A new monthly variety show will arrive at Sydney’s Darling Quarter Theatre this October, with Australian entertainer and producer Nick Hardcastle bringing Show Up! to the venue from 19 October 2026. Presented by Century Venues, the live series will combine music, comedy, cabaret, circus, interviews and guest appearances, with each edition featuring a changing line up of established performers and emerging talent.
The launch event on Monday 19 October will include a 20th anniversary tribute to Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical, featuring appearances from original cast members Tony Sheldon, Marney McQueen, Genevieve Lemon and additional guests.
Hardcastle created and hosts Show Up!, drawing on almost two decades of producing and developing live entertainment experiences across London, Los Angeles and Australia. The format also takes inspiration from Australian variety shows of the past, reworking the concept for a contemporary live audience. Hardcastle said he hopes the monthly format will help create an ongoing community for Sydney audiences and performers.
I love creating community around live work – that’s why I have been doing it for so long! I’m so excited by what Show Up! can offer Sydney audiences and artists and look forward to it becoming a staple of the Sydney entertainment scene.
Each edition is designed to feature a different mix of performers, potentially placing musical theatre stars alongside recording artists, comedians, circus performers, television personalities, drag artists, international visitors and Broadway performers. The show will also provide space for artists currently performing or touring through Sydney to present their work to new audiences and promote other productions in which they are appearing.
Performances will be filmed using a multicamera setup and made available on YouTube, with participating artists also able to share footage with their audiences online. The monthly series follows an initial Show Up! event held at The Grand Electric in November 2025.
Following the October launch, Show Up! will continue monthly on Mondays at Darling Quarter Theatre. Confirmed dates include 16 November and 14 December 2026, followed by 11 January, 8 February, 8 March and 5 April 2027. Tickets for the 19 October launch are now on sale through the official Show Up! website.
