IT’S been a while since Rhonda Burchmore has appeared publicly on stage in Canberra, but she has been here recently for quite a different reason. 

When I catch up with her by phone, it’s on the eve of her appearance in SBS’s “Who Do You Think You Are?” where the surprise twist is a session in which historian Nicole Overall reveals to her that her great-grandfather, James Stewart, was a Canberra singing identity known as “Canberra’s Harry Lauder”, named after the famous Scottish entertainer. 

The discovery has Burchmore, one of Australia’s most famous cabaret artists, tickled pink, for she had hitherto never suspected any talent in the family. 

While she tells me, “trust me, they don’t do a story unless they have a little bit of juice”, she’s more than satisfied with the juice they came up with. 

We won’t have long to wait before we see her again, she’ll be here as the “ring-mistress without the whip” in Michael Boyd’s “Cabaret De Paris”, which combines showbiz glamour with the skill of adagio dancers, aerial pole artistry, comedy circus performers, quick-change acts, illusionists and French cancan dancers. 

After nine gruelling months touring in the musical “Hairspray” to the major metropolitan cities, she’s looking forward to this one, which she describes as “a glorious extravaganza”.

Burchmore is no stranger to the intimacy of cabaret shows, in which we have seen her many times, but tells me: “It’s lovely to be on the other side when somebody else is presenting and you’re just doing your own thing.”

“When I’m in a one-woman show, I don’t usually leave the stage, but in this one I have a few little breaks – mind you, I’m usually spending that time getting into another incredible gown.

“It’s actually 90 minutes of go go go, with me framed by beautiful girls and boys.”

Boyd may be the producer, but in fact the “pretty nice cossies” that Burchmore will be wearing in the show are her own.

“I’ve been in the industry for 40 years and I’ve got some glorious costumes,” she says.

“One costume can cost five to 10 grand and I figure, if I can still fit into them, why not?

“I’m not an off-the-rack kind of girl; mine is not the right kind of body, so I’ve always had my costumes specially made for me and they’re quite beautiful.”

 Burchmore keeps fit of necessity, considering her punishing performance schedule, and tells me, “I don’t sit idle, but I really hate gyms, they make me sick, so I walk my dogs 10,000 steps a day.”

It doesn’t depress her one iota that the average age of her fellow performers is between 22 to 26 and that they have “the most amazing bodies.”

“I don’t try to compete in any way with that glorious youth. I play more the grand dame of burlesque and they all are all my little chickees – I play that role.”

She also does a lot of singing. 

“The show allows me to do what I love, ‘Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend’, ‘La Vie En Rose’ and a killer version of ‘I am What I am’. 

“I love it that this show is sold out everywhere I go… It’s on for the first time in Canberra and it will be a real rollercoaster.”

“Cabaret De Paris”, Canberra Theatre, June 15-16.