Melbourne’s Newest Cabaret Venue Opens

Melbourne’s Newest Cabaret Venue Opens

Melbourne’s newest cabaret venue ‘Downstairs At Almas’ opened in Caulfield on Monday night, featuring performances by some of Australia’s leading musical theatre and comedy acts.

Premiering acts included one of Australia’s favourite comedians Rachel Berger, musical theatre star Chelsea Gibb, the multi award-winning ‘Drags Aloud’,  the hilarious harmonies of the ‘Candy Topps’, chanteuse extraordinaire, Billie Wilde and the cabaret-inspired burlesque showcase ‘Burlesque in the Burbs’.

‘Downstairs At Alma’s’ (DAA) is the result of a long-time dream of Company B&C directors, Will Conyers and Philip ‘PJ’ Buchanan, to create a cabaret and performance space for both seasoned and debuting shows that cater to all audience types and ages.  

Combined, the two men have almost a century of performing and broadcasting experience between them and look forward to using their knowledge and expertise to create one of Melbourne’s finest cabaret spots.

The pair first came across the space whilst broadcasting their 200th radio show ‘Broadway at Bedtime’ from the Alma Sports Club in 2009 and realised an almost-unused downstairs room would be ideal for a cabaret venue.  

Renovations have revealed a high gloss, glitzy Melbourne Cabaret venue, with state-of-the-art lighting and sound complete with glass-top tables, candles and deco credenzas with guilt mirrors.

“We have adorned the venue as ‘Alma’ would have wanted”, says the Executive Producer and Co-Director, PJ Buchanan, citing the mysterious ‘Alma’ who is the muse for the venue and who guests hear at each performance, but never get to see.

Not wanting to be alone in this venture, ‘The Boys’, as they have been dubbed, decided on a Patron program.  

“To be our International Patron of DAA, we decided to invite our good friend, Lorna Luft, daughter of Judy Garland and half-sister of Liza Minnelli. She was also the sister-in-law of Australia’s own, Peter Allen”, says Conyers.

According to Ms Luft, “I first met the boys, Will & PJ, when I was in Australia a few years ago doing a Cabaret Tour and my show of ‘Songs My Mother Taught Me’. They had been interviewing me for their radio show, BROADWAY AT BEDTIME. We all became great friends almost immediately.”

Next, was a National Patron. Paul Baden, a man who helped establish a surety in Cabaret for many years with his venue, Capers Cabaret, was chosen for this role.

“Will Conyers was the very first Cabaret Artist to work at Capers Cabaret. He did several seasons subsequently that were all sell-outs. So when he and PJ approached me to become the National Patron of ‘Downstairs at Alma’s’, after the initial shock, it was an unequivocal, ‘Yes’.

“I was very proud of the award-winning years that Capers gave to the Cabaret Community of Melbourne and I have such a high respect and regard for the talent and dedication of all the people within this community. The passion and professionalism that Will and PJ give to whatever they do is unquestionable, so when I first saw what the boys were doing with an almost-unused meeting room inside the magnificent Alma Sports Club, I knew the Capers heritage was in great hands and the banner has been truly passed on.

“I’m honoured and excited to be a part of ‘Downstairs At Alma’s’ and frankly I hadn’t realised just how much I have missed being involved in the Melbourne Cabaret scene”, Baden added.

Will Conyers has worked extensively in all branches of the entertainment industry since the age of 6 - from piano bars to opera, cabaret to rock opera and from the theatre to film and T.V soap opera. Most recently, he directed Tony-winning Stephen Schwartz (the composer/lyricist of WICKED) in a celebration of the writer’s work.

Buchanan began his career at the age of 9, classically-trained at the National Boys Choir before moving into musical theatre and being an inaugural graduate of the National Theatre Drama School (Music Theatre - founded by Conyers). Recently Buchanan was honoured with the chance of a lifetime to play Jean Valjean in LES MISERABLES also at the National Theatre.

‘Downstairs at Almas’ opened with a special VIP invite-only event with celebrity guests including the internationally acclaimed Broadway and Mad Men TV star, Bryan Batt, along with the cream of the musical theatre and cabaret world.

For further information and show details visit www.downstairsatalmas.com

Images: (From top) Will Conyers & John-Michael Howson & PJ Buchanan; The Candy Topps - Emma Clair Ford, Jennifer Robinson & Rebecca Elliot; Chelsea Gibb; Amanda Harrison & Alex Rathberger - leads of The Production Company's Anything Goes.

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