“Oooh la la!’ says the Sydney Opera House of L’Hôtel. It’s an apt phrase to describe the cabaret-burlesque-circus extravaganza, which has taken over the Studio, transforming the performance venue into the lobby of an opulent French hotel where no one is quite what they seem.

Bri Emrich and CJ Shuttleworth, L’Hôtel, Sydney Opera House, 2022. Photo © Daniel Boud

Originally commissioned by the Adelaide Cabaret Festival, which premiered L’Hôtel with a sold-out season in 2021, the sexy, diverting show was co-created by director Craig Ilott and Stuart Couzens, who designed the set with Renier Jansen van Vuuren.

L’Hôtel is akin to La Clique, La Soirée and similar productions, which have captivated audiences in Spiegeltents and venues like the Sydney Opera House Studio. Here, the French theme adds a certain romantic je ne sais quoi.

L’Hôtel arrives in Sydney, having made several changes en route, with a couple of new performers and two live musicians added to the mix.

The Studio has been handsomely decked out for the occasion. Lamp-lit tables for six, covered with crisp white tablecloths, surround the performance areas and create a decadent, immersive environment. Along the back wall, there’s a...