Bernie Dieter’s Club Kabarett is making a salacious return to the Meat Market in April.
Coming off the back of a roaring success at Adelaide Fringe Festival, Bernie Dieter’s Club Kabarett is barrelling into Melbourne in all its delicious debauchery.
“Adelaide has been a wild ride, but Melbourne are the best audience in the world,” Dieter tells Beat ahead of her five week stint in Melbourne.
Dieter and her motley crew haven’t been back for seven years, and their return has been welcomed with raucous applause and sold-out houses. With eighteen five-star reviews in the first weeks of their season, it’s safe to say that audiences are frothing at the mouth for a taste of Club Kabarett.
Bernie Dieter’s Club Kabarett
- Where: Meat Market, 3 Blackwood Street, North Melbourne VIC 3051
- When: 17 April – 24 May 2026, Tuesday to Sunday
- Tickets: here
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Bernie Dieter is no stranger to the Kabarett scene; circus is in her blood.
Her Oma grew up in a travelling circus in Dresden, selling popcorn and working with the animals.
“My Oma was a beautiful, powerful woman. I try to channel her in the show as much as I can. I have a drinking song toward the end of the show that is dedicated to her. She taught me how to drink in more ways than one!”
After 16 years in the biz, Dieter is not only the undisputed queen of her genre, but she has honed her performances into a transcendental experience that subverts expectations of what people assume to be Cabaret, “the glamorous, French feather and champagne” kind, to the it’s raunchy, satirical and rebellious older sibling: Kabarett.
“German Kabarett is not afraid to get down and flirty and be a bit naughtier and edgier and wild,” Dieter said.
With the rise of fascism across Germany and Europe in the 1920s and 30s, Kabarett was forced underground, as the political commentary integral to its ethos that pushed the image of unity despite differences was too controversial for the government and leading powers of the day.
Kabarett celebrated individuality, freedom of expression and created a haven for those who felt different.
“It became a secret rebellion against oppression. It’s a really powerful artform in that way. That’s why I love German Kabarett with a ‘K’. We’re not afraid to be a bit political, a bit edgier.”
What has kept the tradition of Kabarett alive is not only the boundary-pushing nature of the performance style that audiences love, but the heart at its very core that makes them feel seen.
“What really pulls the show together is a thread of human connection, which is something I am very passionate about. It’s something that in our current society that is not so encouraging, you know? We are living in a world where we are really polarised and divided.
“But actually, I find that at the heart of it all, people really want to connect and understand each other better. We make everyone welcome. We never punch down; we’re not making fun of anyone.
“We lift everyone up, and that’s what’s important. Everyone is celebrated and welcomed. What we offer is a place where everyone is welcome, everyone is safe.”
Club Kabarett is making its return to Melbourne in its newly evolved form.
“The show has evolved into what I would say is its best form. We’re like the final Pokémon!” Dieter says.
“We’ve evolved into an amazing, large-scale production. We’re taking it to an elevated level, really focusing on the fashion, working with amazing designers to create wearable art and amazing musicians. The band is incredible It’s a really rocking, amazing band.
“We are so proud of where the show is, and the content, especially at the moment, what is happening in the world feels very poignant and powerful It’s beautiful.”
Dieter has been seducing audiences for over a decade now, drawing them and delighting them with her witty, dirty lyrics and menagerie of performers.
“If we’re all laughing together, we’ve had a drink and are relaxed and open, we can all just have a bit of fun,” she says.
“The heart of everything I’ve done is a celebration of difference, diversity, rebellion and power, celebrating woman and strong women. We celebrate all different humans because, you know, it’s our differences that actually make us so beautiful and interesting.
“We are here with open arms for anyone who wants to come.”
For those revisiting the den of immorality and utter joy that is Club Kabarett, there are a few new acts joining the cast of infamous misfits. Caleb Cameron, tap dancer fresh from Crazy Horse in Paris has joined the caravan. “
I mean, his feet are ridiculous. We have taken tap dancing and put it in a Berlin Club.”
There’s also a Glaswegian pole dancer joining the crew, who will be performing pole and hair hanging acts.
“I love the pole act. You know, as a woman and a pole dancer people have certain assumptions about what that means traditionally. They believe it is very much designed for the male gaze, but she really subverts it.
“She is a powerful woman. She comes out literally tearing these labels from your body: slut, whore. Throwing them to the ground and takes to the pole. I love the subversion of the norm in the act.
“Then, of course, we have some old favourites. I think people would be outraged if we didn’t bring the cake act back. Our beautiful drag performance artist Iva Rosebud does some very naughty and ridiculous with a cream cake.”
The global phenomenon that is Club Kabarett not only defies classification, but has established itself as an outlier, so singular in the levels of outrageous, salacious talent that celebrates the joys of being alive defies the binary mould of conventional society. That’s what makes it so deliciously fun.
Bernie Dieter is on fire, and she’s not slowing down. Get yourself amongst the heat.
For more information, head here.
This article was made in partnership with Velvick.
