A scrumptious smorgasbord of performances to whet your Cabaret Festival appetite - bring on the Delicious Revolution
Presented by: Adelaide Festival Centre
Reviewed: 4 June, 2026
It might be cold outside across South Australia, but at the Adelaide Festival Centre, things are heating up with the Adelaide Cabaret Festival and the 2026 Variety Gala.
Opening the 12-day festival, the Gala gave audiences a mouth-watering sample of Artistic Director Reuben Kaye’s delicious program. This year’s program, aptly titled Delicious Revolution, is packed with so many incredible performances, exhibitions and events that will certainly whet just about everyone’s appetite.
Following a spirited Welcome to Country by senior Kaurna and Narrunga man, Uncle Mickey O’Brien, our host for the night, Artistic Director Reuben Kaye was carried to centre stage by members of The Sharks rugby team. Kaye opened proceedings with an upbeat number full of his quick one-liners and cheeky lyrics.
The first half featured highlights from across this year’s program and included a cheeky routine from Australia’s Queen of Burlesque Bettie Bombshell (A Night of Burlesque – June 18 – 19); Dylan Adler brought us a hilarious number about a tour he did through the deep-south of America as a gay man(Haus of Dy-Lan – June 6 – 7); Tara Tiba’s emotive and stirring rendition of the jazz standard Fly Me To The Moonsung in Farsi sent shivers through the audience (OMID – Hope – June 14) and Frankie McNair left the audience in stitches with her comedic banter and hilarious burlesque routine (The Booth Variety Spectacular & Formal Apology Hour! – June 12 – 13). Rounding out the first half was the phenomenal Mahalia Barnes who brought us a medley from her cabaret show The Rose (June 14). Barnes’ performance brought the house down. Her exquisite voice is like listening to honey dripping and fills your soul.
The second half opened with Javon King bringing us a rocking performance of Heaven on their Minds (What’s The Buzz? – June 6); the unstoppable and unapologetic Em Rusciano showed us why she’s addicted to love (Addicted to Love – June 5 – 7); Vidya Makan performed a powerful and moving number from her work-in-progress show that will feature in this year’s program (Light – June 12) ; Ursula Yovich gave us a hauntingly powerful rendition of the Nina Simone song Four Women (Ursula Yovich Sings Nina Simone – June 5 – 6); Gillian Cosgriff brought the party vibes with a crowd participation game from her late night show There is Nothing Like A Game! (June 4 – 6). Closing out Gala was Adelaide’s own Baylie Carson. Carson has taken London’s West End by storm, appearing in shows such as SIX and Mean Girls. They have returned to Adelaide with a brand new cabaret show (thanks to the Frank Ford Commission), from which they performed a high-energy number. (Baylie Carson is Handsome(ish) – June 11 – 12).
The entire cast united for the finale, Burning Down the House, before the sold-out Festival Theatre was on its feet, ready to party through the next three huge weekends of the Cabaret Festival.
It has become custom over the years for the Cabaret Icon Award to be presented at the Gala. This year’s worthy winner was Ursula Yovich. Her acceptance speech really highlighted the genuine and down-to-earth nature of Yovich, who was very much overcome by receiving this award from Reuben Kaye.
Scattered throughout each act, Reuben Kaye brought us tidbits about each show as well as showcasing some iconic outfits worn by cabaret legends, such as Rhonda Burchmore’s Red Hot and Rhonda dress. Kaye bared it all…literally. Nothing was off-limits, and he had the audience in the palm of his hand (when it wasn’t being used to cover certain parts of his body!).
The Variety Gala was accompanied by an incredible live band under the musical direction of Shannon D Whitelock. They provided an incredible musical landscape, crossing multiple genres of music with finesse and musicality.
The Variety Gala is always a sell-out, top-quality night out, and this year’s event was no exception. It was a tantalising taste of what is to come from Reuben Kaye’s first Cabaret Festival program and the audience certainly didn’t leave hungry. They were full from his extravagant smorgasbord of cabaret offerings.
Reviewed by Ben Stefanoff
Photo credit: Claudio Raschella
Venue: Adelaide Festival Theatre
Season: Ended
Duration: 2 hours and 20 minutes
The Adelaide Cabaret Festival is running until Sunday 21st June. Jump onto their website and book your tickets to join the delicious revolution.
