Here’s Everything Going Down At Spiegel Haus This Autumn
Look up in the city and you'll spot Spiegel Haus shining bright—a hub of glitz and good times perched on the rooftop of Lonsdale Street's Golden Square Carpark in the bustling heart of Chinatown.
Spiegel Haus is where the thrill of live theatre meets the seduction of burlesque, the irreverence of vaudeville, the astonishment of acrobatics, the mystery of magic and the electric joy of comedy. This enormous purpose-built home of hospitality and arts holds a whopping 1,000 patrons across the Spiegeltent, Black Box Theatre and Dome Bar. A centrepiece of CBD nightlife, this is a place to be surprised and enchanted by the wonder of creative arts—or just the joy of beer and tacos surrounded by the Melbourne city skyline.
So take your seats and enjoy a front-row view of what a night in Spiegel Haus has to offer this autumn.
Drink The Joy Of Champagne, Sexy Shenanigans And After-Dark Acrobatics
Who doesn’t love Champagne? Celebrate the world’s finest bubbles through a titillating adults-only whirlwind of circus, comedy and cabaret with Blanc de Blanc Encore, the headline show of the Spiegeltent. With an extended season throughout autumn, experience intoxicating burlesque and glass-gripping feats of prowess, with the musical flourish and lavish costumes befitting the luxury of Champagne.
It’s like a French jazz lounge with acrobatics and a cheeky wink, brought to life with a world-class cast, some of whom have performed with Kylie Minogue, Robbie Williams and Rihanna. If you’re planning a night out as a big group, why not splash out a bit more and make it a real party? A premium package entitles you all to a glass of bubbles and photos with the cast, ringside gets you the same plus seats closer to the action, or go all-out with a luxurious private booth for up to 8 Champagne-loving theatre-goers.
Stay up for the X-rated Late Night Vice (23 April–24 May). From the team behind Blanc de Blanc, this sold-out show is making a triumphant return, bringing unapologetic chaos and star-power talent from such cultural icons as RuPaul’s Drag Race and Cirque du Soleil. Phones and cameras are strictly forbidden, as the night is full of cocktails and raunchy possibilities...
Briefs: The Works (18 March–19 April) presents the best of ‘filthy’ cabaret from Briefs Factory, their favourite acrobatic, drag and burlesque pieces, with ribald comedy, sass and a heavy smear of glitter. Touted as “Cirque de Soleil meets Magic Mike”, Elixir Revived (27 March 27–19 April) is an acrobatic story of post-apocalyptic science fiction (without the doom and gloom).
Get Your Funny Fix With World-Class Comedy
The 40th annual Melbourne International Comedy Festival is upon us, and Spiegel Haus has a rollicking lineup. For the city that loves wine bars as much as it loves the arts, Merrick Watts presents volume 3 of his hit show, An Idiot’s Guide To Wine (26 March–5 April). Watts has selected 6 wines for the audience, and leads you through a guided tasting unlike any other, with funny facts and food pairings, tasting notes and jokes.
Then, see a handpicked lineup of a different kind at David Quirk’s Quintessential Quomedy Quollective (28 March–18 April), a late-night curation of Quirk’s favourite comedy acts. Carl Donnelly’s weekly showcase, The Fun Haus (26 March–16 April), brings together the best acts from across the whole festival for a real stand-up event of local and international talent.
There’s family-friendly fun, too. The award-winning and internationally renowned Circus The Show (3–19 April) is an all-ages extravaganza of illusion, clowning and daring circus feats, and The Greatest Magic Show (3–19 April) is… well, exactly that. Multiple winner of Best Children’s Show across various Australian festivals, this performance is geared towards maximum enchantment for ages 4–12 (as well as the young at heart). KABOOM! (3–19 April) makes mad science magical, with equal parts STEM, wonder and laughter, while Dr Hubble’s Brilliant Bubbles (28 March–19 April) conjures bubbles of all shapes and sizes.
Take The Party To The Rooftop
Of course, you don’t even have to come for a show to have a good time. From Wednesday to Sunday, the Dome rooftop bar is your CBD open-air haus of fun, with entertainment and a trendy post-industrial shipping container bar, festooned with strings of lights over the tables.
Throw off the boredom of the office with a few post-work cocktails or make dinner plans with the crew. Melbourne's beloved CMDX food truck slings an exclusive menu of their sensational Mexico-City-style tacos, snacks and churros. What better to wash it down with than craft brews from local fave Bodriggy, or maybe a signature cocktail or two? Then again, if you're here for Blanc de Blanc, better make it Champagne.
Keen to get involved? Find out more of what's going down at Spiegel Haus here.
Editor’s note: This article is sponsored by Spiegel Haus and proudly endorsed by The Urban List. To find out more about who we work with and why read our editorial policy here.
Images: Supplied.