smile. 'Bernie's obviously an extension of me,' Byrne says. 'Everything that she represents is actually within me.' But Dieter also allows for a kind of debauched anarchy that Byrne would never get away with in ordinary life – 'all those primal, dark, sexy, weird beautiful things that live deep inside you that you're not always allowed to express'. Byrne has been performing as Dieter since her early 20s but only recently discovered a familial link to the character stretching back to her German grandmother's childhood. As she slid into dementia, her Oma began to relive her early life growing up in a travelling circus while wartime Germany divided in two. In a kind of reversal of those videotapes, Oma was stuck in a permanent rewind, and a fascinating story emerged. 'She was born in Dresden in 1932, and the family travelled under the Sarrasani umbrella, one of the big circuses at the time. But the hard border between east and west made it increasingly difficult to tour,' Byrne says. Her Oma's stepfather, Harry – a harsh, abusive man who had forbidden his stepdaughter to perform – decided they had to escape across the border to the west. Oma was smuggled in under a bunch of costumes while her brothers hid in hay from the elephant enclosures. Once on the other side, Harry abandoned his family and left them with a single food truck. 'Somehow, they managed to survive,' Byrne says. 'Whenever they got some money selling sausages, they would add on a room and the food truck became their kitchen.' This hodgepodge approach to architecture made for 'a weird house, with rooms falling in random places. It was very bizarre.' Oma never fulfilled her dream of performing as an adult, so her family never made the connection between her and Byrne's Weimar-inspired alter ego. 'All these stories and no one had told me,' Byrne says. 'I don't know why; they just never talked about it.' Dieter may have come unbidden from Byrne's consciousness but she clearly satisfied a need. It's something Byrne recognises as she tours the world, especially when visiting countries with less permissive attitudes to sex and sexuality. Dieter's shows, provocative at the best of times, take on a social and political urgency in a place such as Hungary, where LGBTQ+ rights are being erased, and even Japan, which is 'still pretty traditional in their gender roles'. Some of the reactions she receives from audiences after her shows astonishes her, for their fervour and sheer joy. 'One immaculately dressed Japanese woman in her 70s took my hands and said, 'Thank you for the most joy I have had in my life'.' Another woman in the UK told Byrne she was going to leave her husband after seeing the show. 'She came back a year later and said, 'I've left him. I'm having the best time of my life. I'm with a woman now.'' Duality and the mirror, transfiguration and self-actualisation, have always sat at the heart of Byrne's comically flirtatious creation but as she matures 'the veil between Bernie and I is getting thinner and the differences are getting less'. As rightwing nationalism and ultra-conservative attitudes to sex and gender re-emerge, the gin-soaked permissiveness of Weimar also begins to feel like a radical response to the times we live in – almost 100 years after it first did in Germany. 'Weimar cabaret has a kind of punk, dirty, gritty, raw, social commentary energy about it,' Byrne says. 'It flares up in times when there's a lot of scary shit happening in the world.' Bernie Dieter's Club Kabarett is on in Melbourne 3 April-11 May, then Edinburgh 1-23 August
