Show reviewed: 05/03/26 at 8pm.

Show rating: No gin required and no inhibitions, but a sassy 5 stars.

There isn’t a brighter star in the firmament of South Australian skies right now than Lyra La Belle, an icon of the Australian burlesque community and resident “Head Hottie” at Hot Sauce Burlesque School who has created a sell out production at the Adelaide Fringe every year since 2023. Set in the clandestine atmosphere of Prohibition Liquor Co. Prohibition Liquor Co. creates the very essence of the speakeasy, a vintage aesthetic, soft moody lighting and though renowned for its excellent gins, there’s also great menu of cocktails (food is also available!), it is one of Adelaide’s best kept gastro pub secrets.

Entirely as a self funded producer, Lyra, together with the chanteuse nightingale, Bella DeJac (and her 3 piece band), have created an experience that recalls the days of sparkling flappers, fur, feathers and feminine fizz with a modern twist. You can tell that the dancers are luxuriating in the old big band, live concert format of the show, drawing out the anticipation of the crowd in their glamorous, dazzling costumes.

The show was sold out but felt intimate, vintage, and cosy with great energy exchanged between the performers and audience, Lyra is a cheeky mistress of ceremonies and kept it light and luscious. The performers in the renaissance queen, Lizzy Baker; Whisky Falls (so did I); nice and nasty Saskia, more than a dram Peg Petite and the girl is dangerous, Miss Curvella. Burlesque is such a diverse genre of dance and this is for those who love the show girl vibe. We definitely can compete in the international arena of talent with this line up.

I’d like to really take a moment out here to praise the Australian Burlesque community, Adelaide in particular, for creating opportunities to foster local talent through having regular classes and learning opportunities at our many great dance schools, through mentorship and teaching the ins-and-outs of being a dancer and for holding student productions. Hot Sauce Burlesque have two further productions, Hotties for the more advance soloist students and Hot Pop & Glam Rock Revue as the Hot Sauce Burlesque School Showcase at the Adelaide Fringe in 2026.