Les Femmes - NAFA 2025

Les Femmes delivered a confident and stylish performance at this year’s NAFA, staged in the Virago Tent. The production featured three accomplished vocalists, Emma, Jacinta, and Kirrah, each bringing a wealth of experience to the stage, including appearances on The Voice and numerous professional credits across musical theatre and live performance. Their collective presence was commanding, and their vocal chemistry evident from the opening number.

The show’s musical selections were drawn largely from the American songbook, with a focus on male artists whose work has shaped popular music across decades. Interpretations of classics by Frank Sinatra, Barry White, the Bee Gees, and James Brown were handled with both reverence and flair. The Bee Gees segment, in particular, stood out for its vibrant disco energy, while the James Brown medley showcased the trio’s rhythmic precision and vocal dexterity. Harmonies were tight and thoughtfully arranged, allowing each performer moments to shine while maintaining a cohesive ensemble sound.

Thematically, Les Femmes explored the terrain of love and relationships with a contemporary lens. The framing device, categorising men as either ‘players’ or ‘charmers’, was playful without being reductive, and the notion of “swiping left or right” added a modern twist to the narrative. This concept was woven through the musical selections and interludes, giving the show a clear narrative arc.

Choreography throughout was sleek and well-executed, complementing the musical arrangements without overwhelming them. A particularly memorable moment came when several men from the audience were invited on stage to discuss their love languages and raise any potential red or green flags. While I politely declined an invitation to participate, the segment was handled with humour and warmth, and the spontaneous responses added a layer of authenticity to the performance.

The finale shifted gears with an all-Australian medley, paying tribute to icons such as Michael Hutchence, Daryl Braithwaite, and John Farnham. It was a polished and heartfelt close to an already impressive set, amping up the audience one last time.

Regrettably, the audience turnout did not reflect the calibre of talent on display. The trio’s professionalism and stagecraft deserved a fuller house, and one hopes that future performances will draw the attention they merit, and that we’ll see them back here in Townsville in 2026.  This is a production that celebrates female artistry while reinterpreting familiar material through a fresh and confident lens.