There ain’t no party quite like a cabaret party, and this year’s Auckland Live Cabaret Festival is set to be the best The Civic has seen. With a slew of exceptional performances running the gamut from super-talented musicians to make-you-blush drag queens, thrilling theatre, and uproarious comedy, this event is set to dazzle audiences between the 3rd and 15th of June.
Presented by Auckland Live, the festival is an event that offers conviviality at its core, where even the most discerning critics of live performance are promised an evening to remember. With a burgeoning line-up of ridiculous (and ridiculously skilled) talent, we’ve selected a few of our highlights.
La Clique
Seated cabaret-style on The Civic stage, La Clique is the show to see — if you see only one. Equal parts sexy, surreal and seriously jaw-dropping, this Olivier Award-winning phenomenon blends circus, burlesque and comedy in a gleefully risqué whirl of world-class talent. It’s the variety show all grown up (and slightly unhinged). Back in Auckland for its 20th anniversary, La Clique is wild, wicked, and absolutely unmissable.
Secure your spot, here.
Reuben Kaye
Reuben Kaye is back — and the party’s definitely not over. Fresh from a blockbuster Edinburgh Fringe and currently slaying in Jesus Christ Superstar, the self-described icon returns to Auckland with a razor-sharp, champagne-soaked set of songs and satire. Think cabaret meets apocalypse with sequins, sass, and serious vocal chops. Outrageous, unfiltered and utterly magnetic — this is Reuben Kaye as only he can be: brilliant, bawdy, and impossible to ignore.
Secure your spot, here.
Georgia Lines & Friends
For one night only, Georgia Lines: Under the Stars with Friends transforms The Civic into a celestial stage. Joined by Hollie Smith, Louis Baker, Nikau Grace and musicians from the Auckland Philharmonia, Georgia delivers a soul-stirring evening of lush orchestration, powerhouse vocals, and intimate storytelling. As the lights dim and stars glow overhead, let yourself be swept away by this unforgettable celebration of Aotearoa’s finest voices.
Secure your spot, here.
The Divine Miss Bette
Two nights only, infinite sass. The Divine Miss Bette sees the incomparable Catherine Alcorn channel Bette Midler in a whirlwind of sequins, song, and sheer fabulousness. With rave reviews from LA to Sydney, a killer live band and all the hits — from Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy to The Rose — this joyous, bawdy, big-hearted show is part concert, part comedy, and all divine.
Secure your spot, here.
Prinnie Stevens
Prinnie Stevens brings Lady Sings the Blues Volume 2 to The Civic — an electrifying tribute to powerhouse women of colour, from Billie to Whitney. With a voice that’s shared stages with Chaka Khan and John Legend, Prinnie delivers soul, sass, and storytelling in spades. Catch her in full flight, then sip cocktails at the late-night Piano Bar or have your fortune read in the foyer — your cabaret night, sorted.
Secure your spot, here.
