We first came across Reuben Kaye when he touched down in Adelaide for this year’s Adelaide Fringe Festival. The impact he made on the crowds at shows and on stage at the Fringe Club after hours was one for the books, so it’s no real surprise that the entertainer is back in Adelaide for this year’s Adelaide Cabaret Festival.
Not only will Reuben be performing his new show, Journey to the Centre of Attention, the Cabaret Festival will also see him hosting the late-night Backstage Bar, known for its kick ons and antics.
Find out how he’s anticipating his return to Adelaide, below.
How are you anticipating travelling to Adelaide for the Adelaide Cabaret Festival?
Hopefully in a private jet being sexually pleased by the Argentinian water polo team, but you never know with these arts festivals with their “appropriate allocation of funds”. I might be lucky enough to barely survive the mobile leper colony that is economy air travel. C’est la vie!
Have you visited the city before and if not, what are you expecting from the trip?
I did actually! I was just in Adelaide for the run of my AWARD WINNING “Tour de force” (my words) one man show SUCCESS STORY – A self made man with no-one else to blame. And I adore Adelaide! They say you only play Adelaide twice. Once on the way up and once on the way down… So I’m thrilled to be coming back so soon.
You are also hosting the backstage club at the Festival this year – what hijinx can people be expecting under your control?
Well, control is a relative term isn’t it? These are cabaret artists… How do you control a Tsunami? A heavily self-medicated, drunken, sexually liberated tsunami covered in sequins? Let me put it a different way… Have you seen the ending of The Island of Dr. Moreau?
When you think of the term ‘cabaret’, what meaning does that hold for you?
Cabaret was the punk before electric music. Cabaret is an elemental force. Cabaret also means you can have a lot of personality without much talent and still get work. THANK GOD!
Would you say that it’s changed for a new generation of performers?
Well they have to push harder now. The bar we’re all propping up has been raised.
How did you first get into performing and what piece of advice would you be giving aspiring entertainers?
Don’t do it. If can do anything else try that. If you can’t do anything else you’re either a performer or a politician.
How is the rest of 2017 looking for you, production wise? Where can we be seeing you pop up next?
After Adelaide, I’m back to London to my gorgeous cabaret home at Cafe de Paris in Piccadilly Circus. I’m hosting the final night of the Berlin Burlesque Festival and I’m in Edinburgh for the festival there. In between that I’m telling people about Jesus. Not the prophet, Madonna’s ex-backup dancer. He’s single now.
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Reuben Kaye’s ‘Journey To The Centre of Attention’ runs on June 23rd and 24th at the Adelaide Festival Centre’s Artspace. For more information on the show, visit here.
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