BRISBANE - The stars of the event were singers Laura Fois and Renee Gumzi, who reunited on stage after the success of their previous project Triple Threat, an original three-woman cabaret exploring themes of immigration, friendship and female identity.
The event, complete with a welcome glass of prosecco and a selection of sweet and savory finger foods, offered the audience a musical journey inspired by a broad concept of romanticism.
Themes such as love, nostalgia, passion and emotional connection were at the heart of the performance. The two artists explored various genres, presenting classics from musical theatre, pop and dance numbers, culminating in a refined homage to Italian Opera with a tribute to Giacomo Puccini.
For Fois, the performance was also a special opportunity to sing in Italian. It a rare moment for an artist who primarily works in English-language cabaret and musical theatre to reconnect with her native tongue.
The event also served as a celebration of the artistic friendship between the two performers, who shared not only their voices but also their deep personal and professional bond with the audience. As Fois explained, working with Gumzi felt natural and creatively stimulating.
Fois, an actress and performer originally from Sardinia, is a passionate figure in Brisbane’s independent arts scene. A featured artist in the city’s inaugural Fringe Festival, she has repeatedly emphasised the importance of supporting unconventional art and alternative cultural projects beyond the mainstream circuit.
In a recent interview, she reflected on the double-edged impact of the pandemic on the performing arts. While it gave artists time to reflect and create, it also distanced audiences from venues and made the return to live performance more difficult.
For this reason, Fois advocates for greater institutional and public support for independent theatre. Through shows like Power, Language and Love (2023), she has tackled complex themes such as female representation, intercultural communication and the power of love - always with her subtle and ironic style.
Her artistic drive is rooted in her personal experience as a migrant and her desire to give voice to women who speak - and sing - about what matters to them.
Ultimately, the Romantica High Tea Concert proved to be far more than a concert; it provided a moment of connection and shared experience between artists and their audience, a small example of how art can still spark thought and beauty.
In the warm setting of New Tricks, a family-run distillery and cellar that regularly hosts jazz and live music on weekends, the intimate atmosphere made the experience all the more special.
