Kirby Burgess.
Camera IconKirby Burgess. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Kirby Burgess going Disco Wonderland wonderful at WASO

Tanya MacNaughtonWestern Suburbs Weekly

IT has been seven years since Sydney music theatre performers Kirby Burgess and Ben Mingay met and fell in love while working on the Australian production of An Officer and A Gentleman.

Since then they have sung together by request at family barbecues and even recorded an album of favourites for their nearest and dearest as a wedding present when they got married last year.

Perth audiences will get to experience their professional stage reunion when the couple sing in WASO’s Disco Wonderland at Perth Concert Hall.

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“Professionally speaking, this will be the next time since the first time,” Burgess said.

“It’ll be all the disco favourites and then a couple of left-of-centre ones that I’d forgotten about. You’ll still know them but they might not be the obvious choice.

“I think working with WASO is going to be just an incredible experience. I haven’t worked with the orchestra before but Ben has and speaks very highly of the company.”

Burgess and Mingay join the line-up with Kate Ceberano and X Factor finalist Nathaniel Willemse.

Kirby Burgess.
Camera IconKirby Burgess. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

“Disco is music everybody knows regardless of whether you grew up in that era or not,” Burgess said.

“I think we’re still intrigued by the history and glamour of disco and Studio 54; to escape into it for a night is guaranteed to be a good time.”

Both Burgess and Mingay have spent quite a lot of time in Perth during their careers, most recently this year when Mingay played the title role in WA Opera’s Sweeney Todd and Burgess starred in cheerleading musical Bring It On.

“The show was the most physically and vocally challenging production I’ve done,” she said.

“It’s quite incredible how they’ve written that lead role but I did it, so that was amazing.”

Her wardrobe will be a world away from a cheerleading uniform when she steps out on the Disco Wonderland stage in possibly her own design.

“I do like to make a lot of my own clothes and most of the time when you see me at red carpet events it’s in something I’ve created,” Burgess said.

“I’ve got some ideas in mind but I have to wait to talk to the production manager first to see what their ideas are. I think it’ll probably be something I’ve created and definitely with sequins, big hair and big makeup.”

THE ESSENTIALS

What: WASO’s Disco Wonderland Where: Perth Concert Hall When: November 8 and 9All Pert Tickets: www.waso.com.au