A Star Venue for Cabaret Stars

Despite the venue starting out as a tin shed and having been known by multiple names since the 1920’s, Star Theatres has been an enduring and well-loved host to Adelaide entertainment in all its forms, even as the theatre complex dealt with arts funding cuts, potential closure and other trials. Under the auspices of its indomitable Director, Adelaide entertainment guru Malcolm Harslett, the venue is soon to stage the 2016 season of its own successful Cabaret festival, Cabaret under the Star. Lesley Reed reports. 

In 1928 a stone and brick building replaced the 1923 tin shed and subsequent Soldiers Memorial Institute that originally graced the land on which Adelaide’s Star Theatres now stands. The stone and brick structure became the foundation of what remains as part of the main theatre today.

Over the decades a range of activities and functions have occurred there, such as returned soldiers’ meetings, a library service, ballroom dancing, roller skating and, in the ‘thirties, the new fad of the time, ‘electric light cricket’. The growing popularity of suburban film theatres in the thirties changed the function of the venue yet again. It had a number of names, including The Lyric Theatre and then The Windsor. There was a brief switch to Star Theatres, the current name, but in the sixties it became Theatre 62. This name remained until the nineties when it was re-named Star Theatres to complement venue upgrades and lose the sixties tag.  

2016 marks the twenty-third anniversary of Mighty Good Productions’ lease of the venue, with the busy company producing sixty-five original productions since 1992. The theatres have also hosted hundreds of clients, such as major musical companies, comedians, professional, amateur and school theatre productions, plus schools for Dance, Drama and Singing. The theatre is the home of the Mighty Good Talent School, which in 2017 celebrates its fortieth year of teaching the performing arts to South Australians.

After several years of uncertainty and potential closure of the venue, the West Torrens Council voted in 2015 to retain the theatre and continue the lease agreement with Mighty Good Productions for a further 10 years, later agreeing to budget for upgrades to the building.

Star Theatres, together with Director Malcolm Harslett, are icons of the Adelaide entertainment and theatre scene. It is through Harslett’s dedication and commitment to live entertainment in South Australia that an important venue has remained viable to service the local arts community, when many such theatres and halls have disappeared.

Much change and no end of challenges have occurred over the years but the theatre complex has risen to every occasion, championed by a tireless Harslett, who has instigated successful concepts for the venue.  These include Star Theatres’ own Cabaret festival, ‘Cabaret under the Star’. The 2016 season is to be staged at The Star’s two theatres in October.

This year’s ‘Cabaret under the Star’ features a mix of acts including:

-       Coumi Irresponsible (Michael Coumi)

-       Candy Chambers: In Candy Tonight

-       Seasons of a Lifetime (8 person a capella group DOTS)

-       Bessie Billie Dinah (music of 3 pioneering black female vocalists)

-       With Love from the Trenches (Poppy Productions)

-       Gravity Dance

-       Colours of my Life (Rachel Leahcar)

-       Route 66 (Heidi and the Rockets)

-       Defying Cabaret (Dianne k. Lang and Kat Jade)

-       Jace Wonders, The Gifted

-       Strange Tales of Magic

-       Lets Get Tricky (Mickster the Trickster)

-       Magic Mayhem (Mickster the Trickster)

-       Non Stop (Time in Space Circus)

-       The Legends Show

-       FLAMENCO! Live

-       Candy Chambers: 50 Forever

-       Luck be a Lady

-       Heroes and Villains of Disney (Matthew Pugsley and Alex Bond)

…and more.

The acts include eleven new shows created for the event and feature cabaret, illusion, theatre, circus, timeless music and comedy. Local household names and unique imports provide plenty of choice for a great night’s entertainment.

For ‘Cabaret under the Star’ you can book four shows for $90 (in person or phone only).

‘Cabaret under the Star’ kicks off its 2016 season with a Live Gala Performance hosted by Malcolm Harslett and TV’s ‘Our Time’ star, Janice Baker. The show will be broadcast on Channel 44, on Thursday October 20, at 7.30 pm.

Star Theatres and its innovative programs continue, but audiences can help ensure the venue is here for many more decades to come by heading to Sir Donald Bradman Drive for ‘Cabaret under the Star’, as well as patronizing the complex’s year-round fantastic entertainment.

There’s always something for all ages and tastes at ‘The Star’.

CABARET UNDER THE STAR

45 performances

25 different shows.

When: October 21-30

Where: Star Theatres, 145 Sir Donald Bradman Drive, Hilton

Bookings: www.startheatres.com.auor call 8234 1800.

Details for individual shows listed at www.startheatres.com.au/cabaret-under-the-star.html

Images (from top): Josh Croll, Luck Be a Lady, Candy Chambers, FLAMENCO! Live and Heroes and Villains of Disney.