Liquored Up Late - NAFA 2025

Vivienne Starr, Townsville’s own burlesque dynamo, returned to the NAFA stage with her latest late-night offering, Liquored Up Late, a cheeky, glitter-drenched celebration of adult entertainment that left the audience both wide-eyed and roaring with laughter. With a cast drawn from both local talent and interstate provocateurs, the show delivered an hour of glamour, absurdity, and playfulness.

As host, Starr was in her element, radiant, raucous, and ready to rile up the crowd. Her energy was infectious, and she knew exactly how to keep the tempo high between acts. While her repeated reminders that the show was “about vaginas” bordered on the redundant, they did set the tone for a night that was proudly body-positive, sex-positive, and unafraid to lean into the outrageous.

The lineup was a smorgasbord of creativity and camp. Among the standout acts was a duo from Kirwan who reimagined the humble post-it note as a tool of titillation, transforming office supplies into a surprisingly sensual spectacle. Their chemistry was palpable, and the audience responded with gleeful hoots and hollers.

A Ziggy Stardust-inspired aerialist took to the silks with cosmic flair, blending Bowie-esque glam with impressive acrobatics. Suspended mid-air, they twisted and twirled with a grace that momentarily hushed the crowd—a rare pause in an otherwise riotous evening.

Peggy’s laundry-themed number was a masterclass in audience interaction. Armed with a basket of pegs and a wink, she aired more than just her dirty laundry, inviting the crowd into her domestic drama with charm and cheek. The laughs came easy, and the pegs flew freely.

Then came the Rabbit—costumed, curious, and decidedly not from your average garden. His dance moves were delightfully absurd, culminating in the grand reveal of his “hidden carrot,” which earned one of the biggest reactions of the night. Equal parts bizarre and brilliant, it was burlesque at its most playful.

The devilish temptress who followed brought a whip and a wink, teasing the crowd with her “pink bits” and a devil-may-care attitude. Her act was bold, brash, and beautifully timed, striking that sweet spot between naughty and nice.

Closing the show was “Learner” Floss, whose balloon artistry and cake consumption defied convention. Her act was messy, mischievous, and utterly memorable, a fitting finale to a night that celebrated the weird and wonderful.

The soundtrack was a highlight in itself, a punchy mix of pop, rock, and cabaret classics that kept the energy high and the transitions seamless. The mid-sized crowd, though modest in number, was generous in spirit, responding with laughter, cheers, and the occasional gasp.

Liquored Up Late is not for the faint of heart—but for those willing to embrace the absurd, the sensual, and the downright silly, it’s a rollicking good time. Vivienne Starr has once again proven that burlesque in Townsville is alive and well.