Who is Meow Meow?
International Singing Sensation, comedienne extraordinaire. About to perform her acclaimed extravaganza with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra.
Who inspires you and why?
Artists – musicians and painters and writers and dancers who can somehow connect us and heal us with the magic spheres of the universe – who can connect us and crack us open, in the best possible way. It is so rare and special when art is truly transcendent and undeniable and essential.
What would you do to make a difference in the world?
More music and dance for children in all schools! Music exposure makes for brain dexterity and critical thinking!
Favourite holiday destination and why?
A holiday for me is usually being transported in the theatre. The Australian Ballet’s extraordinary Kunstkamer at Sydney Opera House (and in Melbourne now) took me to another WORLD!! Go! Go! Go! Anywhere Pina Bausch Company is performing – I will see them in Paris at the beautiful Theatre du Chatelet in July. It’s rare to be transported to strange and wonderful lands of the soul – we have to cherish these “holidays”!
When friends come to town, what attraction would you take them to, and why?
It depends which city I am in! In Paris, the beautiful Musee Gustave Moreau, in Melbourne, Mario’s restaurant for my favourite pasta, in Adelaide, the Art Gallery of South Australia, loitering around William Strang’s The Carnation, the wall of Clarice Beckett, the extraordinary Rodin Flying Figure.
What are you currently reading?
The Diaries of Hans Christian Andersen for research and Ben Ehrenreich’s Desert Notebooks: A road map for the end of time for contemporary global panic. Next up will be Australian writer Chloe Hooper’s Bedtime Story. Anything by the brilliant mythographer and art historian Marina Warner for fascinating inspiration.
What are you currently listening to?
Stravinsky, Shostakovich, Schwitters, Schulhoff – all the S’s! Curating a concert with the Melbourne Symphony in October called The Twenties and All That Dissonance Vol.1 – Fun, frightening, fascinating! When I’m out walking, I listen to Rufus Wainwright, Amanda Palmer, Meg Washington. Pre-shows to get joyful, I listen to my friends Pink Martini, with whom I’ve often guested and toured the world, so they bring hilarious memories.
Happiness is?
Everything to me! Sitting on stage with an orchestra or being thrown around by dancing boys are pretty heavenly situations.
What does the future hold for you?
Only a fool would pretend to know!!! Apparently, I have some concerts with orchestra in Europe including Finland in July… heart hopes for peace and world kindness!
Meow Meow is accompanied by the full force of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Nicholas Buc, for a glorious performance of subversive and sublime entertainment and joyful orchestrated chaos in Pandemonium, presented at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Adelaide, as part of the 2022 Adelaide Cabaret Festival on Saturday 18 June. For more information, visit: www.adelaidecabaretfestival.com.au for details.
Image: Meow Meow – photo by Magnus Hastings