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Cabaret stars in quarantine: What good is sitting alone in your room?

The Adelaide Cabaret Festival artistic director and his fellow international artists have given a sneak peek into their lives in hotel quarantine.

Life is a quarantine, old chum – and international stars of the upcoming Adelaide Cabaret Festival are making the most of their time in hotel isolation.

Scottish-American artistic director Alan Cumming, his US musical director Henry Koperski, Serbian-Australian actress Bojana Novakovic and New York vocalist Amber Martin shared some selfies of how they are warming up for this year’s event.

Alan Cumming sings on the balcony during his time in quarantine in Adelaide, with his musical director Henry Koperski visible from another room in the background. Picture: Alan Cumming/Instagram
Alan Cumming sings on the balcony during his time in quarantine in Adelaide, with his musical director Henry Koperski visible from another room in the background. Picture: Alan Cumming/Instagram
Amber Martin, top left, Alan Cumming, right, and Henry Koperski linked up by Zoom to watch the Eurovision Song Contest. Picture: Supplied by the artists
Amber Martin, top left, Alan Cumming, right, and Henry Koperski linked up by Zoom to watch the Eurovision Song Contest. Picture: Supplied by the artists

“I am trying to be very fruitful and creative,” said Cumming, who has also spent some time sunning himself on his balcony at an Adelaide quarantine hotel.

“I have lots of plans to read lots of stuff, work, do lots of my podcasts.”

Cumming, who will perform his new one-man show and host his own late-night variety club, wasn’t sure what his “biggest desire” would be once he leaves quarantine.

“It might be to have a drink because I’m going to try and have a dry quarantine and use it not just to be creative but also to have a bit of a cleanse.

Alan Cumming working out and keeping fit with some weights in his hotel quarantine room. Picture: Supplied by Alan Cumming
Alan Cumming working out and keeping fit with some weights in his hotel quarantine room. Picture: Supplied by Alan Cumming

“No booze, I’m doing lots of exercising and weights and everything so I think probably a delicious glass of South Australian wine might be the thing.

“I’m also keen to walk around the streets and see nobody wearing a mask. My biggest thing is to walk into a bar.”

Amber Martin warms up for her Bathhouse Bette show in the bathtub of her hotel quarantine room. Picture: Supplied by Amber Martin
Amber Martin warms up for her Bathhouse Bette show in the bathtub of her hotel quarantine room. Picture: Supplied by Amber Martin

Martin, who will perform her Bette Midler tribute Bathhouse Bette as part of a national tour, joined Cumming and Koperski by Zoom from their rooms to watch the Eurovision Song Contest.

“It was my first time to see it and now, I’ll never not watch it. Thanks Alan,” Martin said.

Novakovic, who will perform improvised experiment The Blind Date Project, has been working extensively in the US on films including Malicious and Birds of Prey, and co-starred with Cumming on the TV series Instinct.

Bojana Novakovic's quarantine beauty routine: an organic mask. Picture: Supplied by Bojana Novakovic/
Bojana Novakovic's quarantine beauty routine: an organic mask. Picture: Supplied by Bojana Novakovic/
Bojana Novakovic dresses the part for her bee research in quarantine. Picture: Supplied by Bojana Novakovic
Bojana Novakovic dresses the part for her bee research in quarantine. Picture: Supplied by Bojana Novakovic

She has also been catching some rays, is “completely obsessed” with researching bees, and has developed a quarantine beauty routine with “an organic mask that tightens everything”.

Composer and musician Koperski has turned to books to help pass the days.

“I’ve been reading non-stop,” he said. “Currently reading Death’s End by Cixin Liu.”

Henry Koperski, music director for Alan Cumming, catching up on some reading in hotel quarantine. Picture: Supplied by Henry Koperski
Henry Koperski, music director for Alan Cumming, catching up on some reading in hotel quarantine. Picture: Supplied by Henry Koperski

The Adelaide Cabaret Festival opens on June 11 with its sold-out Variety Gala and runs until June 26.

Full program and tickets at adelaidecabaretfestival.com.au

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Original URL: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/entertainment/arts/cabaret-stars-in-quarantine-what-good-is-sitting-alone-in-your-room/news-story/33fb8b48b4d98cce4f9d22a285779fd9