The dark stage is piled high with grey, burnt-out debris — a fridge, a computer, scattered musical instruments. Everything sits in a state of apocalyptic ruin. Three men dressed in dishevelled suits wheel out pianos and drag a negligee-clad Meow Meow across the floor. She writhes slowly, wiggling her body until her mouth is directly beneath a microphone hanging from the ceiling. Her movements are lacklustre, disengaged, reluctant to perform. It’s an unusual way to open a show — until she sings. Despite her awkward position, her voice fills the theatre: rich, husky and haunting. She’s magnificent.

When Director Kate Champion was asked why people should see this show, she offered two words: “Meow Meow”. Known as the Queen of Chanson, Meow Meow is an Australian international cabaret sensation, who sells out everywhere, from Carnegie Hall to Spiegeltents around the world.  

Inspired by Hans Christian Anderson’s The Red Shoes – the tale of a girl cursed to dance forever, Meow Meow poses a new question: what if she couldn’t start? Rather than seeing dance as punishment, she turns it into a cure.

And so begins an eclectic, unpredictable journey through the showgirl’s mind — a masterpiece of chaos and creation. She dances, crawls, rolls and hops (sometimes one-legged) across the stage, even performing the splits with astonishing ease.

Captivating from start to finish, the production moves from poetic and philosophical to wacky and fantastical. Touching on capitalism and performance itself, Meow Meow believes theatre should do more than just entertain; it should be vigorous, provocative and challenging.

Accompanying the songstress are Kanen Breen, Jethro Woodward (also musical director), Mark Jones and Dan Witton. The group shift effortlessly between instruments from the cello to electric guitar, with music from Fiona Apple, Radiohead, Claude Debussy, plus original compositions.

Alongside the staging, which Meow Meow describes as “weepingly beautiful”, Dann Barber’s  costumes for the buxom star range from noir glamour to black-swan drama, complete with a big vivid pink feather plume.

Meow Meow is a charismatic force of nature. Her Red Shoes is a dark comedy, a little bonkers but a lot of fun and audiences are quick to applause.

4 stars.

Run time: 75 minutes (no interval)

Meow Meow’s The Red Shoes is playing now at Belvoir St Theatre until 9 November 2025. 

For tickets visit Belvoir St