80s Ladies ★★★★★

Local South Australian talents The Cast Entertainment were back at the 2024 Adelaide Fringe Festival, bringing one of the best decades of music to the stage with 80s Ladies. Given how successful this show was last year, it’s definitely no surprise that it is back again in full glory!

Complete with a full backing band (including saxophonist!) and company of dancers, Chloe Castledine on lead vocals, reminds us of all the talented women of the 80s and how they helped shaped a generation, not only with their liberating lyrics, but also through their style choices and dance moves.

This performance covers as much ground as it can in 60 minutes, with non-stop music from Madonna, Dolly Parton, Olivia Newton John, Whitney Houston, Cyndi Lauper, Kylie Minogue and so many more. It will definitely have you dancing in your seat, but if you want a bit more space there is also a dedicated dancefloor at the front of the stage as well that you can carve up!

The choreographed dancers complete with full costumes are flawless, as are the vocals and band, and despite the blazing heat outside, the stage energy did not waver for a moment. The roller-skating solo performance by Carmen Bryant during Xanadu was impressive and definitely a highlight of the show.

Castledine was also remarkable as she was able to switch vocals from a country twang Dolly Parton for “Working 9 to 5”, and they flip into complete ballad mode immediately after for “Eternal Flame”.

With big hair and fluoro colours everywhere it’s hard to miss this show. Fingers crossed they will be back for another round for the 2025 Adelaide Fringe Season. In the meantime start sewing in those shoulder pads to your jackets in preparation!