Pursuing Pleasure

“The show is a masterclass in storytelling. Piera eloquently narrates her experiences with humour and vulnerability, weaving in powerful songs that perfectly showcase her vocal prowess. Her emotive, powerhouse voice is absolutely captivating, leaving a lasting impression as it flowed through my entire body as she effortlessly performed even the most complex of arias.”

— Jacquie Ashby for Perth Happenings

Welcome to all my secrets.

Opera singer turned curvaceous cabaret cantatrice Piera Dennerstein (Finucane & Smith, Blue is the Colour Midsumma 2022, Call the Doctor! Melbourne Cabaret Festival 2024) shares the intimate truths of her body and mind in this sexy, silly and deeply human show.

Now touring

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‘Piera talks candidly about her own life ... with such grace, vulnerability, and a sprinkle of lightheartedness that I almost forgot she was speaking to an entire crowd ... Showcasing her incredible operatic talents … Curvaceous and confident, Piera’s range and skill are never-ending.’ 

— Fringe World Fringefeed

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Using the exceptional versatility of her voice in everything from Puccini to Cardi B, Piera tells the story, with humour, sincerity and hope, of her experiences forming her values and beliefs as she recovered from the toxicity of the opera industry and intimate partner abuse. Extrapolated from a poem she wrote in 2020 entitled, 'This is what my body was built for', this work will explore how leaning into the pleasurable - demonstrated in the operatic and sensual - as long as it causes no harm to others, is a powerful political act.

With dramaturgy by Melbourne Fringe Living Legend Moira Finucane, and from the director of Skank Sinatra, Olivia Charalambous, this deeply personal work boldly continues Piera’s dramatic aims of blurring the boundary between high and low art and cultivating a shared humanity. In exposing all, Piera hopes to provide those who have survived rejection and oppression an opportunity to feel seen, find hope, and have a much deserved giggle.

“Such important messages for women and girls and well everyone...you can be soft and LOUD...and forthright and caring and all in the comfort of your body!”

‘It was a terrific performance, well thought out and presented story, genuine and the audience was clearly appreciative! Sensitive, funny at times, perfection in voice and delivery, awesome performance - thrilled to be there’.

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Praise from the audience

  • “This show is so profoundly personal as its your own story but it’s extremely inspiring and kind of makes you think ‘oh man I have negative thoughts about my body too and you’re right that is holding me back’.”

  • “We will be back ... and I will be bringing more amazing young women to hear your wisdom.”

  • ‘You are incredible … return season please! More people need to see this!’

Song List

  1. Habanera — Bizet from Carmen

  2. Chi il bel sogno di Doretta — Puccini from La Rondine

  3. Hojotoho — Wagner from Die Walküre

  4. Qual fiamma avea nel guardo… Stridono lassu — Leoncavallo from Pagliacci

  5. O mio babbino caro (Piera’s edit) — Puccini from Gianni Schicchi

  6. Feeling Good — Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse from The Roar of the Greasepaint — The Smell of the Crowd

  7. Aria of the Krill — words by Moira Finucane, music by Rachel Lewindon from The Rapture Chapter II

  8. Man, I feel like a woman — Shania Twain and Robert John “Mutt” Lange

  9. WAPera (Piera remix) — Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion

  10. Alleluia — Mozart from Exsultate jubilate

  11. Lacrimosa (Piera remix) — Apashe with apologies to Mozart, from Mozart’s Requiem

  • Writer, singer and speaker

    Following a decade of operatic training and performance both nationally and internationally, Piera ‘ran away and joined the circus' in 2018 when she commenced her tenure as a principal artist with premiere cabaret company, Finucane & Smith. From there, Piera has used the versatility of her voice and professional experience to blur the boundary between high and low art everywhere from rural China to Kalgoorlie. Piera is also an award-winning writer and poet and has MCed extensively throughout a variety of performing artforms. For Midsumma 2022, Piera presented Blue is the colour: a musical and ethnomusicological exploration into jazz and blues and its enormous influence on music today, with associate artist Pamela Christie. In February 2024, Piera debuted her solo show, Pursuing Pleasure, presented by Whitehorse City Council and The Round Midsumma Residency Program. It toured Australia in 2025 to awards and rave reviews.

  • Pianist

    Since completing her piano studies at Melbourne University and Moscow Conservatory, Pamela has worked for many years as pianist and repetiteur in and around Melbourne.  Companies she has worked for include Opera Australia, BK Opera, Lyster Opera, GBD Productions, Wonthaggi Theatrical Group, and Leongatha Lyric Theatre; and she also fulfils numerous performance and production commitments as a freelance accompanist and musical director.  Operas performed include Martha; Don Pasquale; L’Elisir d’Amore; Rigoletto; La Voix Humaine; The Magic Flute; La Traviata; Madame Butterfly; Werther; Cenerentola; The Barber of Seville; Don Giovanni; Le Nozze di Figaro; Cosi fan Tutte and Carmen; and musicals include Legally Blonde; The Little Mermaid; The Wizard of Oz; Shrek the Musical; Little Shop of Horrors; and Kinky Boots.  She also fulfils numerous art song and instrumental recitals, and in 2014 a highly successful concert tour of China with the Melbourne Bach Choir and soloists. She is currently delighted to be touring with Piera Dennerstein with Piera’s show Pursuing Pleasure, which has received accolades across Australia.

  • Director

    Olivia Charalambous graduated from NIDA with a Bachelor of Dramatic Arts (Acting) in 2013. She has worked as an actor and voice over artist for over 27 years. In 2023, Olivia made her directorial debut with Disney’s Camp Rock The Musical with Soundworks Productions. Soon after, she directed the sold out season and Sydney Fringe Nominated cabaret Jens Radda: Skank Sinatra at The Butterfly Club which recently received a five star review at the Perth Fringe Festival. Last year, Olivia directed the junior pilot of Between The Lines JR. at the Junior Theatre Festival in Australia and New Zealand. This year she has directed Make 'Em Laugh: The Untold Story of Donald O'Connor for a one off performance in Melbourne and sold out season at the Perth Fringe Festival. She also directed the sold out season of Pursuing Pleasure at The Round as a part of Midsumma Festival starring Piera Dennerstein. Olivia is an emerging director with her focus on queer and women's stories, cultural and body diversity and challenging theatrical forms, something she feels she has missed the opportunity to do so as an actor.

Pursusing Pleasure

CAST

Piera Dennerstein – Writer, singer, speaker & producer

Pamela Christie – Piano

CREATIVE TEAM

Olivia Charalambous – Director

Moira Finucane and Jackie Smith – Dramaturgy

Midsumma 2024 Production Photography– Karin Locke

Marketing Photography – Jens Radda

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This tour is possible as it receives funding from Creative Australia through the Australian Cultural Fund.