Bernie Dieter
Bernie Dieter in The Spiegeltent
Bernie Dieter in The Spiegeltent
Background information
BornKoln, Germany
GenresCabaret Dark Cabaret punk Cabaret kabarett
Occupation(s)
  • Singer-songwriter
  • musician
  • performance artist
Years active2011–present
LabelsDead Man Label
Websitewww.berniedieter.com

Bernie Dieter is a cabaret artist, songwriter, and performance artist born in Köln, Germany described as the "undisputed Queen of punk cabaret"[1][2] and known for her unique voice, dark humour and original songs 'She sings like Marlene Dietrich, like Frank N. Furter, like Kate Bush on speed.'[3] She is the lead singer and songwriter of Bernie Dieter and the Vier and creator of The Little Death Club.

History

Growing up in Koln, Germany[4] she ran away from home as a sixteen year old to live above a drag club in Berlin[5][6] Bernie has cited her Grandmother's (Oma) as an inspiration on many occasions as her family ran a travelling circus[7][8] in Germany, and fled from East to West post World War II.[9][10] She has since gone on to tour internationally, but primarily in Europe and Australia.

She was named as one of Time Out magazine's Top Ten "Cabaret Superstars",[11] become the first female MC of the Olivier Award-winning show La Clique,[12] and created the Kabarett Little Death Club which has gone on to tour the world picking up several high profile awards.[13][14]

Style

Bernie is known as a truly modern feminist chanteuse, taking the Weimar essence of cutting-edge, satirical social commentary as well as the sex and debauchery, and updated it into the 21st century, She known for her sex positive original songs,[15] feminist ballads and her prowess in the realm of audience interaction.[16] Her style is heavily inspired by The Rocky Horror Picture Show,[17] Siouxsie Sioux, she's been likened to other German cabaret singers Marlene Dietrich[18][19][20] and Ute Lemper[21] are often cited with her music mostly written in English and German, she always has always celebrated Diversity (politics) to create an inclusive atmosphere at her shows.

Little Death Club

First created in 2017, inspired by the Weimar Republic's dens of iniquity,[22][23] gender bending sexual freedom and celebration of difference at a time of political turmoil, but relating it to a 21st-century audience. The show subverts traditional forms of circus, cabaret and drag, and gently pokes fun at itself and the genre, whilst mocking popular stereotypes of gender and sexuality, the shows main theme is to celebrate the feminine, the masculine and everything in between.

The shows name comes from the English translation of the French 'la petite mort' (the little death) which is an expression which means "the brief loss or weakening of consciousness" and in modern usage refers specifically to "the sensation of post orgasm as likened to death.

The shows usually takes place in a Spiegeltent[24] and involves live original music,[25] written and performed by Bernie and her band 'The Vier' with accompanying circus, drag and comedy. The shows previous guest drag performers include Le Gateau Chocolat, Art Simone, Myra DuBois and Karen from Finance, with circus performers including Beau Sargent, Kitty Bang Bang, Fancy Chance, Jared Dewey. The show's music has been likened to The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Hedwig and the Angry Inch but is sonically eclectic and is a mixture of dark cabaret punk, weimar, jazz, electronica performed with a 4 piece band consisting of electric guitar, electric bass / double bass, piano / keyboard / synth, drums.

Major Seasons for Little Death Club include Edinburgh Festival Fringe in the Beauty Spiegeltent August 2018[26] and 2019[27] where the show made the ‘Top 5 best reviewed shows’ of the festival (from over 3,800 shows)[28] both years, Perth in the West Australian Spiegeltent 2019 and 2020[29] where the show won ‘Best Variety show’.[30] The show made its London debut in the Southbank Festival Spiegeltent from April 23 – June 23, 2019[31]

References

  1. ↑ "The first lady of Weimar punk cabaret, Bernie Dieter". Metro Newspaper UK. April 12, 2019. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
  2. ↑ "Bernie Dieter Punk cabaret". The West Australian. January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  3. ↑ "Anarchy, beauty, celebration – Little Death Club". Miro Magazine. August 25, 2018.
  4. ↑ "Interview with über-award-winning cabaret star Bernie Dieter". Scenestr. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
  5. ↑ "How Kabarett can help us celebrate our differences". Stagedoor. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
  6. ↑ "An Interview With Cabaret Star Bernie Dieter". Culture Calling. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
  7. ↑ "Cabaret artist Bernie Dieter: Little Death Club is the darkest, funniest, filthiest cabaret this side of Berlin". The Stage. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  8. ↑ "Gin and genes drive Bernie Dieter". The West Australian. January 7, 2019. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
  9. ↑ "interview with the Punk goddess Bernie Dieter". OUTInPerth. January 18, 2019. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
  10. ↑ "Interview with the ever-brilliant Bernie Dieter of 'Little Death Club'". CREAM MAGAZINE. February 7, 2020. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Top 10 cabaret superstars". Time Out London.
  12. ↑ "Bernie Dieter, La Clique's fabulous mistress of ceremonies". www.scotsman.com. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  13. ↑ "Perth Award Winners". Fringe World. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  14. ↑ "Adelaide Award Winners – Little Death Club". adelaidefringe.com.au. Retrieved March 17, 2017.
  15. ↑ "Bernie Dieter". La Clique.
  16. ↑ Westbrook, Anna. "5 STARS: Bernie Dieter's Little Death Club, Wonderland Spiegeltent". ArtsHub Australia. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  17. ↑ "5 STARS: Little Death Club at the Underbelly Festival: Press night review by Stephen Vowles". Boyz Magazine. April 26, 2019.
  18. ↑ "Metro meets the first lady of Weimar punk cabaret, Bernie Dieter". Metro Newspaper UK. April 12, 2019. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
  19. ↑ "Anarchy, beauty, celebrity – Little Death Club". Miro Magazine. August 25, 2018.
  20. ↑ "Cast Announced for Little Death Club at Underbelly Southbank". Theatre Weekly. Retrieved February 25, 2019.
  21. ↑ "5 STAR Review: Little Death Club is anything but dead". OUTInPerth.
  22. ↑ "Little Death Club a throwback to decadent Weimar subversion". Gay Times. May 7, 2019. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  23. ↑ Innes, Matt. "Interview with cabaret superstar Bernie Dieter". scenestr. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  24. ↑ "5 STARS: Little Death Club at Southbank Festival Speigeltent". London Theatre. April 26, 2019. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
  25. ↑ "'Little Death Club' review". Time Out London. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  26. ↑ "Edinburgh festival 2018: Lyn Gardner's guide for what to see". The Independent. June 6, 2018. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
  27. ↑ "Little Death Club – Edinburgh Fringe 2019". British Comedy Guide.
  28. ↑ "Edinburgh Festival's Top rated shows of 2018". The list.
  29. ↑ "Bernie Dieter's Little Death Club 2020". fringeworld.com.au.
  30. ↑ "Little Death Club Award Winner". fringeworld. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  31. ↑ "Little Death Club". London Theatre Guide.
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