What do you do when you don't want to be Maori or gay or Asian looking? You turn it into a cabaret of course!

From the sheep farms of rural NZ to Sydney, Melbourne and on to Darwin, local celebrity Shalom Kaa takes you on a musical, comical and poignant trip through artistic, cultural and sexual identity.

"Growing up in the '80s, I was Maori but was often called a 'chink', had the most Jewish name ever, I was clearly gay, my family were Jehovah's Witnesses and my Dad loved telling tall stories. Life felt far from normal - I was a plastic Maori. But my parents were also musicians; music would be my saving grace".

Shalom's autobiographical cabaret won People's Choice Award and Best Producer to a sell-out Darwin Fringe Festival season in 2019. Purple Plastic Maori has since enjoyed two seasons at Adelaide Fringe Festival to critical acclaim: "It all adds up to a highly rewarding night-out in the company of a cabaret artist whose skills are as impressive as their modesty is endearing," Anthony Vawser, Adelaide Theatre Guide.

Prepare to sing along, laugh and cry. There may even be a war dance.

Shalom grew up as part of a large Maori family of musicians in Aotearoa (New Zealand). Relocating to Darwin in 2015, Shalom made a smooth transition to theatre with lead roles in Jesus Christ Superstar (2015), Chess (2017), The Crucible, Black Comedy (2018), Twelfth Night (2020, also composer), Taming of the Shrew (2021) and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2022).

Directing and choreographing Beatles Cabaret (2016), ABBA Cabaret (2017), Voices of Remembrance (2018, also writer), Shalom hosts The Seen NT, appeared in Top End Wedding, various commercials, and several short films, including the lead in Sean Guy's Japanese Slipper (2020).

Shalom was the music director for Darwin's first LGBTQIA+ choir, True Colours Chorus Darwin, as well a featured vocalist with Darwin Symphony Orchestra, Arafura Wind Ensemble and the Band of the First Brigade.

Purple Plastic Maori also features the very skilled guitar work of fellow Kiwi, Aden Mackay.

Ticket info
The VIP package includes two tickets per table, plus one bottle of Jansz sparkling wine.

Performance warning 
Contains coarse language and themes around bullying, mental health, sexual orientation