Gather ‘round cabaret and vaudevillian lovers – the spectacular travelling Wonderland Spiegeltent is set to return to Port Douglas Carnivale in 2022, delivering circus, cabaret, comedy, burlesque, music and family shows inside her bevelled doors and velvet curtains to Tropical North Queensland audiences.
The Wonderland Spiegeltent Festival Hub is coming back to Port Douglas’s Dixie Park for an extended season over three huge weekends from May 6 to May 22. Featuring the beautiful 1930s nostalgic wooden mirrored travelling European circus tent, the Festival Hub is returning with a can’t-be-missed entertainment program alongside the licenced Sunset Bar showcasing locally produce food and cocktails, a food truck, and an open-air stage with free and ticketed entertainment.
“We are beyond excited to return to the Port Douglas Carnivale lineup. Audiences here have always loved the magic of the Wonderland Spiegeltent. With world class cabaret shows, acrobatic circus performers, and sizzling burlesque, to laugh-out loud comedy and family friendly performers, there is something for everyone.”
Wonderland Spiegeltent’s director, Melissa Head
“We love entertaining the visitors and locals who look forward to this annual event all year. “ she added.
Douglas Shire Mayor Michael Kerr said, “The Wonderland Spiegeltent has cemented itself as an extremely popular element of the Port Douglas Carnivale, and I know the region is very much looking forward to its return this year. The calibre of performance is extraordinary, it’s always an immense amount of fun, and an excellent boost to the region’s economy. I can’t wait to see what incredible talent they will bring to our shire this Carnivale.”
Wonderland Spiegeltent runs from May 6 through to May 22, with the 2022 Port Douglas Carnivale over the last weekend of May 20 to May 22.
AKMAL / May 6
Hailing from Egypt three decades ago, Akmal is one of Australia’s most respected successful and in demand comics. He displays an incredible ability to deal with hot topics in a hilarious and non-offensive way – a comedic look at modern day life in Australia. From the brilliant performances on Thank God You’re Here to some of the world’s biggest comedy festivals, Akmal is a marvellous performer guaranteed to have you in stitches.
“Random, improvised and hilarious…” Crickey Publications
“No one wanted the show to stop…he seemed to own the stage.” Sydney Morning Herald
★★★★1/2 “A fantastic night, I loved him.” The Advertiser
KAREN FROM FINANCE: OUT OF OFFICE / May 7
Pack your calculators, save your spread sheets and set your automatic email reply because Karen From Finance is heading Out of Office! She’s hitting the road and she’s hitting it hard. Say goodbye to the 80-hour work week and jump on board the Finance Express for this one-woman journey of self-discovery and self-annihilation.
Karen From Finance is an award-winning drag performer who recently placed as one of the Top 4 finalists in the reality-TV hit show RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under, and is now currently touring her award-winning debut solo comedy ‘Out Of Office’ to raving audiences all around the world! Out of Office was awarded both the Comedy Award and The West Australian Critic’s Choice Award at Perth’s Fringe World Festival in January 2020, alongside a glowing 4-star review in The West Australian and multiple sold-out audiences.
“Blending her razor-sharp wit, impeccable pop culture references and camper-than-camp soundtrack, Karen from Finance is an absolute riot of a performance” – The Advertiser 2021
“Absolute powerhouse of a businesswoman on stage” GLAM Adelaide 2022
“Perfect song choices and jaw-dropping costume changes” The Age 2021
KATE CEBERANO: SWEET INSPIRATION TOUR / May 7
Kate Ceberano is creative tour-de-force. Since bursting onto the scene in the early 80s, Kate has barely drawn breath since. 28 albums over 35 years. 13 Platinum. 8 Gold. 3 ARIA awards. She performed across the country in the legendary Australian Made tour with INXS and Jimmy Barnes, starred in Jesus Christ Superstar with John Farnham, South Pacific for Opera Australia at the Sydney Opera House, had her own tonight show ‘Kate Ceberano & Friends’ on the ABC TV. She won Dancing With The Stars, was the first Australian woman inducted into the Australian Songwriters Association (ASA) Hall of Fame in 2014, was awarded the Order of Australia in 2016 for services to the arts and charity, and has curated the Adelaide Cabaret Festival for three record breaking years. Kate is entertainment royalty.
An electrifying live performer. The voice of a generation. Kate will be playing all the HITS + songs from latest ARIA TOP 5 album SWEET INSPIRATION
ROUGE: CIRCUS FOR GROWN UPS / May 13 – 22
ROUGE is a decadent blend of sensational acrobatics, operatic cabaret and tongue in cheek burlesque, Winner of Best Circus Adelaide Fringe 2020, and weekly awards for Best Circus at Adelaide Fringe 2018 and FRINGE WORLD 2019, Rouge is a non-stop celebration of the astonishing, surprising, subversive and the supremely sexy.
★★★★★“One badass sizzler of a show” Daily Mail (UK)
★★★★★”Sensual, sexual, sumptuous, subversive, sublime, saucy, scrumptious, sizzling, stupendous… And still, none of these words quite capture the orgasmic orgy of the senses that is Rouge” Out In Perth, 2021
★★★★★”Cheeky, flamboyant and sexy-as-hell” In Daily, 2021
CIRCUS WONDERLAND / May 21 and 22
Roll up, roll up! Experience all the thrilling edge-of-your-seat entertainment with CIRCUS WONDERLAND. Be amazed and captivated as you are immersed in the golden era of circus, celebrating a century of wonder!
The Wonderland Spiegeltent will be filled with mind-blowing acrobatics, daring aerial feats with a cast of world class circus performers of the most unique, jaw-dropping and spectacular antics from all around the world – a hilarious and thrilling Circus Wonderland for the whole family.
★★★★★ “The performance is a mix of breathtaking acrobatics and sideshow antics from a forgotten era. When combined with the glamorous costumes and sparkling vintage atmosphere of The Wonderland Spiegeltent, you really are transported back to another time.” – Tothot
★★★★★ “With the glamorous costumes and sparkling vintage atmosphere, this show transports you back to another time in a forgotten era.” BROADSHEET
DEBAUCHED / May 20 and 21
How much debauchery is possible on a stage less than four metres in diameter? Debauched proves possibilities are endless as it descends on Port Douglas audiences. This late night spectacle will create a night you won’t soon forget! With world class entertainers specialising in the arts of the beautiful and the bizarre, this 60 minute show will have you wanting more. Witness live acts from titillating to terrifying and everything in between!
