Confessions Of A Drama Queen

Anna Sokolova
Jun 22, 2025
2 min read

Hayes Theatre, Sydney, June 2025

⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2

The review

“Confessions Of A Drama Queen” @confessionsofadramaqueenau, a part of the Winter Cabaret Season at Hayes Theatre in Sydney.

Presented by Megan Walshe @songbird_siren_ together with Carla Field @carlafield_, Alexis Hutchinson @lexyhutchinson, and Jared Jekyll @jaredjekyll, accompanied by live music by humble and modest Zara Stanton, without whom this work would not shape itself.

Thinking burlesque - one sums up vocal, sensuality, and a story. Here it is all - in a full shine, with more - glamorous dresses, worn and pilled off with grace and tease (who knew that those outfits were made from small pieces to be disassembled with such seductive elegance!). There is a comedy, a bit on a church, strip dancing, and the pain of struggling to chase a dream. Playing on a nearly bare stage where lighting plays a big role, warm spotlights work well, but cold blue shades do not feel right. With only one large plain grey storage box and a tall chair, with a grand piano taking up a whole corner, this show is made to get eyes glued on the Drama Queen herself - successfully.

Songbird Siren, a girl from a Catholic church who has grown into a show-maker, singer, dancer, certainly has something to say to a priest, who is there, in a voice. The show is stitched together seamlessly as a chain of numbers by the Songbird herself, fused with short stories of other characters who appear in her life. Some grotesque and funny customers in a strip club, a farcical dentist, a shy and grotesque helper on the stage - these are played by winsome and talented Carla Field, and Alexis Hutchinson, and Jared Jekyll, equal partners to the Songbird.

Connecting the stories of her own life as a music theatre actress dreaming of a big show, traveling from audition to audition, from rejection to rejection, changing tens of jobs - a typical story of many, Songbird Siren performs it beautifully. She swings from being hilariously funny to open, sad, and hurt, to being strong and stubborn, shining through the bright charisma and beauty. She is hot and brave. She is an impressively talented singer.

The top point of the show - a story of the favorite job - no interview, no previous experience, no promised salary - just get there and do it - a dancer in a strip club. She raves about it and shows it in the full glory of her talent.

The show will back for the Sydney Fringe in September - catch it! It is only an hour, but it is big on what is packed inside. Draw in every minute of it - with your ears, eyes, and if you let in a bit of imagination - let the vibe resonate in your skin. Open up to it - the courage of Songbird Siren is contagious.