Show Program
This contemporary trash cabaret light-heartedly deconstructs ideas around existence, relationships, spirituality, and identity. Appealing to the humorous and quirky side of the brain, it poses existential questions about life, exploring the meaning of the sensual and sensory through cracking dialogue and a sultry suite of original songs. Journey into unravelling the secrets of sexuality and the spirit, delving into lust and longing, mentality and mind games and the psyche and psychology of people. Mental wellbeing is touched on and explored, the show is disability led, and the performers all identify as LGBTQI+. You’ll be rolling in the aisles, as we instil in you a fun filled freedom for looking at the esoteric and witty approach to ecstasy. You’ll feel enriched and possibly quite ready to slip between the sheets. Satin of course.
Sex & Other Philosophes was born from an idea sparked after one of Lucinda’s performances at the Brisbane Powerhouse. The team of three, James, Lucinda and Karen, began work on the show after Karen won the Access Arts Achievement Award to develop it. With more funding, lots of hard work and plenty of play, they had their first showing at Pip Theatre in 2022, then in 2023 performed in RPAC’s Stage Sessions, at the Judith Wright in the QLD Cabaret Festival and again at Pip Theatre in the Toucan Club. In 2024 the show went to the Adelaide Fringe under an Adelaide Fringe Artist Fund Award. All performances have been received by enthusiastic audiences who gave feedback including:“
It is amazing, it is absolutely stunning. It must be seen. It is brilliant.” Pat Swell, CEO Access Arts
“I’ve really only got three words; cornucopia, celestial, comedy…” Cloudye Carew- Reid, Polygranete Films
Lucinda Shaw
Lucinda Shaw is an actor, vocalist, writer and performance maker thriving on, adventurous multi-disciplinary collaborations, lyrical text, and audience engagement. Lucinda has contributed as a performer and maker to works with Vulcana Women’s Circus, The Danger Ensemble, La Boite and Backbone. Bands Include Isis and Silver Sircus and collaborations in dark cabaret spaces include Melt Festival, Brisbane Festival and Melbourne Fringe. Co-creating work in Backbone’s youth space and the Open Homes project as facilitator, Lucinda continues to create work that explores authentic narratives of diverse human experience enriched by practice in education and counseling.
Karen Lee Roberts
Karen Lee Roberts is an artist living with and surviving bipolar disorder. Her artwork conveys social and emotional messages to audiences on prevalent topics, educating whilst entertaining. She has performed extensively internationally and throughout Australia in various productions. Wilbur the Optical Whale her children’s show, won a Matilda Award, two Adelaide Fringe Awards, a Perth Fringe World Award and a Sydney Fringe Award with indelabilityarts. Her All Abilities QLD Government video The No Pile also won three awards in the Brisbane Art Director’s Club Awards. Intimate Space, which she performed in with Restless Dance, won a Helpmann Award. Karen also won the Access Arts Achievement Award to develop Sex & Other Philosophies. She has toured extensively with indelabilityarts in various productions and performed in top festivals across the country.
James Halloran
James Halloran is a composer, vocalist, and musical director known for his work as the lead singer of ÚMBRIEL, an avant-garde electronic art-pop group from Brisbane, Australia. Halloran’s performances blend string quartets with industrial synthesizers and a psychodynamic approach to songwriting. James has crafted dark, emotive works for contemporary theatre, drawing from influences like Weimar Cabaret and 80s Glam rock. Career highlights include performances with MacArthur genius award winner Taylor Mac, his sold-out cabaret “Lush Life”—exploring the hidden queer history of jazz—and contributions to various theatrical productions. Additionally, James is a holistic vocal coach, combining vocal pedagogy with music therapy, helping clients connect therapeutically with their voices.
Karen Lee Roberts Creative 