Mayhem 14 - Ritual

February/ March 2008 - Theatreworks
……….A vaudevillian feast exploring the culture, myths and facts of Ritual.
Revolving around the four elements: air, water, earth and fire, cabaret acts relate to: smoke, tea, burial and sacrifice.
With rituals from ancient to current times, Mayhem discovered their significance in building the foundations to our society as we know it.
With humour, dance, music, circus and the ever-present touch of mayhem, this was one ritual you wanted to repeat!

40 - piece choir * 30 – piece Tap troupe * Circus * Roller skating * Belly dance * Surrealist theatre * Stand-up comedy * Live band (original music) * A Wickerman

Directed by Klara McMurray - Produced by Antonella Ripani

Mayhem 13 – Good V Evil

October 2006 - Gasworks Theatre
... A moral debate.  A philosophical; sociological; and vaudevillian exploration of humanity’s insatiable need to find black and white in a world full of grey.
They say that good and evil are concepts that represent the rules of behavior without which no society can survive. But who makes the divisions? Who sets the rules?  Religions? Governments? Corporations? If money is the root of all evil, does that mean that we are in turn guided by evil?
Mayhem’s narrator, Miss K, began the show asking these questions and subsequently journeyed through the Book of Genesis, parenthood, a bogus war and the court of law accompanied by her inner demons, played by two incompatible puppets: Lucy (Lucifer) and (Goody) Two-Shoes.
These three discovered the impact that good and evil has on the individual as a member of society and a co-inhabitant on a planet so massive, so diverse, so contradictory in its beliefs that we wage wars with each other in our disagreements.
Accompanying acts included a gospel choir, tap troupe, comedians, trapeze act and live band.

Directed by Melinda Hetzel - Produced by Tara Ryan

Mayhem 12 - White Wedding

March 2006 - Gasworks Theatre
This is one wacky wedding you wish you attended!
Mayhem Cabaret # 12 White Wedding….. Explored the trials; triumphs; and tears involved in the art of getting married.
With a wedding party of nine; a flying cupid; a gravity defying rola-bolla courier; thirty tap-dancing guests and a Monaro, Mayhem tied the knot!
White Wedding was a collection of the funniest, most embarrassing, awkward, politically incorrect and memorable wedding moments.

Directed  by Klara McMurray - Produced by Amber Craven

Mayhem 11 - The Pursuit of Pleasure

November 2005 - Gasworks Theatre
The pursuit of pleasure was about hedonism; the word, the movements, the perpetrators and the victims; a social commentary on man’s insatiable thirst for pleasure and the methods of achieving fulfillment.
Through the eyes of four of the most prominent figures on hedonistic theory, mayhem explored the wants and needs, the dos and don’ts and the overall effect of the pursuit of pleasure has on our lives as a whole.
Cast included an innocent narrator; four philosophers; adagio gluttons; religious opera; questioning stand-up; sexy tap; and sensuous belly dance.

Directed by Klara McMurray - Produced by Rachal Van Wyk

Mayhem 10 - Born with the Blues

June 2005 - Theatreworks
From its earliest beginnings, the blues has been an integral part of our lives. It represents an emotional release, an essential chapter to western culture’s history and the back-bone to most music genres.
Set from early 1900’s to 1950’s Chicago, the cast included: an African choir; a chain gang; an early blues musician/comedian; a gospel choir; a 50’s diva; and a blues-fueled adagio duo.

Directed by Klara McMurray - Produced by Rachal Van Wyk

Mayhem 9 - Into the Wild

August 2004 - Theatreworks
A show that stripped itself from the shackles of the day-to-day.
A story that explored a world without restraint; cultivation; civilization; control.
Divided into four chapters, mayhem discovered the virgin habitats; the extreme elements; the power of the masses and the turmoil of internal madness.
Cast included juggling; physical theatre; storm-simulating tap; comedy; a 20-piece break dancing troop; rap; a ukulele and a vacuum cleaner.

