Clare Bowditch ~ Adelaide Cabaret Festival 25 ~ Review

[Cabaret; Music] Clare Bowditch’s Random Creative Adventure Adelaide Festival Theatre - Banquet Room Fri 6 June, 2025 No stranger to Australian audiences, Clare Bowditch is a Melbourne based Aria award winning recording artist, actor (Offspring) and best selling author (Your Own Kind of Girl) It sure is great to see Clare back up on a stage, though keeping herself on it did prove a challenge in this shapeshifting cabaret variety show. The Random creative adventure does what it says on the tin but is given structure from a wonderful ensemble of drums, bass, piano, and violin. Part musical performance, part motivational talk, Clare ponders the loss of innocence and creativity that all too often occurs in our lives as we get older. We all have dreams but how do we keep hold of them when day to day domestica fights to take us over and away from them. Clare is a great example. Clare has a few ideas.... This show is about many things; friendship and other relationships all loom large and early on we are introduced to an old friend of Clare’s ( they first formed a band at high school) - Aurora Kurth: a real fireball of energy and a complementary contrast to Clare’s introspection. Appearing as if from nowhere and roving and high kicking through the crowd the ‘Cabaret Supernova’ romped through an original tune with comedic charm, and a voice that knows no limits (had me thinking of David Bowie and Kate Bush simultaneously). A blazing version of the standard That’s Life showcasing her remarkable voice. Clare’s performances of The One and Amazing Life remind us of what we have been missing whilst she has been away from live performance; both with the band and solo we are entranced by that voice and the yearning within it. This show asks us to see life as an adventure by reclaiming our inner child and renewing our sense of wonder and creativity, that alchemy of turning the everyday into magic. We all have dreams within us fighting against the fear of trying new things. The show reaches its peak with Clare tentatively revealing a new song...a real song of wonder and joy inspired by the very act of creativity itself. In an age of celebrity for celebrity’s sake and (God help us) ‘Influencers’ Clare is the real deal. A breath of fresh air. Random Creative Adventure is an idea Clare has been working with for the best part of two decades now and whilst raising a family and writing a book has been plenty to be getting on with. I think I speak for everybody present that a new record and tour would be eagerly anticipated if this evening’s teaser is anything to go by. 5 stars Peter Mciver Clare Bowditch’s Random Creative Adventure's season has ended.