Sink your teeth into BITE: Adelaide Fringe’s juiciest cabaret experience. A scrumptious smorgasbord of quick-witted cabaret, awe-inspiring acrobatics and tantalising talent, BITE invites you to indulge your senses in a delectable serving of chaos, sensuality, and adults-only entertainment. Hosted by the mischievous Alex De Porteous and co-produced by the visionary Holly X, this show is a sinful treat, seasoned with eroticism and served up with a side of fire. Nicolás Mena, leading visionary choreographer and performer, turns every step into art, infusing the show with precision and flair to craft an experience that’s both polished and rich in character depth. With elaborate, vibrant costumes designed by the ever-talented Lesley Miller of Devil In The Detail Design, BITE is both a visual and sensual indulgence, where neon green and black collide to forge an aesthetic identity that’s as bold and unique as the show itself. Once you’ve had a taste of this delicious show, you’ll be left craving more—because one BITE is never enough.
As Madame of the evening, Alex De Porteousdoesn’t just guide the chaos—they are the chaos, reigning over the stage like a sparkling whirlwind of energy. From belting out 100% Pure Love by Crystal Waters during an erotic group routine, to delivering a dynamic solo rendition of If You Go Away by Shirley Bassey (spliced with both English and French lyrics, bon appetit!), Alex’s vocal range is as dynamic as their stage presence. The costume changes alone will make your head spin, from dazzling neon green frills to sequinned bodysuits that glitter like a thousand stars. There are hosts, and then there’s Alex De Porteous. A true cabaret powerhouse, Alex blends sensational vocals, electric stage presence, and eye-popping costumes into a single, unforgettable package. With a personality as big as their hair, Alex De Porteous serves up a BITEof brilliance that’ll keep you coming back for seconds.
The powerhouse and mastermind behind BITE, Holly X wears many hats—producer, artistic director, and performer—and she does it all with aplomb. In her sultry interlude act to My Lips on Your Lips by Dita Von Teese, Holly struts down the catwalk with a vintage fan in hand, effortlessly oozing glamour before diving into a world of debauchery. Her “drug-fuelled” mirror play solo act, set to Opr by Gesaffelstein, is a slow-burn masterpiece where Holly seductively sheds the layers, unleashing a fire-baton twirling routine that leaves the audience hungry and begging for more. The BITE queen serves a decadent platter of performances, reminding us all that good things come in red-hot, fiery packages.
When Carlie Hunter steps onto the stage as The Butler, it’s clear she’s the one who’s really in charge. Dressed in a sharp black tailcoat, long white dress shirt, and sock garters holding up a pair of long black socks, Carlie serves up jaw-dropping acrobatics with a side of sass. In her aerial flying pole routine to New Bottega by Azealia Banks, she seamlessly glides through the air and makes defying physics look effortless. Then she returns with a dizzying whirlpole act, spinning and twisting to Bilingual (Dirty Mix) by Jose Nunez, taking aerial performance to new heights (quite literally). Gravity? Never heard of it. Carlie is a master of poise, strength, and flawless execution, proving that a butler’s real job isn’t to carry a tray—it’s to ~serve~.
Nicolás Mena may hide his face behind a gimp mask, but don’t be fooled—his body speaks louder than words, and trust us, it’s got plenty to say. As “Gimpie”, he seduces the stage in a bubblegum pink gimp mask, mini skirt and pearls draped around his neck, dancing with elegant sensuality to a classical orchestral number before the needle drops and he drops it like it’s hot to Body by Megan Thee Stallion. His floorwork is as smooth as velvet, each movement dripping with confidence. He then switches gears, donning a sleek black gimp mask and vinyl strappy ensemble – complete with a neon green three-tiered cake and party hat – breaking the tension and the fourth wall with a playful audience Happy Birthday sing-a-long. For his final act, Nicolás creates a hypnotic, shadow-dancing light show as he performs an intoxicating neon green light stick routine to the pulsating beats of Vanisher by CABLE. As leading choreographer, Nicolás delivers a delicious bite of kink that’s equal parts provocative and evocative.
Melbourne-based circus prodigy Charli Meathbends, balances, and contorts her body in ways that leave the audience both breathless and bewildered. Dressed in a neon green and pink bodysuit and a BRAT bomber jacket, her handbalancing and straps act to Hi Fashion by Pretty Pretty sees her twist and stretch in ways that challenge both logic and physics. And just when you think she can’t take it higher, she soars to new limits in an astounding aerial lyra routine to I Want You by Chris Lake. Charli’s performance feels like a masterclass in elasticity—each twist and turn a testament to the boundless potential of the human body. It’s a thrilling reminder that in Charli’s world, limits are just invitations to be broken.
The firestarter who’s hotter than the flames, Dominique Cowden isn’t just playing with fire—she’s mastering it, setting the stage alight with every move. In her group number, she joins Holly X and Alex De Porteous as the ultimate “Powderpuff Girls”, waging a flirtatious, “powder”-filled playfight in sheer pink babydoll dresses. But it’s her solo act that truly steals the show. Shedding a long black trench coat to reveal a fiery red bodysuit and shiny thigh-high boots, Dominique struts the catwalk to Hunt by Noizinski, her body moving with effortless grace in a fluid floorwork routine that has the audience hooked. Just when you think it can’t get any hotter, she ignites the stage with a fierce fire-breathing finale, sipping from a cocktail glass before breathing plumes of flames high into the night air. From her blazing fire stunts to her magnetic stage presence, Dominique is a fiery force that leaves the audience scorched and craving more.
Ember Rose isn’t just a pretty “Pooch”—she’s the top dog of the stage, and she’s here to ruff things up! Whether she’s eating out of a dog bowl labelled “b*tch”, obediently (or, more like disobediently) following Alex De Porteous’ commands, or tap dancing through a fiery routine alongside Alex singing Too Darn Hot by Ella Fitzgerald, Ember’s portrayal of “Pooch” is equal parts naughty and nice, leaving the audience howling. Her fetching costume, complete with a pastel green poodle-like perm and lime green collar, is pure perfection, as is her mischievous personality and clever characterisation. A freak on a leash with plenty of tricks up her sleeve, this “hot dog” is easily the most misbehaved canine you’ve ever seen.
Ballet meets burlesque in a dance of dangerous elegance as Bianca Dimattina graces the stage, crafting a performance that’s as visually captivating as it is emotionally charged. Her solo, set to the haunting beats of Raven by Proxy, isn’t just a dance—it’s a slow burn, a stunning fusion of grace and seduction as she balances on the delicate tips of her pointe shoes. Her costume is a bold, gender-defying masterpiece, with one side a sharp black blazer and the other a playful white bralette, garter belt and singular stocking on one leg. When she takes to the catwalk, her every pirouette and plié radiates a quiet intensity that pulls you in. Bianca doesn’t just bend the rules of ballet and burlesque; she rewrites them, creating a performance that’s equal parts beauty and danger.
Prepare to consume and be consumed by BITE, where burlesque, circus, fire and cabaret collide in a world of erotic chaos. Produced by vivacious visionaries Holly X and Alex De Porteous, this bold and provocative spectacle is a sensual homage to European erotic arthouse, blending sleek visuals and intoxicating soundscapes to create an adults-only playground of pleasure. BITE is more than just a cabaret—it’s a feast for the senses, a decadent celebration of the bold, the beautiful, and the downright daring. Currently indulging audiences in The Vagabond in The Garden of Unearthly Delights, there’s only three nights left to dig into this show, and you’ll want to take a bite before it’s gone.