Pursuing Pleasure

“Welcome to all my secrets.”

Opera singer turned curvaceous cabaret cantatrice Piera Dennerstein (Finucane & Smith, ‘Blue is the Colour’ Midsumma 2022, ‘Call the Doctor!’ Melbourne Cabaret Festival 2024) shares the intimate truths of her body and mind in this sexy, silly and deeply human show for soprano and piano.

Using the exceptional versatility of her voice in everything from Puccini to Cardi B, Piera tells the story, with humour, sincerity and hope, of her experiences forming her values and beliefs as she recovered from the toxicity of the opera industry and partner abuse. Extrapolated from a poem she wrote in 2020 entitled, ‘This is what my body was built for,’ this work will explore how leaning into the pleasurable – demonstrated in the operatic and sensual – as long as it causes no harm to others, is a powerful political act.

With dramaturgy by Melbourne Fringe Living Legend Moira Finucane, and from the director of Skank Sinatra, Olivia Charalambous, this deeply personal work boldly continues Piera’s dramatic aims of blurring the boundary between high and low art and cultivating a shared humanity. In exposing all, Piera hopes to provide those who have survived rejection and oppression an opportunity to feel seen, find hope, and have a much-deserved giggle.

Developed through Whitehorse City Council and The Round Midsumma Residency Program. Toured thanks to receiving funding from Creative Australia through the Australian Cultural Fund.

Writer & Performer: Piera Dennerstein | Director: Olivia Charalambous

Approximate Run Time: 60 minutes

Content Warnings: Sexual references & references to violence, domestic violence, death