Victoria Falconer is no stranger to the cabaret stage. A multi-instrumentalist, musical director, and all-round queer performance powerhouse, she has made a name for herself across the globe with her daring, high-energy productions. Now, she’s bringing her signature mix of drag, burlesque, circus, and live music to Aotearoa with SMASHED – The Nightcap, headlining the Spiegeltent as part of Te Ahurei Toi o Tāmaki Auckland Arts Festival from 6–23 August.
SMASHED – The Nightcap is an intoxicating blend of music, mischief, and unfiltered spectacle. But beyond the sequins, sass, and sheer talent on stage, Falconer tells Oliver Hall that she is a creator with a mission—to amplify voices, celebrate the outsider, and honour cabaret’s rebellious, boundary-pushing roots.
A Show Born from Rebellion
Falconer describes SMASHED as a “feast of fierce, fabulous talent”—a riotous concoction of cabaret, drag, burlesque, live music, and circus, all driven by the raw, unpredictable energy of live performance.
“The first iteration of SMASHED was a post-COVID retaliation—a femme-forward, actively accessible, daytime drag brunch extravaganza,” she explains. “With The Nightcap, I wanted to create its after-dark sibling. A late-night chaser. An experience to remind us that even in deep darkness, there are always cracks where light can get in.”
For Falconer, cabaret has always been a space for the marginalised and the misfits, a tradition that continues to inspire her work.
“Cabaret clubs were born out of necessity—spaces for artists who weren’t welcomed on traditional main stages,” she says. “These rooms, hidden behind locked doors and down dark alleyways, became places of safety, self-expression, and celebration. In times of political instability and fear, community becomes strength, and celebrating ourselves is an act of defiance. The Nightcap raises a glass to the rule-breakers, the troublemakers, the ones who refuse to fit inside a box.”
An Ever-Changing Spectacle
Set in the atmospheric Spiegeltent, SMASHED – The Nightcap promises to be a night of unrestrained revelry.
“The moment you step into the tent, you’re transported,” Falconer teases. “The bar is open—and stays open. You’re surrounded by phenomenal humans exuding late-night debauchery and outrageous talent. Your host? A sequin-clad, throaty-voiced provocateur, wielding an accordion and backed by a rock ‘n’ roll band that makes your bones vibrate. A saxophone wails, the keys of the piano are as hammered as if they’d downed three picklebacks. You watch act after act, gripping the hand of the person next to you in sheer awe. And just when you think you’ve seen it all—something even wilder happens.”
At SMASHED – The Nightcap, no two nights are the same, and that’s exactly how Falconer likes it.
Behind the Curtain: Magic in the Making
Falconer is a firm believer in collaboration, and The Nightcap has brought together a dream team of performers who thrive on pushing artistic boundaries.
“One of our stars, Karlee Misi, is a world-class burlesque artist and Mother of the House of Luna in the ballroom scene,” Falconer shares. “Before rehearsals, I heard whispers that Karlee could also ‘sang’. So, I asked if she’d be keen to incorporate some vocals into her act. Let me tell you—when Karlee sang, the room stopped. We had to put it in the show. Moments like that are why I love what I do.”
Then there’s the infamous seven-accordion moment—yes, seven accordions played at once.
“It’s deeply serious, utterly high art,” Falconer jokes, “and every time we’ve done it, the audience is on their feet. I mean, who doesn’t love ‘80s hair metal on a squeezebox?”
Cabaret as Connection and Resistance
For Falconer, cabaret isn’t just entertainment—it’s a way to connect, disrupt, and hold up a mirror to the world.
“The best cabaret feels like I’m in direct eye contact with everyone in the room, all at once,” she says. “It’s about being present—reacting to a rogue heckle, a smashed glass, an unexpected proposal—embracing the chaos and making everyone feel part of something unrepeatable.”
More Chaos, More Queerness, More Glitter
Looking ahead, Falconer sees cabaret as a constantly evolving art form—one that reflects the voices of those who create it.
“When I was at uni, cabaret was the scrappy underdog of the arts world. Now, it’s the hot weirdo everyone secretly wants to date,” she laughs. “There’s space for everyone—no gatekeeping, please. More chaos! More brilliant, bright queerness! More diverse voices claiming space and taking names! More biodegradable glitter and costumes that don’t cost the earth!”
And for aspiring LGBTQ+ performers looking to carve out their place in the cabaret world, she has some advice:
“Be fearless. Embrace your quirks, your story, and your perspective. Surround yourself with other queer artists and allies—community is everything. Take risks, take up space, and know that cabaret is sacred. It’s where we laugh, empathise, and create resilience together. It’s a rich, rebellious tradition that has always been about challenging norms and celebrating differences. You’re part of that legacy now—so go forth and make some magic.”
SMASHED – The Nightcap runs from 6–23 August at the Spiegeltent in Aotea Square as part of Te Ahurei Toi o Tāmaki Auckland Arts Festival. Book tickets at aaf.co.nz.
