Following triumphant sold-out seasons at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival and Sydney Opera House, the acclaimed cabaret sensation L'Hôtel now seduces Sydney audiences once again. This time, the production is resident at the Foundry Theatre, with an extravagant immersion into a world where Parisian style meets electrifying theatrical spectacle.
L'Hôtel represents a complete sensory transformation that begins the moment the audience steps through the door. This isn't merely a show to watch but a destination to inhabit, where the boundaries between performer and audience dissolve in a haze of champagne, secrets, and desire.
At the production's heart lies John Waters, Australia's beloved actor known for his television work in Offspring and All Saints, who takes on the role of the hotel's devoted hotelier. Waters embodies a man haunted by his past, unable to leave the establishment that has become his monument to lost love. His presence grounds the evening's flights of fantasy with genuine emotional weight.
The creative partnership between co-creator and director Craig Ilott and co-creator and designer Stuart Couzens has crafted what critics describe as "art in motion." Their vision transforms the Foundry Theatre into a living, breathing Parisian hotel where every corner holds the possibility of encounter and every shadow conceals temptation.
The production's stellar cast of 17 performers brings together established names and rising stars in a celebration of diverse theatrical talent. From aerial artists to burlesque performers, musicians to actors, the ensemble creates a living tapestry of entertainment that shifts and evolves throughout the evening.
L'Hôtel's five-star critical reception speaks to its ability to balance spectacle with substance. The AU Review praises it as "fun, frivolous and thoroughly entertaining," while the Canberra Critics Circle describes it as "a banquet of sensations and emotions, mesmerising and entrancing." Such unanimous acclaim agrees the production delivers on its promise of transformation and transcendence.
The creative team's background in both mainstream theatre and alternative performance spaces brings professional polish to material that could easily feel amateur in less skilled hands. Choreographer Lucas Newland and Music Director Joe Accaria contribute expertise that ensures the evening's varied performance styles cohere into a unified artistic vision.
The production's adult content warning and mature themes position it as entertainment for sophisticated audiences seeking something beyond mainstream offerings. While not designed as family-friendly, the show is a celebration of adult elegance and theatrical risk-taking that pushes boundaries while maintaining artistic integrity.
For Sydney theatre-goers seeking something genuinely different, L'Hôtel offers the rare opportunity to step completely outside everyday reality. In a city where theatrical innovation sometimes feels constrained by commercial considerations, this production represents the kind of artistic boldness that makes live performance irreplaceable.L'Hôtel runs until 27 July at the Foundry Theatre in The Star complex, Pyrmont. Tickets from $89, with VIP experiences from $163.
Tickets and more info: https://www.foundrytheatre.com.au/shows/l-hotel
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