Hidden Sydney – The Glittering Mile

I was waiting next to the Lord Mayor of Sydney Clover Moore to enter the ‘theatre’ when someone who resembled a vagrant started urinating into a gutter a few metres away.

The Lord Mayor was convinced he was an authentic drunk - up until we saw him again - playing the guitar inside.

This wasn’t the first or the last surprise of the evening. It appeared that even the most jaded theatre critic and opening night ‘luvee’ was entertained and fascinated by what was a lavish evening of immersive theatre.

The quality of entertainment, from the large cast compared to the modest ticket price (funded by the Sydney City Council) makes it irresistible.

The venue is extraordinary. You enter the back end of the what is now The World Bar – but was previously “The Nevada” – a notorious brothel. About nine of the rooms are the venues for the different acts - each with their own exotic character.

The audience is squeezed into the spaces and as you might imagine there is no-where to hide if you are chosen to participate. We hear the voice of a drug dealer, a drag Queen, a wonderful eccentric Bea Miles and as you’d expect the odd prostitute.

There is an energetic erotic dance on a bed in which a couple entwine and bounce off the springs and the audience.

Also refreshing was the music. A new song has been penned for the Kenneth Slessor poem ‘William Street’. You find it ugly I find it Lovely.

For the final act you arrive at The Silver Spade for some glamorous singing from Rob Mills and ‘Bobby Darin.’

Whilst a few of the characters could have been developed a little better, the misses were the rare exception. This is Kings Cross up close and personal. Not to be missed.

David Spicer

Photographer: Jamie Williams