Who is Michelle Pearson?
Michelle Pearson is a multi-award-winning cabaret performer and producer. Born and based in South Australia she is well known for her hit shows, Comfort Food Cabaret, Just Desserts, Down Under – The Songs That Shaped Australia (formerly Mixtape Australia) and Skinny – which was presented at the 2024 Adelaide Cabaret Festival. Michelle started her cabaret career in 2015 but has always sung as a teenager and young adult in bands, musical theatre and as a recording artist. Michelle is known as Australia’s singing cook with shows Comfort Food Cabaret and Just Desserts where she weave’s together storytelling, live music performance, comedy and cooking and serves the audience a three course meal. She is also the 2024 recipient of the Frank Ford Commission that was the driving force behind her latest piece, Skinny. Michelle is a mum to a four year old boy and a lover of music, especially Australian music.
What would you do differently from what you do now?
Nothing! I absolutely love what I do now. I spent many years telling myself that I needed a back up career in case music didn’t work so I worked in PR, arts management, event management, project management until I said enough is enough. I spent so much time doing other things instead of backing myself. I love mentoring other artists with marketing and producing elements and I love sharing stories through music. I am exactly where I want to be right at this very moment and incredibly grateful for the opportunities that I have received.
Who inspires you and why?
Jamie Oliver – I love cooking but I truly love his story. He is dyslexic and could barely read and write as a child and still struggles to this day. So he found food and really made something of himself. I love that he made his own way and created his own genre of cooking and presenting and I really admire that and feel very inspired by his story.
What would you do to make a difference in the world?
I don’t know where to start – There is so much! I would like to see less greed and far less poverty and I like to support causes that champion this. But I am very passionate about creating a world that is inclusive and celebrates differences especially in the disability space. My son has a disability and he has changed us for the better and he has taught us so much about the world. I hope that the world continues to be more inclusive and eventually those with a disability won’t feel so excluded.
Favourite holiday destination and why?
As soon as we get to winter I want to go somewhere hot but in all honesty I love holidaying in the Barossa Valley. I love the vibe, the restaurants (Ferment Asian and Otherness are my favs) and I love a bit of wine tasting. It is one of my favourite places to visit.
When friends come to town, what attraction would you take them to, and why?
I love to take friends out to brunch at Pony and Cole which hands down serves the best breakfast and coffee in Adelaide. I also love to take them to a really good local pub like The Wheaty or head to Plant 4 Bowden.
What are you currently reading?
Pig City: From the Saints to Savage Garden written by Andrew Stafford. All in the name of research.
What are you currently listening to?
Everything on my playlist right now is Aussie because we are about to perform a month long season of Down Under – The Songs That Shaped Australia in Edinburgh for the Fringe with House of Oz. So I am listening to INXS, Kylie Minogue, Midnight Oil and so many more artists to create a fantastic show.
Happiness is?
A bowl of Spaghetti bolognaise, a glass of good red wine, cuddles on the couch with my husband, my son and our dog and a great film.
What does the future hold for you?
In August my latest award-winning show, Down Under, will head to Edinburgh to perform with Assembly at the Fringe. We are being supported by the incredible team at House of Oz after winning the 2024 House of Oz Purse Prize. In late August I am pitching some shows at an Australian Arts Market which is hugely exciting and then looking at touring around Australia to different festivals in 2025.
Michelle will perform Down Under – The Songs That Shaped Australia at the House of Oz, as part of the 2024 Edinburgh Fringe: 1 – 24 August. For more information, visit: www.houseofoz.co.uk for details,
Image: Michelle Pearson (supplied)