Creator/Director Craig Ilot. Musical Director Joe Accaria. The Studio Sydney Opera House. 24 July – 13 Sept, 2026
Reviewed : 29 July, 2026 *
Velvet is back! Country Mike and The Diva are whipping winter away in a sizzling inferno of smoky mist, glittering lights, chaotic colour and strobing sound. And they’ve found a bright-eyed, bewildered young woman called Gloria who seems to need their care. Will they be able to comfort her and bring her to their special place?
They set out to bedazzle her with magic of disco. They introduce her to the Sirens who beguile her with song and dance. She meets their exciting dare-devil acrobatic friends, and sees the comedy infused hula hooping excitement of being part of a velvety place where no-one discriminates and everyone can be themselves. Where gold glitters, sequins shimmer, spotlights shine and percussion pounds. Surely their new friend Gloria will feel safe here.
Just as the audience certainly does!
Once again Craig Ilot and Joe Accaria have created a dazzling disco sanctuary hidden under the sails of the Opera House. And Sydneysiders are returning in disco-loving droves to make it their own! Young, old and in between, they are singing and tapping along to a blasting soundtrack of disco classics like If You Could Read my Mind, Raining Men and No More Tears.
To their wild excitement the iconic Marcia Hines returns as The Diva, glistening in silver and gold – with Brendan Maclean, the original Country Mike, singing his way down the catwalk to rescue the shy Gloria, played with wide-eyed wariness and wonder by the very captivating KYE, who is making such a splash on stage and screen.
The Sirens – Emma Feliciano and Mateja Sardelis – set the beat with Amy Campbell’s compelling choreography, and the audience delights in their every sassy shake.
The thrills rise above the catwalk as Zoë Marshall swings high into the spotlight twisting and tumbling on a shiny hoop or hanging by her hair in spiralling elegance as the Sirens back The Diva’s velvet vocals.
Wonder turns to gasps as roller skating duo Yevhenii and Vlada spin faster and faster on a tight circular stage until they swing high above the audience in breathtaking acrobatic flight.
Ukrainian aerialist Oleg Tatarynov rises from the stage into the air on the flying pole achieving unimaginable feats – and returns again to emerge from a bathtub of water, splashing a circular shower of water over the audience as he’s lifted into the heavens in an awe-inspiring display of strength and acrobatic artistry.
It wouldn’t be Velvet without Craig Reid, with his hula hoops, or his speedy, multiple costume changes in “plain sight”. His seeming childish delight in his clever achievements always bring a roar from the audience. Keep coming back to Sydney Hula Boy!
Gloria, drawn in by the wisdom of The Diva and the Sirens’ support, is at last wooed by Country Mike and his sad, moving rendition of Staying Alive, the plaintiff lyrics assuring Gloria that he understands her, and she will be safe with him, The Diva and their friends.
… And now it’s all right, it’s okay
And you may look the other way
But we can try to understand …
So, finally, in a shimmer of sparkling light and stirring song, the whole cast meet on the catwalk to welcome her to the pulsing, inclusive warmth of Velvet’s safe Inferno.
First published in Stage Whispers magazine.
* Opening Performance