Meow Meow is the cat who got the Cabaret Icon Award cream

Chaotic chanteuse Meow Meow has been recognised for her contribution to the industry by the Adelaide Cabaret Festival. FIND THE PERFECT SHOW IN OUR CABARET ADVISER

Meow Meow proved she really is the cat’s whiskers when she received the Cabaret Icon Award last night at the opening event of this year’s Adelaide Cabaret Festival.

Festival artistic director Julia Zemiro presented Meow with the award, which acknowledges figures who have had a significant impact on the Australian cabaret industry, at the end of The House is Live concert at Thebarton Theatre.

“I had never seen anyone so fully in control of the chaos she presents,’’ Ms Zemiro said of the first time she witnessed Meow’s act.

Cabaret Icon Award winner Meow Meow at Apothecary 1878 Wine Bar & Restaurant, Hindley Street, Adelaide. Picture: MATT TURNER

“She’s utterly in control of her music, her body, her voice, her props … and yet it’s chaos. Meow has a lot of copiers but no-one cuts it like she does.

“She has gone on to be in festivals curated by – and specifically asked for by – people like David Bowie and Mikhail Baryshnikov, and that is no mean feat.

“Meow deeply understands the origins of cabaret. She’s a student of it, and I think that’s what makes her a very, very special human and a special performer.’’

Meow Meow is the stage alter ego of Canberra-born, Melbourne-raised performer Melissa Madden Gray, who was “completely thrilled” to join the ranks of previous Cabaret Icon Award recipients, who include festival founder Frank Ford, Robyn Archer and Reg Livermore.

“My definition of cabaret is so broad – it really is anything that engages directly with an audience and has a combined sense of urgency, of politics, and at the same time beauty and some degree of salvation,” she said.

“So it is very lovely to have a recognition that goes someway to acknowledging what is really, essentially, such a live experience.”

“I feel very lucky to be recognised as a person who keeps opening doors.’’