Getting the garden bar pumping

Kyra Sykes stepping up to bring variety to Fringe Mount Gambier

Kyra Sykes has found their niche and as they make a name for themselves, Mount Gambier audiences have a couple of opportunities during the upcoming Mount Gambier Fringe to see Kyra and other performers strutting their stuff.

The King’s Variety Show has been curated by Kyra and will be bringing the Globe Hotel Garden Bar to life.

“We will be christening the freshly mowed garden bar with some chaos,” Kyra, who will be hosting the show as their alter ego LOVEIT MURRAY, said.

Kyra has been performing regularly in Adelaide and has started to develop a strong network within the burlesque, drag, comedy scene and that has allowed them to put together The King’s Variety Show, which features local and visiting talent.

Ivy Fox, a former Miss Burlesque SA who now lives in Melbourne, is one of those headline acts, along with Melbourne based comedy act Bugg and Brandon – with Bugg Horsburgh a former local.

“It’s a perfect homecoming gig for Bugg – it’s a really fun skit, sort of a play on a TED talk,” Kyra said. The King’s Variety Show will feature the debut performance of local performer Daisy Lotte.

“She has just turned 16, is the smallest, coolest girl but with the largest voice – she brings a shock factor,” Kyra said. “She’ll be doing some original songs and a couple of crowd favourite covers – she is multi-talented.”

Kyra has deliberately curated a diverse group of performers across live music, burlesque, drag and comedy with the promise of a show with light and shade. “It’s not exclusively high energy, we still want it to be a journey and an experience,” they said. “But it will be a fast paced fun show with each act running for five or 10 minutes – the garden bar is going to be pumping.”

June Gloom, a drag queen that has relocated to Mount Gambier from Adelaide, is one of those connections Kyra has made during their gigs in Adelaide.

“It is cool to have June in town living here and bringing her art to the stage,” they said. The Globe Garden Bar is the perfect location for the show, which sees doors open at 6pm and the performances kicking off at 6.30pm – it is right in the heart of Fringeland, which will see a sea of colour and entertainment in the adjacent Cave Garden.

The King’s Variety Show is suitable for those aged 15 years and above. It is not Kyra’s only gig for the frenetic Fringe Mount Gambier though, with a Bottomless Brunch at The Commodore on Sunday at 11.30am.

“There will be some of the same acts but a totally different format,” they said.

“There will be fabulous costuming, I have been making some of the most dramatic brunch themed hats and it will be a more interactive experience, more up close and personal.”

Kyra has thrived on taking on a new role for the 2023 Fringe Mount Gambier, taking charge of a couple of shows and running with it. “Fringe has given me the opportunity to take ownership and take the next step in my career,” they said.

“I love performing and I love working with groups of artists to put a show together. It has been the perfect opportunity to step out of your box and challenge yourself and that’s exactly what I am trying to do and exactly what Fringe is all about.

” Kyra will also involved in Friday night’s Fringe Parade, which is returning to the streets after a couple of years hiatus.

Bookings for either of Kyra’s shows at https://events.humanitix. com/the-king-s-variety-show or https://www.thecommodoremtg. com.au/bottomless-brunch-fringe/ PHOTO COURTESY OF TIM ROSENTHAL