Brisbane’s most hotly anticipated new theatre and bar will open its doors on Thursday 29 August. The West End Electric is a bespoke new 400+ seat venue, custom built for high end circus cabaret, comedy and music, with its sister venue The Grand Electric Sydney likened to a New York club or a theatre in Paris’ Moulin Rouge district.
Opening with the Queensland premiere of highly acclaimed international circus-cabaret spectacle LIMBO – THE RETURN for Brisbane Festival, the new entertainment destination furthers Brisbane’s status as a cultural capital on the world stage.
Both The West End Electric and LIMBO – THE RETURN come from Brisbane-bred, globally prolific production house Strut & Fret (The Spiegeltent, The Garden of Unearthly Delights, The Grand Electric, world touring hit shows like Blanc de Blanc).
“We have already had such an overwhelming response from West End residents and restaurants, who are all very excited for the grand opening on 4 September. It’s fantastic to be so welcomed, with some of our early visitors describing the space as ‘absolutely transporting’,” says Scott Maidment, Creative Director of Strut & Fret and Director of LIMBO – THE RETURN.
Powerhouse songstress and fire breathing queen Clara Fable will finally get to show her family what she can do when LIMBO – THE RETURN has its Queensland premiere.
“I grew up in Brisbane since I was five years old, and all my family are in South East Queensland. I have such great memories from when I was 18 or 19, working as the face of some of Brisbane’s most famous nightclubs at the time, like the Family. I always loved the West End, it’s where you go for great food and drinks and a more sophisticated night out. So I couldn’t be more excited to be performing at our all new venue, The West End Electric. I hear the cocktails are going to be amazing,” says Clara.
Clara will breathe fire, dance and sing alongside a global cast of world leading circus and performance artists including LIMBO’s extraordinary NYC maestro Sxip Shirey. Sxip leads a motley band of multi instrumentalists performing his signature Jank sound, inspired by New Orleans big brass bands, hip-hop, electronic and balkan music.
“I have composed for circus, for dance, for theater, and for main stage opera and orchestras. I have performed at TED, and I have written songs for people like Rhiannon Giddens and Puddles Pity Party. But what (director) Scott Maidment has invited me to do with LIMBO has its own brand of magnificence. That’s why I am still touring with the show, over 10 years after I began working on it. And now that we have created LIMBO – THE RETURN, it’s more wildly exciting than ever,” says Sxip.
Hailing from Spain, David Marco Pintado is a master tightrope acrobat who also specialises in juggling. If these skills aren’t enough, he also works as an occasional stuntman and has appeared in both Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon.
Austrian Maria Moncheva began her career as a ballet dancer before developing her skills as an astonishing aerial chains performer. She has also appeared in major musicals across Europe such as Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and Rock of Ages, as well as on Dancing with the Stars Austria.
Sydney performing artist Hilton Denis has toured the world with LIMBO for years. Between shows he found the time to star as Clyde Thompson in Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis, amongst other on screen acting roles.
Highly accomplished UK circus artist Ben Loader has performed all over the world in theatre and cabaret shows, and specialises in aerial rope, heightened even further by his captivating performance skills.
Joining Sxip Shirey in the live music element of LIMBO is multi-talented musician Mick Stuart, who invented his own instrument the Polymba, adding to the show’s unique jank sound. Mick performed in the multi Helpmann award winning Keating! The Musical, and with a slew of live bands such as Eddie Perfect & The Renovators.
Rounding out Sxip’s motley band is Melbourne multi-instrumentalist and circus performer Grant Arthur (Circus Oz) who plays the big brass sousaphone live on stage. His unique performance is on fire, literally.
LIMBO – THE RETURN
The West End Electric, 125 Boundary St, West End, QLD 4101
From 29 August
Tickets from $59 | Book Online
100 mins including interval | Recommended for ages 15+
Warning: This performance contains strobe lighting, theatrical haze, on-stage fire, on audience feathers and mild adult themes. If you suffer from asthma or allergies, please take your medications and your precautions.
