THE POLE SHEBANG - 2026 MIDSUMMA FESTIVAL

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https://www.midsumma.org.au/whats-on/events/the-pole-shebang/

Date Reviewed: 18/01/2026

The cabaret-style setup at the MC Showroom, moody lighting and intimate round tables, functions less as a venue and more as a confessional chamber for pole dancer Andrea James Lui.

In The Pole Shebang, Lui doesn’t just perform, she executes a theatrical reclamation of self, dismantling the myths of the pole world with the precision of a martial artist and the heart of a "gender-rebellious" nerd.

Lui enters the space as a self-described "neurodivergent Asian" who exists "left of centre stage." Her storytelling is a masterclass in vulnerability-as-spectacle, framing her journey as a "coming of middle age" that rejects the rigid binary of the strip club and the stadium. Whether she is detailing her "defiance disorder" against gender norms or her hilarious subversion of "freestyle" exoticism, using her ethnicity to satisfy patron expectations while mentally occupying a different universe, Lui uses humour as a scalpel to dissect audience preconceptions.

The show is a visceral behind-the-scenes glimpse through the complex politics of skin and steel. Lui acknowledges the socially acceptable self-harm of "pole kisses" (the bruises earned in the pursuit of a strength that society prefers to see as effortless glamour). Yet she finds a revolutionary "freedom to choose" in the fringes of the sport, celebrating the "Mr Pole" aesthetic where backup dancers and "not pointing your toes" become acts of defiance.

The production’s brilliance is grounded in its radical interactivity. When Lui invites Myron, a reviewer, to the stage, the fourth wall doesn't just break, it disintegrates. Watching a critic grapple with the hook spin and the body roll provides a rare, humbling insight into the brutal physics of the form. It proves that "reviewing" a performance is an act of safe distance, whereas executing one is a high-stakes negotiation with gravity and grip strength.

This technical struggle flows into a deeper narrative of intergenerational survival. The personal vignettes of her mother, leaving newspaper clippings about the urgency of life-changing microwave dangers, are not mere anecdotes, they are touchpoints to her identity. They provide a counterpoint to the physical demands of the pole, suggesting that our "weirdo selves" are shaped by the eccentricities of those who love us.

When Lui finally takes to the air, she doesn't just dance, she flies. Her moves possess a magnetic sensuality that turns on the freeing of a hair tie, a transition from athlete to sexual icon. In a moment of transcendent connection, she empties a suitcase of glitter that catches the light. By the time she dons her Pikachu onesie for the finale, the show has evolved into a kinetic Lost and Found. Andrea James Lui reminds us that the pole is an axis upon which people come to reclaim their discarded parts. She proves that being "yourself" is not just enough, it is a superb act of artistry, skill, and considerable strength.

Show Highlights

• The Pole Lesson: We don’t just watch, we get to do.
  
• Stories of Mom and Pop, a personal glimpse we don’t usually see when we think of pole dancers.
• A high-energy performance in a fleece Pikachu onesie (bet you didn't think of that when considering pole dancing).
• The souvenir balls, hand-painted by Andrea and her mum that the audience can keep if they want.
  
• A raw discussion stress response and the pole as a way to relieve pressure.
  
• The fashion is good, but oh, the heels.
  

Who’s it for: If you are looking for a standard strip show, this isn't it. This is for those who want a deeply personal, funny, and intellectually stimulating look at identity, tucked inside a brilliant Midsumma Festival performance.

Performances run 6pm daily at MC Showroom (Level 1, 50 Clifton Street, Prahran) until 25 January. 

Reviewed by Mary Sinanidis