DOWNPOUR promises high energy, inclusivity, electrifying performances, and performance art. And it delivers exactly that. And then some.

What the event description doesn’t tell you is that you’ll be swept up in an overwhelming flood of joy. A fully charged pulse of positivity that will smack a smile onto your face, strike love into your heart and leave you energised with elation.

We are welcomed into Motel de DOWNPOUR at the stunning Queens Theatre. Everyone is dressed to impress, having followed the brief of “glitz, glam, and bold self-expression”. The foyer is buzzing and everyone is excited to see what’s in store for this latest addition to a successful series of high class variety shows by renowned producer and performer in her own right, Santosha Storm.

A queer, disabled performance artist, whose reputation precedes her, Santosha’s shows are produced with diversity, individuality, and community at their heart.

As a host, Santosha is charismatic and dripping with sensuality. The show opens with her introducing herself as manager of Motel De DOWNPOUR, and this theme carries through the entirety of the show. We’d already met adorable ushers and floor team dressed as cheeky motel and resort staff on arrival, so we’ve checked in, unpacked and are ready to enjoy the amenities.

The DOWNPOUR Collective treats us to a bathing suit clad number to set the scene and we know we are in for a good time. Every performer is an absolute joy to watch, and we are transported poolside (to the best deckchairs, of course) to soak up the talent. The troupe is slick, tight and clearly having the time of their lives.

Queens Theatre stage and facilities are fantastic and well complemented by the stellar tech crew at Motel de DOWNPOUR. Lighting, sound, mood… everything was top notch and added to an already brilliant immersive experience.

Our first solo is Ember Rose, who is one of South Australia’s standout burlesque performers. Expect the unexpected with Ember, but always expect perfection. She won’t let you down. And she certainly didn’t at Motel de DOWNPOUR.

I’m a huge fan of Sam Matthewman’s work. This blend of circus, movement and performance art is magical, profound, often playful, sometimes surprising, but always memorable. Sam’s act at DOWNPOUR was all of these things and shifted the mood slightly from the intense jubilant and… well… loud response that crowds bring to burlesque and burlesque brings to crowds. Sam’s work is thought-provoking, impressive, moving; but also garners a roar from the audience, because when in Motel de DOWNPOUR, we must observe the custom of Motel de DOWNPOUR, which is to collectively lose our minds for every performer.

Our interstate headliner is Bendy Ben, and yes, they are bendy, but hot damn they are talented. I am not afraid to speak for everyone when I say: WOW. What an absolute treat to have a performer of Bendy Ben’s calibre treading the boards for DOWNPOUR. A tiny tech issue threatens to derail one of Ben’s performances on the night, but, undeterred, Ben struts offstage and back on again with the style and professionalism of someone at the top of their game. I’ll say it again. WOW.

Honey B Mine brings a classic style of burlesque with a healthy kink of red hot spice. Honey works the room, casting a spell on everyone, moving with a measured sense of timing that genuinely leaves an audience hanging on every step. Honey truly dominates the stage and has blasted onto the scene as one to watch. In fact, keep your eye out for her producer debut later this year.

When Icarus hit the stage, allegedly, I was heard to say, ‘Who the f*ck is THAT’. While I am not proud of my inability to stay cool even a little bit, it’s because Icarus’ performance (figuratively) removed my head from my body, threw it around the theatre a bit and then returned it to my neck having just filled it with an unreasonable expectation for life from that moment on.

If you’re wondering if I am going to mention every single performer in a show that had a cast so jam-packed with talent it was practically a scone, then rest assured, I am definitely going to do that.

Any show with Winchester Angel on the lineup is a Very Good Show. Winchester serves face and sensuality in what could be described as badass classic burlesque. A master of floorwork, it is impossible for one to tear one’s eyes away from Winchester Angel and this performance was no exception.

Just when we thought we couldn’t handle the heat any longer, Izzy Goode stormed onto the stage resplendent in red and cranking up the thermostat with a high-energy performance that was as invigorating as it was impassioned. I’ve been an Izzy fan for a very long time and their performance at Motel de DOWNPOUR has to be one of the best I’ve seen. And there have been many incredible performances.

Diana Divine’s voice filled the Queens Theatre with ‘Mein Herr’ made famous by cabaret Goddess Liza Minelli. Diana brings the humour, theatre kid energy and pant suit energy and I am forever here for it. Another Grade A performance from them. Bravo!

And finally, excuse me, but there should probably be laws against any performer being a lethal combination of sexy, sassy and adorable. It’s the triple threat we need in any and every situation and Serafina Sinclair is a showstopper concealing a criminal amount of goodness. Sunshine, sunflowers and sex. Hot damn.

DOWNPOUR is a celebration of everything that is good in the South Australian cabaret scene. Not just because Santosha curates a lineup, but because it attracts an audience who will literally jump out of their seats to show support for their peers. DOWNPOUR exists to champion diverse bodies, bold voices and boundary-breaking performance.

Every performance on the Motel de DOWNPOUR lineup on 2nd May at Queens Theatre was outstanding. The supporting cast played their parts to perfection, the tech crew made magic both on and offstage, and this was all complemented by a gorgeous venue that breathes life into art through its age of history and beauty.

If you haven’t been to a DOWNPOUR show, get along. It’s the injection of happiness we all need. If you have been to a DOWNPOUR, go again. And again. Because these artists and producers are worthy of all our support.

Libby Trainor Parker