Directed by Klara McMurray - Produced by Naomi Henderson

Mayhem 8 - Flavours of the Orient

February 2004 - Theatreworks
From the meticulous operation of origami construction; to the manic frenzy or fortune-cookie deconstruction.
From the glory of Ganesh; to the hilarity of socks in thongs.
From the delicate art of sushi preparation; to the convenience of 2-minute noodles.
Putting the stresses of modern day life behind them, mayhem turned east for a season and took a wok-sized helping of the flavours of the orient.
It was there, that they paid homage to the artists, the peasants, the royalty, the soldiers, the flora, the fauna, and the traditions of Asia.
Cast included: a Japanese tea ceremony; kung-fu comedy; Bangkok inspired puppetry; belly dance; Japanese magic; Sri Lankan story telling; Chinese foot juggling and Thai dance.

Directed by Klara McMurray - Produced by Antonella Ripani

Mayhem 7 - Too Much Glitter is Never Enough!

October 2003 - Theatreworks
In theory glitter means to shine with sparkling brilliance, showiness and attractiveness. In practice, it was Mayhem’s 7th season.
In following the bower bird in it’s appreciation for all that sparkles, we celebrated the splendor of the mirror ball, the scintillation of the strobe, the attitude of the afro, the delights of drag and the fury of funk.
Cast included: opera, hoola hoops; DJ comedy; nasal fork insertion and a giant disco ball on skates.

Directed by Klara McMurray - Produced by Antonella Ripani

Mayhem 6 - Hot and Spicy

June 2003 - Theatreworks
Celebrating our 1-year anniversary, Mayhem dived into the world of flames, chilies and tango to alleviate the perils of winter with a little inner fire.
Acts included: monologues; comedy; acoustic music; more comedy; acrobatics; opera; physical theatre and tango.

Directed by Klara McMurray - Produced by Antonella Ripani

Mayhem 5 - Underwater

February 2003 - Theatreworks
At the invite of Theatreworks, St Kilda to house the show, a new style of Mayhem was born. The first of the themed Mayhems took audiences on a deep dive, down to the ocean floor.
Cast included: an emceeing mermaid; an acoustic songbird; clowns; physical theatre; opera; monologue; adagio and the blues.
 Raw, energized theatre and extremely vital for this city.
Joel Crotty: The Age

Directed by Klara McMurray - Produced by Antonella Ripani

Mayhem 4

December 2002 - West St Kilda RSL
Glamour met buffoory, West-End met vaudeville. An eclectic selection of Melbourne’s quirkiest performers that provided high energy, impact and enjoyment through a series of self-devised acts.
Acts included: a hoola hoopist; a monologue; duologues; a piano concerto; comedians a plenty; acoustic musicians; philosophical debate; opera, an accapella quartet; a clown and the fond memory of a Toyota Hylux.

Directed by Klara McMurray - Produced by Antonella Ripani

Mayhem 3

October 2002 - E2E
In the Realm of the Senses Films and Mayhem Cabaret collaborated for the purpose of uniting film with live theatre, raising the public’s awareness of emerging artists. An evening of short film interlaced with dance, circus, saxophone, comedy, theatre and Bollywood. Held as part of the 2002 Fringe Festival

Directed and Co-produced by Klara McMurray & Simon Ford

Mayhem 2

July 2002 - Art Brez Studios
The second of a fast-growing St Kilda phenomenon. After the success of Mayhem #1, the public demanded more! The first auditions were held, the show more finely choreographed, the audience more expectant, and none were disappointed.
Acts included: an opera duo; a monologue or two; acoustic music; belly dance; a barbershop/string trio and a cowgirl.

Directed and Produced by Klara McMurray / Anthony Breslin

Mayhem 1

May 2002 - Art Brez Studios
An amazing venue was discovered, an idea was conceived, and a collection of performers found themselves a home. Held over 2 nights, Mayhem was an explosion of creativity, individuality and talent. Created on a whim, the season was a sell out. The honesty, intimacy and high-quality acts proved to fill a hole in the entertainment market. With the dawn of Mayhem Cabaret, an institution was born.

Directed and Produced by Klara McMurray / Anthony Breslin