Cirque Nocturne's RUSALKA Comes to the B2B Cabaret Festival

The Star Theatres on Sir Donald Bradman Drive are set to play host to the Back to Back Cabaret Festival this October, with dazzling local shows in the spotlight. With its focus on short shows no more than an hour in length, the festival will showcase a incredible variety of shows, in genres from music, dance, cabaret, circus and more.

This year, internationally acclaimed local company Cirque Nocturne is set to bring your childhood fantasies of mermaids to life with their show, Rusalka. The show uses a cabaret format to tell mermaid stories and folklore from around the world.

Producer and performer Kate Lawrence says she was inspired to explore the myths and magic surrounding mermaids from a childhood obsession. " I was 4 years old when Disney's " The Little Mermaid" came out, and my childhood was filled with mermaids. I would practice swimming with my feet squeezed together, and see how long I could hold my breath underwater"

"In adulthood, this obsession blossomed into to fascination with the mythology and symbolism surrounding mermaids. To me, the mermaid is the ultimate symbol of feminine empowerment. As a performer, I wanted to explore the Mermaids hold on society's collective imagination through the power of the stage."

Audiences who are familiar with Cirque Nocturne's previous works can expect to the see traditional circus acts, such as aerialists and fire performers, that the company is know for, but Ms Lawrence says the show contains a lot of dance, burlesque and music in addition to the acrobatics. "The mermaid is so graceful and sensuous in her aquatic world- I wanted some of that fluidity to come across in the performances"

Rusalka plays at Star Theatre One on the 19th and 27th of October at 6pm. Please note this show is not suitable for children and is rated 18+