Jake Mace
Tomáš Kantor’s upcoming EdFringe debut cabaret show Sugar, a self-described ‘queer pop spectacle’, follows a gender-queer twink who discovers there’s money to be made from transactional relationships (though they do admit their primary source of information is Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman). We caught up with Tomáš for a pixelated pint to find out what inspired the show, what tunes and exploits we can expect to see on stage, and about going ‘full method’.
You can catch Sugar from July 30th to August 24th (not the 12th or 18th) from 16:20 (70mins) at Checkpoint at Assembly Checkpoint. Tickets are available through the EdFringe Online Box Office.
Jake: Hi Tomáš! Your debut cabaret show is about a a gender-queer twink who discovers there’s money to be made from transactional relationships – tell us about what inspired the show.
Tomáš: So, we got a call from Melbourne Fringe. They were hungry for something fresh and fabulous, queer and camp and couture, slick and sexy, delusional and dangerous, on the pulse and popping with pop-bangers. Say no more darlings! This genderqueer twink will go undercover (overconfidently) as a sugarbaby to get you the confessional scoop. I went “full method” with this one – Lady Gaga in Haus of Gucci level commitment. Except with nothing but Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman as my guide, things don’t quite unfold as the fairytale foretold… I guess you could say SUGAR is these divas’ delusional daughter (with daddy issues).
I’m personally obsessed with pop culture and cult classics. I thought, let’s stack this story with iconic cultural references from the 90s through now, and plug up the gaping hole (pun-intended, obvi) that often exists between satisfying youthful and mature audiences. There’s something for everyone in here, and that was a really pivotal part of the ambition: involve everybody so that the important queer messaging is accessible across generations, backgrounds and perspectives. We are serving up a salacious, revelatory night-out for one and all!
Jake: What can the audience expect – tell us about your process of developing the show.
Tomáš: Expect big belly laughs, sultry singing, surprise twists and turns, cheeky character cameos, raunchy rom-com references, masturbatory multi-instrumental showponying, slay costuming and set and lighting, gut-punching poignancy, some (light) audience interaction (don’t be scared my sugarbabes…), bountiful body-ody-ody, big twinkling moo-cow eyes, and of course, humping. I’m delivering iconic gay hits from your faves – Chappell Roan to Gaga, Kylie to Dula Peep, Charli to…Macklemore?! If watching an aging chaos twink descend into depravity and delusion sounds like you’re kinda kink – then get ready for a satisfying sitting you sadists!
We’ve toured this show across Australia’s major festival circuit since deubting at Melbourne Fringe in 2024, with stops at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival, Sydney’s Hayes Theatre Company, and a return to Melbourne’s prestigious Arts Centre. Sold out seasons, ridiculous reviews, award nominations and audiences upstanding – it’s been such a delight to see SUGAR grow and resonate across Australia. All the while we’ve been plucking, preening and pampering this pussycat to have her ever refined and resplendent for her next stop. She’s seriously in my bones now, and I’ve got a boner just thinking about sharing her with you Edinburgh!!
Jake: What are you hoping the audience might take away from the experience, if anything?
Tomáš: There’s a sense of communion and convergence between performer and audience that is very unique, intimate and powerful in confessional cabaret. Walls come down and you can feed audiences concepts in new unexpected ways: camp it up, take it off and get sexy, explode into song, eviscerate with biting commentary, sucker punch with some well-timed poignancy amidst the madness. By making the audience your confidant, you invite them to care deeply about you and what you’re saying. So even, or especially, when covering ground that might feel taboo, the previously unspeakable or unimaginable becomes personal. We look into each other’s eyes and lock in, we’re in this together. We have permission to laugh and cry from the first utterance.
In my show, couched in the silliness and campery, we celebrate queer culture, platform and demystify a trans experience on stage, encourage people to live life to the extreme, to have empathy, to not apologize for their uniqueness. That’s SUGAR’s sweet spot (go on, lick it)! Mainly I want people to have a good time! It’s a riot with some surprises and if people come along and enjoy the pop music and have a laugh together in the theatre then I’ve struck gold.
Jake: Tell us what you’re most excited about for EdFringe 2025.
Tomáš: I mean, it’s the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, she’s the one! I’m just ecstatic for the opportunity to train my craft on the same stage as our great cabaret exports (the incomparable Meow Meow and Reuben Kaye), to immerse myself in incredible international art, to create global creative networks and to expose myself (yes) to new audiences. I think what’s so FAB about fringe is that it’s an instant equaliser – I’m back at square one, a humble little fish, no one knows me, and that’s terrifying and thrilling! It means I have to win people over every night, perform at my best, leave it all on the stage, make my mark, and yes… flyer the haus down (less excited about that).
I’m mostly really proud to be showcasing this new genre-bending queer Australian theatre at the largest fringe festival in the world! And to catch my aussie mates also bringing down-under excellence to the stage – Mel and Sam in Platonic Human Centipede, Jens Radda in Skank Sinatra, Iva Rosebud in Bernie Deiter’s Club Kabarett, Hayley Edwards in Shitbag, the list goes on! It’s a privilege to be performing at this festival, in this venue, alongside this catalogue of artists – the line-up will never be the same, how special to be woven into this year’s tapestry!
I’m also so excited to explore the beautiful city – I visited with family once as a pubescent, pimply, closeted gay boy, (a literal baby) and I’m ready to rediscover Edinburgh as a fully fledged, out and proud, sugar baby STARLETT. Also, I have Scottish ancestry, so I’m excited to say that a lot!
Jake: If your show was a beverage of any kind (alcoholic, non-alcoholic – be as creative as you like!), what would it be and why?
Tomáš: Pornstar Martini. What’s in a name? A lot. Passoã for passion. Vanilla vodka for the sweet kick. Martini cause she’s classy. Bit of pureed passionfruit for extra sex. Vanilla sugar to garnish (not that you’ll need it). Drink up sugarbabes – lets get loose!
A reminder, you can catch Sugar from July 30th to August 24th (not the 12th or 18th) from 16:20 (70mins) at Checkpoint at Assembly Checkpoint. Tickets are available through the EdFringe Online Box Office.
Image Credit: Meagan Harding
Lamesha Ruddock
