REVIEW: Sugar, Bullet Heart Club, EdFringe 2025 ★★★★★

Camp, glorious and heartbreaking. Sugar leads us through Tomáš Kantor’s life with a fabulous genderqueer cabaret.

Following Tom, under the alias of ‘Sugar’, unemployment leads them into the world of ‘transactional relationships’ and they end up with a sugar daddy, Richard. Told through the music of queer pop icons including Lady Gaga, Chappell Roan and Lorde, the show takes us through the highs and lows, from the rules to the emotional impact, in the world of being a Sugar Baby.

Kantor is an incredible performer, going between the instruments and through the audience to bring to life this story. Tomáš has the rapport, talent and all round energy of a future Eurovision winner, their energy is enticing and left me wanting more.

Where this production truly stunned me however was the design, on a backdrop of a baby pink with a heart shaped cut out and a variety of curtains to express the changing atmostphere throughout the show, Bethany J Fellows creates undeniable queer brilliance. Paired with lighting design by Spencer Herd that perfectly matches the vibe, exploring the characters discomfort, while still lighting Sugar like a true pop star. This show is aesthetically beautiful.

I particularly admired the exploration of trans identity within the piece, with Liability by Lorde heartbreakingly performed as a representation of Sugar’s transness and their need to tone their identity down to make the relationship work, a painfully real experience I could completely relate to as a trans person, before watching the cycle repeat itself once their relationship with Richard has ended. I also adored the shameless representation of sugar dating and sex work within the trans community, something I rarely get to see represented so beautifully.

This show is silly, sexy and stunning, and I urge any and all queer people to go immerse themselves in this cabaret delight.

Recommended Drink: Pair this with the most expensive bottle of Champagne you can find, bought for you by your daddy.

You can catch Sugar until August 24th (not the 18th) at Checkpoint at Assembly Checkpoint from 16:20 (70mins). Tickets are available through the EdFringe Online Box Office.