Bubble Show for Adults Only

Bubble Show for Adults Only is an intoxicating mix of high-skill artistry, cheeky humour, and bubbly delight that transforms soap and water into an hour of pure, effervescent theatre magic. Blending elements of circus, cabaret, and performance art, this inventive production from Bubble Laboratory demonstrates that bubbles can be playful, captivating, and thoroughly grown-up.

Performers and co-creators Iulia Benze and Kurt Murray are professional bubbleologists and exceptional entertainers. Together, they combine clowning, theatre, and physical performance with extraordinary bubble artistry and razor-sharp comic timing. Across nine short vignettes, they shift seamlessly through moods and styles. From poetic and sensual to bold and absurd, each vignette surprises and delights. Benze’s quicksilver characterisation and expressive physicality are a delight to watch, while Murray’s presence, precision, and charisma ground the performance beautifully. Quite the dynamic duo!

The sound design is outstanding, with iconic tracks such as New Order’s “Blue Monday” and Bronski Beat’s “Smalltown Boy” setting the mood perfectly. Each piece of music is thoughtfully chosen to enhance the tone of each vignette, creating rhythm and cohesion throughout. Voiceovers and short pre-recorded pop-culture interludes serve as witty transitions, allowing time for the next act to be prepared while maintaining atmosphere and intrigue. The inclusion of an Auslan interpreter adds a wonderful touch of accessibility and extra playfulness, engaging the audience with genuine warmth.

Visually, the show is a spectacular blend of creativity and skill. Shadowgraphy, smoke-filled bubbles, giant cheeky tubes, and acrobatic bubble tricks combine with imaginative lighting and clever silhouette projection to create moments of stunning visual artistry. Humour, surprise, and skillful physicality are woven throughout, with shadow puppets and playful choreography adding depth and delight. Spoiler alert: The Wizard of Oz twister scene was pure magic! The quirky, stylish costuming gives the production a touch of glamour and eccentricity. Every detail in this show feels deliberate and artful.

The direction is tight and fluid, with each vignette flowing naturally into the next. The pacing is brisk, the transitions smooth, and the tone always balanced between playfulness and sophistication. It is clear that this is a show created by artists who understand both spectacle and subtlety.

The venue, The West End Electric, provides the perfect setting. Intimate, stylish, and full of character, it complements the show’s mischievous, late-night energy. Tickets are affordable, the vibe is relaxed, and the experience feels both polished and spontaneous. Performances run at 9pm Wednesday to Saturday and 8pm on Sundays, making it an ideal after-dinner outing, whether for a date night, or a fun night out with friends.

Bubble Laboratory, founded by Benze and Murray, is an internationally recognised theatre company producing more than 200 shows each year for both adult and children’s audiences. Their work combines technical mastery with inventive artistry, consistently pushing the boundaries of bubble performance as a theatrical medium.

Bubble Show for Adults Only is clever, captivating, and gloriously original. It fizzes with creativity and leaves the audience in awe, laughing, loving and floating out the door in a happy haze.

A sparkling, inventive, and utterly engaging evening of theatre and totally unmissable night out.

Tamzin Lockhart

Photography by Cris Berserker, thirdeyeshoots.com