ABSINTHE to Receive Sydney Premiere at St Mary's Cathedral Square

By: Jul. 24, 2015
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Spiegelworld announced today that its smash-hit Las Vegas show ABSINTHE will be performed on St Mary's Cathedral Square, opposite Hyde Park, in the heart of Sydney's CBD from September 15 2015. It will be the first time a spiegeltent is to be pitched on this iconic site. An award-winning sensation in Las Vegas for the past four years, ABSINTHE has been wowing audiences on its Australian tour presented by Stan. It's a follow-up to Spiegelworld's record-breaking spiegeltent show, EMPIRE, which was seen by an incredible 200,000 Australians last year.

Inspired by the absinthe-drenched cabarets of late 19th century Europe, ABSINTHE is an adult-themed cocktail of circus, comedy, burlesque and vaudeville for a 21st century audience. In Las Vegas, the show has been playing to sold-out audiences at the world's most famous casino, Caesars Palace, since 2011 and celebrated its fourth anniversary in April. Celebrities regularly flock to join the audience and have recently included Britney Spears, James Franco, Neil Patrick Harris and Olivia Newton-John. Last month during a performance at the Las Vegas production, Channing Tatum was inspired to jump up on stage to perform an impromptu lap dance.

ABSINTHE is hosted by the filthy rich and just plain filthy Gazillionaire and his loyal assistant Abby Bobbins. The Gazillionarie has become one of the most acclaimed and subversive comedy forces in Las Vegas in recent years. Intoxicating songs are performed live by the seductive sylph, The Green Fairy, who is played by Australia's own Karla Tonkich.

Sydney audiences at ABSINTHE will be treated to two new international acts, specially hand-picked for the Australian tour, which join the show's line-up of jaw-dropping acts which have been amazing Las Vegas crowds.

Cavea Aurea consists of Laura von Bongard and Luka Clayburn, from Germany, who have created a breathtakingly sexy aerial hoop duet. Los Dos Tacos (Andrei Sizonenka and Aliaksandr Yurkavets from Belarus) will astound audiences with their heart-stopping human foosball routine on the high bar. It is believed to be the first time a double Bar act has been performed on the intimate spiegeltent stage where the audience are just inches away from the action.

Other acts include Oleksandr Volohdin (Ukraine) building an impossibly high chair mountain; The Lost Souls (Ukraine) with their stunning acrobatic Banquine Act; the sensuous Jacob Oberman and Maika Isogawa (USA) on the Duo Straps; Michal Nowosadko and Zbigniew Sobierajski (Poland) displaying extraordinary grace and strength with their Hand Balance; and Karla Tonkich performing the famous Balloon Strip, originally created by New York burlesque legend, Julie Atlas Muz, a star of the original production of ABSINTHE.

Spiegelworld's Impresario, Australian Ross Mollison said, "ABSINTHE is a rare opportunity to see these kinds of extreme circus acts performed in an intimate environment by some of the world's most sexy and talented artists. Having presented ABSINTHE in the iconic locations of Pier 42 under the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City, Miami Beach, the rooftop of Melbourne's Crown Casino and the forecourt of Caesars Palace right on the Las Vegas Strip, we are very excited to now be pitching our spiegeltent on Sydney's St Mary's Cathedral Square."

Nine Live CEO Geoff Jones said, "After experiencing the thrill of ABSINTHE in Las Vegas we knew we had to tour this hilarious and exciting show in Australia. I'm sure that Sydney audiences are going to absolutely love ABSINTHE!"

Spiegelworld began creating its immersive live entertainment experiences in New York City in 2006. At the core of this seductive carnival world is a unique venue - a century-old Belgian spiegeltent beautifully crafted from teak, stained glass, mirrors and luxurious velvet. The tiny circular stage at the centre of the intimate spiegeltent has informed the creation of all of Spiegelworld's ground-breaking live shows.



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