Theatre goers can re-live a colourful era in Sydney’s crime history in an innovative new production in Kings Cross.
Silly Tart’s Battle of the Tarts is an interactive theatre performance that takes places throughout the restaurants four rooms, bringing the history of the Kings Cross area to life by exploring the gang wars of Razorhurst, between Sydney legends Tilly Devine and Kate Leigh.
The performance was developed by experienced Cabaret performer Vashti Hughes ten years ago and was revived and reconstructed to suit its new venue, Silly Tart in Kellett Street, Kings Cross.
Vashti says: “On the corner of Bayswater and Kellett, there’s one of those City of Sydney descriptions saying, ‘Kate Leigh’s and Tilly Devine’s gangs had a battle here in the 1920s…’ which is pretty much outside where Silly Tart is.”
“Kellett street was rife with all sorts of illegal things, so it’s the perfect location for us.”
The show is set throughout the four rooms in the Silly Tart restaurant, held in a building older than these stories themselves. Battle of the Tarts follows the journey and interactions of a number of characters from the two gangs, starting out with tension until all hell eventually breaks loose.
Ten people sit in each room as the acts filter in and out, being performed to each area, adding an interactive and up-close theatrical experience to the evening, with a number of different performance styles on show.
Battle of the Tarts is accompanied by a series of delicious food and cocktails, that has had many patrons coming back to sample even further.
So far, the show has received overwhelming support from patrons. “They love it! They love it so much. They’re loving the performances, they’re loving the characters, they’re loving getting entertainment and history, action packed full of drama and all sorts of surprising shenanigans, and they’re also loving the food” says Vashti.
Battle of the Tarts is performed on a monthly basis at Silly Tart restaurant in Kings Cross at 1 Kellett St, Potts Point NSW 2011. The next performance will be held on Saturday the 24th of April at 6:30pm – 9:30pm.
Tickets can be purchased at https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/battle-of-the-tarts-tickets-146716784853
