Eight great shows to see in Sydney during winter

What: A camp Kiwi cooking show lampooned on stage.
Where & when: Giant Dwarf, Jun 26-29.

In the ’70s and ’80s, long before Xena, Fran Drescher or the original Queer Eye, New Zealand’s TV chefs Peter Hudson and David Halls were camping up prime time screens. The duo were partners both on and off screen, and their irreverent cooking show Hudson and Halls was a cult hit during the conservative Hawke-and-Thatcher era. The pair’s withering one-liners and slapstick food prep have been resurrected for the stage in a hilarious and moving piece of theatre starring top Kiwi thesps Todd Emerson, Chris Parker and Emily Barclay. Immerse yourself in New Zealand’s great gay love story, replete with ’80s hair and Corningware.

What: An interactive, retro-TV-themed comedy.
Where & when: Seymour Centre, Jul 5-7.

You know what’s better than watching old reruns of Murder She Wrote? Watching them with a roomful of fans who are collectively trying to solve the mystery before Angela Lansbury reveals all in the denouement. In this hosted screening, a classic episode becomes an interactive show with a theme-song singalong, trivia, guest stars and games like Cabot Cove Bingo and the Jessica Fletcher Epiphany Race. It’s ’80s television taken to new and hilarious heights, and a test of your amateur sleuthing skills to boot.

What: Swaggering indie guitar rock.
Where & when: The Vanguard, Thu Jun 27.

Support local musos when native sons the Hideaway play the Vanguard in celebration of their debut EP, Then She. Describing themselves as indie rockers with pop sensibilities, the band has a layered, guitar-driven sound that has been likened to Gang of Youths, the 1975 and Catfish and the Bottlemen – and caught the attention of Triple J Unearthed. They’ve already packed out venues such as Frankie’s and Fuse Box, so come and see what the hype is all about.

What: A festival of the musical storytelling arts.
Where & when: Seymour Centre & City Recital Hall, Jul 5-14.

Sydney’s newest international festival kicks off in July with 40 performances over ten jam-packed days. The boundaries of the traditional cabaret floor show have been stretched to include everything from circus to comedy and drag, but there’s also a pop-up piano bar at the Seymour Centre for some good old-fashioned musical entertainment. Don’t miss the opening night gala featuring a litany of Broadway and Australian cabaret stars, plus concerts dedicated to Ella Fitzgerald and Kylie Minogue.