In November, Brisbane is in for a treat when Marcia Hines visits the Wynnum Fringe Festival starring in the new show,Velvet Rewired.The original mix of circus, cabaret and a dazzling love letter to disco was a smash hit first in 2015 at the Adelaide Fringe Festival, before conquering the world. In 2021 audiences can expect a fresh and totally reinvented extension of the Velvet journey. The show will have you boogying straight to Wonderland. She Society were lucky enough to speak with Marcia to find out more.
I remember Marcia as our ‘Queen of Pop‘ and many will know her from her seven years as judge and mentor on Australian Idol. I asked Marcia for her special memories of this time.
She said, “My first memory as Queen of Pop was when I won my first, second and third Queen of Pop awards. Sharing the stage with none other than Daryl Braithwaite and John Paul Young , my two kings.“
She continues, “Australian Idol was just one of those very special television shows that you get to be involved in and I am so pleased that I experienced a phenomenal show that uncovered some great Australian talent and is still valid today.”
Marcia’s career spans five decades. She first came to Australia to perform in Hair at 16 and luckily for us decided to stay. I asked how she explains her longevity in what can be a tough industry.
Marcia says, “I think my longevity stems from having really good people around me. Starting with my mother, then Harry M. Miller, Peter Rix and so many more that I thank to this day.“
For me as a child of the 70’s and 80’s when I think of Marcia Hines I think of her hit single, Something’s Missing. Marcia has recorded so many hits and released 22 albums, amassing countless chart – topping singles and a slew of multi- platinum records. I asked if she had a favourite song.
She agrees, “Something’s Missing is one of the very special songs I got to sing and like I heard the very famous Quincy Jones once say most performers think of their songs as their babies so you don’t have a favourite.“
In Velvet Rewired Marcia stars as ‘The Diva ‘ and sings her heart out to a range of disco tunes. For audiences who have seen the original Velvet performance I ask Marcia to describe the updated 2021 version.
Marcia says, “Velvet Rewired is a configuration of our original show, Velvet. Loosely based on Studio 54 in New York City at a time known as the Disco Era. Velvet Rewired has better songs, better costumes, better lighting and wonderful performances for your listening and viewing pleasure. I hope I can entertain the audience in the best way I can. I still love performing.”
Marcia encourages her audience to ‘never stop boogying ‘. And whilst we are all staying safe at home Marcia is listening to a range of music.
She says, “ I’m listening to an unusual performer called Jacob Collier and another called Teddy Swims and an album I can’t take off called Love, Marriage and Divorce by Toni Braxton and Babyface.”
Marcia advises young performers to, “Do what makes sense to you and also anything worth doing is worth doing well, so work hard. “
Marcia Hines is an Australian icon who will star in Velvet Rewired, a show which charts the progress of a young man on his path of self – discovery. He returns to a club known as ‘Velvet’ and is again embraced by its inhabitants. Blind to colour, creed, class, gender, size and sexuality, Velvet Rewired continues the underlying themes of celebration, family and freedom.
In the show Marcia is surrounded by a mix of talented DJ’s, dazzling acrobats and aerialists, plus superb vocalists. Velvet Rewired, is a euphoric dose of disco fever peppered with glitter. It is also a story of hope, resilience and bravery in a time of uncertainty. The show fuses music, burlesque and circus to create a fantasy disco world to take us away from the everyday.
For now Marcia says, “We need to be grateful. If there’s food in the fridge and a roof over your head it’s not all bad.”
Velvet Rewired showcases a range of professional artists and the work of a team of creatives in collaboration.Visiting the show you will feel energised and joyous and will escape the realities of life, just for a while, as you venture into a little club called Velvet. To see Marcia Hines shining as bright as a mirror ball, head to the Wynnum Spiegeltent from November 17 for a night filled with fun, funk and fabulous music.
Michelle Beesley is a Brisbane born and bred former primary school teacher. A wife, proud grandma and mother of three grown sons, Michelle is thrilled to have recently published her debut contemporary romance novel, It Happened in Paris, with Serenade Publishing. Her novella – Escape to D’ Amour was published in 2019. Michelle’s work can be found in the anthologies – Destination Romance and Short & Sweet. When not reading or writing Michelle can be found at a coffee shop chatting with friends, front row at a fashion show, or beside a rugby union field cheering on her favourite teams.
Michelle is a reluctant traveller, Francophile, keen walker and avid yoga enthusiast plus a book, film and theatre lover who loves everything pink and sparkly (including champagne). You can find Michelle on instagram @michellebeesley_writer and her website: michellebeesley.com.
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