L’Hôtel – Foundry Theatre (NSW)

Co-created by Craig Ilott and Stuart Couzens

Be completely transported in an immersive, spectacular & decadent night of French variety cabaret

Reviewed by Claira Prider
Foundry Theatre, Pyrmont
Until 27th July, 2025
Tickets: https://www.foundrytheatre.com.au/l-hotel

Type: Variety Cabaret, French, Underground
If you liked: Blanc de Blanc, La Clique, Bernie Dieter Klub Kabarett

Step into the lavish, luxurious, lusty L’Hotel lounge, and indulge in a French inspired, delectable evening of cabaret, circus, aerial and burlesque. Co-created by Craig Ilott and Stuart Couzens, this immersive theatrical experience the fuses hospitality, entertainment and artistic pursuit.

Entering the theatre, we find ourselves in a grand and gorgeous hotel lobby. Lush, velvet red curtains border the two-storey set which has four small-stages within it, and an upstairs balcony and hotel corridor. One stage has a concierge desk, another houses a bath tub, and on the left-hand stage is a baby grand piano, where a small band play. Performing an eclectic array of modern chanson tunes from electro-swing, to jazz, to pop ballads, the ensemble is made up of multi-instrumentalist talents Brendan Maclean (vocals, piano, melodica), Abi McCunn (flutes, saxophones, percussion) Lindsay Page (piano, accordion, trombone, melodica), and Hilton Denis (bass guitar, percussion, aerialist) who are joined by John Waters for a number.

Waitresses break into dance numbers while delivering set entrées and champagne to audience members in the lamp-lit cabaret seating area. Dressed in tux-fronted, lace leotards and white blonde bob wigs, the ensemble of waitressing dancers alternate between audience engagement and choreographed numbers, each injecting their stage personalities into the work. Rose Jurd‘s charming costumes are influenced by the French hotelier’s uniform, with shades of red and gold amongst the black and white glamour.

The audience are treated to a stripped back, sensual and seductive feat of strength and balance from hotel maids Marila Borysiak and Ceejay Shuttleworth in a bathtub. They also perform an enchanting and enticing aerial duo, creating mesmerising shapes while hanging from a chandelier suspended from the ceiling. As Maître D, Danik Abishev captivates the audience with his displays of epic strength and balance, poised on one hand atop precariously balanced suitcases, and climbing an untethered ladder. Aerial artist Daniella Del Mar takes our breath away with her aerial circus routine, poised and graceful while swinging from her pony tail. Bentley Rebel struts their stuff in a sizzling strip teasing, pole dancing number, and John Waters performs a poem in French that’s translated concurrently, and sings a deep and gravelly version of ‘Ne me quitte pas’, guttural and rich in uvular trills.

The highlight of the night for me comes from the bellhop duo Maclean and aerialist Masha Terentieva. Maclean sings a soulful pop ballad, while Terentieva swings, dances and contorts her body effortlessly atop a spinning luggage trolley, suspended from the ceiling. Maclean’s and Terentieva’s performance both feel centre stage yet as a completely cohesive duet; they complement the intensity and passion of each other’s performance with great artistic intuition and chemistry.   

Much of the music is bolstered by backing tracks which work well to keep momentum between acts, but also leaves me wanting more of the raw, live performance that makes it feel so alive and electrifying. Coming in at 75 minutes with no interval, the night is action packed and leaves us aching for more of the indulgent, decadence of L’Hôtel.

Elevate your evening and book a VIP Package. This includes:

• Cabaret table seating
• A glass of French champagne
• French cheese board and an éclair for dessert*
• Table service from the drinks menu

For those patrons who have booked a VIP Package, we encourage you to arrive 30 minutes prior to the show’s commencement so you can enjoy your champagne and cheese board. For those patrons who booked seats, please arrive 15 minutes prior to the show’s commencement.