International cabaret icon Meow Meow is back in Melbourne this month with Meow Meow’s The Red Shoes, a darkly funny and hauntingly beautiful reimagining of Hans Christian Andersen’s classic fairytale.
Playing from 19 November to 6 December at Malthouse Theatre’s Merlyn Theatre, the production marks the third in Meow Meow’s trilogy of Andersen-inspired works following The Little Match Girl (2012) and The Little Mermaid (2017).
In Andersen’s original story, a young woman is cursed to dance endlessly for her vanity. Meow Meow’s version flips that fate on its head, asking what happens if she could never begin to dance at all. The result is a show that dives into questions of desire, salvation and the human need for transcendence — all delivered with Meow Meow’s signature mix of chaos, beauty and wit.
Directed by Kate Champion, Artistic Director of Black Swan State Theatre Company, the production features a live ensemble of virtuosic musicians including Kanen Breen, Mark Jones, Dan Witton and Jethro Woodward. Woodward also provides musical direction and sound design, with set and costumes by Dann Barber and lighting by Rachel Burke.
Described by Berliner Zeitung as “the queen of chanson” and by the Evening Standard UK as possessing “devilish funny bones and heavenly vocal chords”, Meow Meow continues to blur the boundaries between cabaret, theatre and performance art. Her career has spanned some of the world’s most prestigious stages – from the Sydney Opera House to London’s West End and New York’s Carnegie Hall – earning her a global cult following.
Meow Meow’s The Red Shoes runs at Malthouse Theatre from 19 November to 6 December 2025. Tickets are on sale now at malthousetheatre.com.au.
