A cheeky throwback to Sydney’s salacious cabaret dens of yesteryear, Smashed: The Nightcap is shaking up The Thirsty Mile.
You’ll be drawn into a wild night of revelry with some of the country’s most daring drag stars, variety and circus acts, and musicians. And we’ll let you in on a secret: other favourites from the 2024 Sydney Festival bill will be smuggled in for nightly pop-up performances on the Smashed stage.
“I’m delighted to have lured such a high-calibre ensemble together – each night is set to be a unique, never-to-be-repeated experience,” says co-creator, host and band leader Victoria Falconer. “We’re raising a toast to the wild ones, the rule-breakers and troublemakers over the years who know how to make a little havoc whilst also having a damn good time!”
Let’s meet ’em, shall we?
Victoria Falconer
Cabaret queen Victoria Falconer (Smashed: The Brunch Party) returns as your host with the absolute most. A cross-disciplinary performing artist, multi-instrumentalist and musical director of Filipina-English heritage, Victoria works primarily across cabaret, musical theatre and live music. She was appointed Co-Artistic Director of Hayes Theatre Co in 2022.
Victoria’s recent projects include the debut of her original work And Then You Go (The Vali Myers Project), performing in The Boy Who Talked To Dogs and musical direction on Gentlemen Prefer Blondes for Sydney WorldPride.
Malia Walsh
Malia Walsh’s specialties are fire manipulation, hula hoop, adagio and cracking you up. A founding member of Circus Trick Tease, Malia has been a driving force producing and directing the company’s works including the self-titled Circus Trick Tease, 'Straya, Can't Face and Werk It.
Other career highlights include performing in the award-winning Men of Steal and Hard Rubbish (Malthouse), being projected as a 10-metre-high woman for Sydney Festival, directing the five-star sensation Neon for the Circus Oz and performing for Mick Jagger.
Bridget Rose
Strap in! Bridget Rose is an acclaimed aerialist based in Sydney, who has performed on some of the world's best stages including Cirque du Soleil, Montreal's La TOHU, Montreal Completement Cirque Festival and the Cirque Eloize HQ. She’s toured Canada with Vague de Cirque, and performed in cabaret Gravity Dolls in Melbourne and Les Productions Haut-Vol's production of Gravity in Ohio.
Growing up in Sydney as an artistic gymnast gave Bridget the versatility across acrobatic disciplines. Training predominantly in Canada, she was coached by some of the industry’s leaders in aerial straps and dance trapeze.
Karlee Misi
Karlee Misi, a proud Maori/Niuean artist, is a Polynesian burlesque and vogue femme ballroom performer. Known for her joy, feminine power and big bimbo energy, Karlee is the mother of vogue House of Luna and has performed in Yummy The Show and The Empire Strips Back, as well as gracing stages at Dark Mofo, Heaps Gay, Unicorns and Queer Icon.
Kelly Ann Doll
Kelly Ann Doll is a high-octane Australian burlesque powerhouse, with more titles under her belt than a heavy weight champion. Based in Sydney, she’s been tantalising the nation for well over a decade as a burlesque performer, producer, mentor and creative director to some of the nation’s leading event companies and clientele.
She was voted as one the Top 10 Most Influential Burlesque Artists in Australia, published by 21st Century Burlesque Magazine.
Tynga Williams
Expect high kicks and splits from Tynga Williams, a Wiradjuri, Kamilaroi, Noongar and Torres Strait Islander drag performer, dancer, singer and model.
A diploma graduate from NAISDA Dance College, Tynga has worked with Legs on the Wall and Bangarra Dance Theatre, as well as independent work with Cirque X for Tender. Tynga started performing as a singer throughout high school and has sung with local legends Dami Im, Jessica Mauboy, Casey Donovan and more.
Kween Kong
Born and raised in New Zealand, Kween Kong (aka Thomas Fonua) is a legendary drag star of Indigenous Samoan/Tongan descent. The runner-up of RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under season 2, Kween brought electrifying lip syncs to the mainstage.
Beginning as a dancer at seven – and as an apprentice with Black Grace Dance Company by 16 – the performer has worked as a choreographer, hit countless festival and club stages, and toured internationally with Australian Dance Theatre. In 2019 Kween was crowned Miss Drag Nation Australia.
Courtney Act
Boy, girl, artist, advocate. Courtney Act is more than just gender or drag. She’s a contemporary artist who embodies the zeitgeist of an era.
Breaking out as a finalist on Australian Idol in 2003, Courtney gained worldwide fans as a competitor on RuPaul’s Drag Race, Celebrity Big Brother UK (for which she was crowned the winner) and Dancing with the Stars, as well as for hosting bisexual dating show The Bi Life. She recently trod the boards in Blithe Spirit at Sydney Theatre Company and co-hosted the Opening Ceremony of Sydney WorldPride – coinciding with her latest single Celebrate.
Hans
Boozier than Oktoberfest, more drive than a Volkswagen and more sausage than a bratwurst convention, Hans is Germany’s proudest and hottest export. He's an international superstar, sex symbol, accordionist and Berlin boy-wonder who has been thrilling audiences around the globe with his own fabulous brand of award-winning comedy cabaret for 15 years. Hans has performed for everyone from prime ministers to princesses, paupers to paper boys, and soon... maybe you.
Plus a rip-roaring live band:
Nathan Barraclough
Specialising in guitars, mandolin, banjo and ukulele.
Abi McCunn
Abi is a saxophone, flute and clarinet player extraordinaire.
Jarrad Payne
A multi-instrumentalist and audio engineer trained in jazz drumming.
and more musicians to be announced...
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