Boogie the night away at upcoming disco show

Published 12:00pm 11 March 2023

Words by Ashleigh Howarth

Theatre goers and music lovers should wear their comfiest dancing shoes for Mousetrap Theatre Company's upcoming production, which will feature an array of hit songs from the 70s disco era.

The world premiere of Disco Fever Cabaret will be held at Scarborough Bowls Club on March 24, with two more performances scheduled on March 25 and 26.

Directors Nikol Trenberth and Karen Christl have been overseeing rehearsals and can’t wait for the curtain to rise later this month.

“I am so excited to be bringing Disco Fever Cabaret to life,” Nikol said.

“I had an idea three years ago about the kind of show I would like to perform in. Some of Mousetrap’s committee members told me to put in a submission to direct this imaginary show.

“And so, after many delays due to COVID and the theatre repair work, this vision is finally about to come to the stage.

“We have been rehearsing since the end of January. It’s been a reasonably short rehearsal run as we were governed by venue availability, but the cast and crew are extremely talented, so the show has come together with amazing ease.”

The show will feature plenty of groovy disco beats along with fabulous harmonies and lots of dancing.

“My vision for Disco Fever Cabaret was for an all-singing, all-dancing audience experience, and that is what we are bringing to the stage,” Nikol said.

When asked what her favourite part of the show was, Nikol said there were too many to choose from.

“I love every part of the show, so it’s very hard to pick one favourite part,” she explained.

“But if I had to pick my favourites, I’d have to say it’s the songs where the group harmonies come together.

“To me, disco was all about the amazing vocals of groups like The Jackson 5 and The Weather Girls, so we’ve tried hard to recreate that sound.”

For Karen, the show brings back plenty of fond memories from when she was growing up.

“As a child of the 70s, I’d play my parents records ad nauseum, dancing happily in the lounge room,” Karen said.

“I’d watch Countdown once a week, and I always thought the performers looked so glamorous, and everyone was having so much fun.

“That is what is at the heart of disco music.

“Disco provided an escape from what history would show to be a turbulent decade in an ever-changing world.

“It was that spirit of fun that we celebrate with this show.”