Spiegeltent - Adelaide Fringe

They say grand old theatres have their ghosts....then spare a thought for this moving piece of cabaret history.If the private booths within this unique Art Nouveau dance salon could unlock their intimate secrets, they'd tell of new love affairs and those who'd fallen in love with the Famous Spiegeltent.

"Well - Spiegeltent means mirror tent, and it's one of about eight remaining antique mirror tents in Belgium. It's Belgian designed. They began making these free standing, completely self supporting structures which don't have any nails or screws or tent pegs....it can sit on any kind of surface, whether it be a park or an asphalt or a carpark."

"So this is like your kit-built cabaret venue?"

"Absolutely, it's like a great piece of Lego in fact, but with an eighty year history."

This hub of theatre history has played host to some of the legends of cabaret.

"They say part of the history is that Marlene Dietrich sang "Falling in Love Again" in the Famous Spiegeltent in the 1930's".

Earlier this week acoustic duo Linus were playing a song of which this grand old dame would certainly approve.

"And the road is my home.....and in this life I will always roam....I'll always roam".

There's a constant stream of traffic as patrons make their way from the East End to a unique piece of cabaret culture.

On a hot summer's evening with the fans whirring and all the magnificent stained glass windows open...Chris Young on clarinet and Mark Finsterer, bring a bit of Porgy and Bess to the east parklands.

By nightfall the Spiegeltent really comes into its own...as the maze of mirrors reflects what's been happening here for generations.In the case of the Blue Grassy Knoll, it's a fine line between acoustic parody and flat-out foot-stomping hybrid mayhem. The Famous Spiegeltent is located in Rundle Park in the East End and is open daily throughout the Fringe Festival from 10am. You can book at Fringe Tix on 8201-4567.

Entry is free.

For more information you can email info@postcards-sa.com.au