Finucane & Smith’s Dance Palace (2026) Review

30 August, 2026 timchuma 0 Comments 5 categories

A welcoming and inclusive work that is fun, affirming and seems to have a bit of everything, you’ll be amazed, laugh and dance!

The last time I actually went to Luna Park was the Dance Hall show in 2018 and I remembered riding the carousel after the show as did one of the workers who remembered it as I was being guided through the park to the venue.

Was great to see Piera Dennerstein out the front, I could not imagine having anyone more welcoming to the show! I did get to talk to her during the interval about her hair extension falling off, she said it did it during Lola also as she can’t lean too far forward with it. Was great to see her again as I also saw her two times last year during the Flavours of Fringe event at Queen Vic Night Market.

As with Global Smash Club, the show starts before it starts with Mama Alto walking around singing while people were being shown to their seats. I went and got some hot chips and offered them one leading to this exchange:

“Are these poisoned?”

“What?! No!”

“WHY NOT!?”

Was good to see Maple Rose on the door and the other performers getting chairs for people, does remind me of an event out in the country where you have to do everything yourself as there are not the people to help you. I am sure with all the touring Finucan and Smith do they are used it to.

There was a lot of different stuff during the show, I am not going to go into all of it as it will ruin the surprise!

You do get to see some of the favourite acts from the 30 years of Finucane and Smith and there is a drop sheet required for the first few rows. I am sure if you are sitting in these rows by this point you will know what to expect!

I didn’t mind getting the peanut gallery seats as supposedly it was standing only for these on the night but I have problems with my leg so I have to get accessible seating these days. Still managed to see quite well even from the back.

I liked having the raised platforms on the sides for some of the performances as it meant people actually sitting close to those areas also got to see some of the show up-close.

While they are all very professional and established performers in the show, I did like some of the mess-ups like the balloons escaping during one acts and Pierra’s hair falling off. No matter what happens, keep going! People do not know it is not part of the show unless you tell them!

If I wasn’t having a bit of a quieter September after being in hospital early August and then running the petrol out of the tank for MIFF I would consider going to another show before the end of the run. At the point of writing there are still six shows to go and the line-up will change it seems.

Rating: 5/5

Show details:

With Queen of Provocative Variety Moira Finucane, Icon Maude Davey, Transcendent diva Mama Alto, Butoh Goddess Yumi Umiumare, Glittering Indian boylesque Govind Pillai & Temple of Desire, Burlesque bombshell Maple Rose, Yorta Yorta Taungurung legend Glennys Briggs and country star Ian Muir, Chameleon Showgirl Bendy Ben; Sublime soprano Piera Dennerstein, Bollywood enchantress Raksha Parsnani & more!

Dates: 20 August – 12 September | Thurs-Sat @ 7pm

Where: Luna Palace, Luna Park, 18 Lower Esplanade, St Kilda

Tickets:

https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1582908

Palace Table | best seats in the house $118.88/$108.88

Catwalk Deluxe | on the catwalk $88.88/$78.88

Deluxe Table | guaranteed table seating $68.88/$58.88

Happy Seats | no guarantee of a table $48.88/$38.88

Peanut Gallery | worst seats, best price $18.88

Links:

https://www.finucaneandsmith.com/dance-palace

https://www.instagram.com/mama.alto/