Tucked in a deep, dark corner of South Melbourne lies Bohemia, a cabaret and burlesque club that claims to cater to every taste: "the sublime to ridiculous, the base to the refined". Open from Wednesday to Sunday, Bohemia serves up tasty tapas and a cocktail or two with a serving of racy entertainment on the side.
We visit the club on a Friday and watch the divine Madame Natalia hosting Cirque du Femmes. Whilst it is primarily a burlesque show – featuring both burlesque and boylesque performers – the highlight was the Madame herself, belting songs, skewering unlucky (or lucky?) men with innuendo-laden insults, and encouraging the women of the audience to open their minds to the urges of their bodies. Resident "Master of Mischief" Jack Lad tells us that Bohemia's other nights can get a lot darker and more debauched, with hints of Grand Guignol (naturalistic horror), fetish, and rather more risque cabaret.