Adore Händel is opening their Little Black Book this week as part of their show at Adelaide Fringe. The original and unique drag cabaret blends together opera, pop classics, and original songs with fanciful narratives in what they describe as a “magical hour of pansexual excellence”.

Adore offered us a peek behind the hardback cover, so we caught up with them for a pixelated pint to dive into the show. Join us here in the Binge Fringe Virtual Pub.

You can catch Adore Händel’s Little Black Book as part of Adelaide Fringe every day until Saturday 1st March at Ayers House State Dining Room at 6pm. Tickets are available through the Adelaide Fringe Box Office.

Jake: Hi Adore! As a self-described 18th-century pansexual, time-travelling songbird and raconteur, can you give us an idea of what audiences can expect coming to join you for your Adelaide Fringe show Little Black Book?

Adore: Adore Händel’s Little Black Book is a deliciously mischievous romp through my most scandalous affairs across time, filled with lust, longing, and a dash of historical gossip. Expect a whirlwind of operatic passion, sultry jazz-infused ballads, and cheeky pop numbers, all woven together with razor-sharp wit and extravagant storytelling. My Little Black Book holds the names of lovers, muses, and the occasional mortal enemy, and I’m opening it just for you—so buckle up for a night of outrageous revelations and sumptuous melodies!

Jake: Your cabaret offering blends opera, pop classics, and original songs alongside the scandalous stories you’ve intertwined within. Tell us a bit about the process of putting together such an eclectic experience, and what the audience can expect.

Adore: The process is much like composing a particularly decadent love letter—each element must feel enticing, unexpected, and deeply personal. I take great pleasure in reimagining classical pieces with modern twists, giving well-known pop hits an operatic flair, and crafting original songs that feel timeless yet tantalizingly fresh. The structure is deliberately fluid, much like time itself, allowing me to weave my stories seamlessly through music and mischief. Expect moments of high drama, playful irreverence, and melodies that will linger in your mind long after the curtain falls.

Jake: What are you hoping the audience might take away from the experience, if anything?

Adore: Above all, I want audiences to leave feeling utterly seduced—by the music, the stories, and the sheer audacity of it all. Little Black Book is a celebration of desire, history, and the joy of embracing one’s most deliciously decadent self. If they walk away humming a tune, feeling just a little more mischievous, and perhaps inspired to write their own scandalous love letters, then my work here is done.

Jake: Now we’re in the throes of Adelaide Fringe, what are you most excited for?

Adore: The absolute chaos of it all! There’s something electric about Fringe—so many brilliant artists colliding in a glorious mess of creativity and revelry. I live for the unexpected connections, the late-night debauchery, and the chance to discover performances that take my breath away.

And, of course, I’m eagerly anticipating a few trysts with fellow cabaret rogues and rogue-adjacents.

Jake: Given the themes of Binge Fringe, if your show was a beverage of any kind (alcoholic, non-alcoholic – be as creative as you like!), what would it be and why?

Adore: Little Black Book would undoubtedly be a Negroni—bold, complex, and just the right balance of bitter and sweet. The deep, sultry notes of vermouth mirror the rich drama of my tales, while the sharp bite of Campari adds just the right amount of scandal. And of course, that twist of citrus? A zesty little wink to the unexpected turns, fiery passions, and razor-sharp wit that keep the night delightfully intoxicating. It’s the perfect drink for lovers, mischief-makers, and those with a taste for something dangerously delicious.

You can catch Adore Händel’s Little Black Book as part of Adelaide Fringe every day until Saturday 1st March at Ayers House State Dining Room at 6pm. Tickets are available through the Adelaide Fringe Box Office.

Image Credit: Bri Hammond