The creators of Olivier Award-winning 'La Soirée' will bring their new show 'Club Swizzle' to the Brisbane Festival’s iconic Spiegeltent for a sassy night of entertainment.
A devilish and downright cheeky evening of outrageous cabaret, air-defying acrobatics and infectious musical revelry will transpire, courtesy of the most debaucherous souls in show business.
The boisterous Swizzle Boys – Daniel Catlow, Joren Dawson, DJ Garner and Ben Lewis – will shake things up behind (and on top of) a bar while showing off their testosterone-fuelled acrobatic skills. Flipping, tumbling and flirting their way through the show, these charismatic boys will pour your drinks and steal your hearts.
Rounding out the cast is an eclectic mix of sexy sirens, fierce divas and incredible entertainers with an irresistible sense of good old-fashioned showmanship.
Reigning over the chaos is New York nightlife icon, comedian and “the hardest working middle-aged man in show business”, Murray Hill. Named as one of the Top 100 most influential performers in OUT Magazine and one of the top 12 gender-bending performers in New York City by Time Out, Murray is also the premier and exclusive host for international burlesque superstar Dita Von Teese. Here are Murray's Top 5 preparation tactics before a show:
The Tux
As the host of 'Club Swizzle', I gotta look sharp and showbiz every night. So, I have a custom-made tuxedo just for the big show. It's got big lapels, a vest that keeps me stuffed in there and I top it off with a big velvet bow tie.
Keeping fit
Hey, ya gotta be in shape for showbiz. Despite my appearance, I'm a stallion! I do whatever I can to just stay 30 pounds over weight. That includes having breakfast for dinner. Pre-show I have coffee and eggs – then I'm ready to go!Meet the people
That's right, the people. 'Club Swizzle' is nothing without the fabulous people who show up. Each night pre-show, I go out and work the room. I try to meet and talk to everyone who comes through the door. Showbiz is a personal business, and it gets me pumped up to meet so many people. Even if they are surprised by my height...The Swizzle Boys
These boys work at club and entertain quite a bit throughout the show. The ladies go bananas over them (and so do some of the guys if you know what I'm saying). They've got six-pack abs, and one of 'em has an eight-pack. Before the show, the boys work out, stretch, tumble, jump through the air – and I warm up by watching them. It's a great pre-show tradition.
Dressing Room Visit
Every night before the club opens, I do a mandatory dressing room sweep – in the ladies dressing room. I take a look, you know, to make sure everything is OK. I crack some jokes, do a little dance, anything to get them excited for a great night at Swizzle. Then they tell me to get the hell out!'Club Swizzle' performs the Spiegeltent 5-26 September.
