Wynter of our Disco Tent

The song ‘Sisters are doing it for themselves’ could have been written for Jenny and Angie Wynter – two sisters from Toowoomba who are finally living out their dream of pop superstardom in a show they have written – and perform in as ‘themselves’. The girls tell their tale of being taken to Toowoomba to live with their Grandma after a tragic family loss. And so, their escape into the pop culture and music of the 1980s is tinged with a melancholy that everyone will appreciate – especially as this show causes us to look back nostalgically at those times in our own lives.

Jenny and Angie are the best friends everyone wishes they had grown up with – and this show highlights their passion for friendship as well as ‘raging’ to their favourite music. You can imagine going over to their Grandma’s place for a slumber party and enjoying dancing the night away to those memorable tunes, courtesy of the girls’ shared tape collection, or phoned-in requests to the star DJ on local radio station 4AK – there was a definite laugh-out-loud moment for me as the girls win a copy of ‘100% Hits Vol III’ and Jenny sends herself a shout-out from her potential new boyfriend (if only her knew she existed, their relationship could really get to the next level!)

Costumed in their pink and blue satin tracky suits, with a matching stage design by Jon Wilson featuring a giant tape deck, the girls sing their own original hits, dancing to fun choreography by Neridah Waters and fabulous 80’s high hair and makeup by Simone Kelaart. My favourite bits are the original songs, perfect loving pastiches of real 80s hits by the likes of Alison Moyet/Yazoo, Kylie Minogue and Kate Ceberano. The lyrics take inspiration from excerpts from Jenny’s actual teenage diary that forms the basis of their journey down memory lane. Jenny reads from her diary as Angie plays background keyboards and we hear all about their high school socials and would-be romances.

It wouldn’t be a feel-good comedy without a bit of cheeky audience participation. In this case a willing volunteer gets to star in a gameshow parody, ‘Couples we Love’ – as the duo sing their clues to famous couples Charles and Di, Dylan and Brenda, Baby and Johnny, Jason and Kylie. It really is a blast from the past and heaps of fun. But I still prefer their original 80s spoof tunes and would love to hear more in future. 

Jenny and Angie have great voices and boundless energy, and you will love spending an hour with them. Their enthusiasm for the music is infectious and fun. Of course, the ‘Jenny and Angie’ who appear on stage in this show did not actually fail in their quest for fame – they are both seasoned solo performers in their own right, as well as collaborating wonderfully. Jenny is an award-winning cabaret and comedy writer/performer and founder of Funny Mummies, a group that uses laughter to improve mothers’ mental wellness. Wynter of our Disco Tent is a great celebration of sisterhood, childhood and getting through the teenage traumas of life and loves with the power of music.

Find out more on Jenny’s gig guide: https://www.jennywynter.com/gig-guide

Beth Keehn

Images: Funny Mummies Touring