Polish your disco balls and strap on those platform shoes – disco is back at the Sydney Opera House.
Inspired by the legendary Studio 54, Velvet Inferno transforms the Opera House Studio into a glittering nightclub where sequins sparkle, mirror balls shimmer and the greatest disco hits of the 1970s and ’80s provide the soundtrack to a 75-minute celebration of the era. It’s part-concert, part-circus and all-out party.
On Opening Night, we were treated to a unique blend of powerhouse vocals, dazzling dance routines and breathtaking circus artistry. Roller skating, aerial acrobatics, trapeze, hair-hanging, hula hooping and gravity-defying flying-pole performances were seamlessly woven together in a spectacle that rarely paused for breath.
Queen Marcia
Marcia Hines proved once again that she’s age-defying. Commanding the stage as The Diva, she delivered the kind of effortless vocals and magnetic stage presence that have made her one of Australia’s most enduring entertainers.
The most fun number was undoubtedly It’s Raining Men, a wonderfully exuberant sequence that also came with a warning: if you’re sitting in the front row, don’t be surprised if you leave just a little wetter than when you arrived.
Scene stealers
As the ingenue Gloria, KYE gave a beautiful, soaring performance of I’m Every Woman that lingered long after the show. Brendan Maclean was charismatic as Country Mike, but it was his stripped-back, soulful acoustic rendition of Stayin’ Alive that provided one of the evening’s top moments.
Disco devotees were treated to one beloved hit after another, including Play That Funky Music, I’m So Excited and Don’t Leave Me This Way. It was impossible not to tap a foot or mouth the lyrics.
My only reservation from Opening Night was the sound mix. At times the backing track was simply too loud, occasionally drowning out the vocalists and making some lyrics difficult to catch. It’s a relatively minor issue that will hopefully be refined as the season progresses.
Everybody dance
Velvet Inferno finished exactly as a disco celebration should – with the full cast filling the stage, the audience on its feet and the Opera House Studio transformed into Studio 54 for one final, glorious dance.
Anyone who came of age during disco’s golden years will relish the nostalgia of this show, while younger audiences discovering the music for the first time will find plenty to love, too.
Velvet Inferno
Sydney Opera House Studio
Until 12 September, 2026
sydneyoperahouse.com
