Marlene Dietrich strides the stage again for Pride

Marlene Dietrich was undoubtedly a superstar of Hollywood’s Golden Era – but she also was much more than that. By constantly reinventing herself, Dietrich stretched her career over sixty years becoming a pioneering star of radio, a medal-winning war hero, a top flight international cabaret artist, a big-selling recording star and an icon for generations of gay people round the world.

Marlene started her career as a chorus girl during the era of “divine decadence” in 1920s Weimar Berlin. The freewheeling approach to sexuality during that period suited her very well – she embraced the sexual liberation enthusiastically and never abandoned it through her long life. Her many lovers included men and women, and she never apologised or tried to hide her preferences. Famed as much for wearing men’s clothes as being a femme fatale, Dietrich’s cosmopolitan, sexually ambiguous and world-weary persona inspired many artists who followed. Madonna, Lady Gaga, Kylie Minogue and a thousand drag queens – they have all tried to channel Dietrich’s special allure.

Marlene DietrichBut there is nothing quite like the real thing, so join Terry Sanderson for his highly-praised show exploring the life and career of this fascinating and complex personality. Not only will we see generous clips of some of Dietrich’s campest films, we’ll take a look at her heroic efforts to oppose the Nazis. For this work she received the highest civilian honours from the Americans, the French and the Belgians. The evening culminates with a showing, on the big screen, of Marlene’s famously fabulous one-woman concert, with which she enchanted the world. Recorded in Australia in 1963, accompanied by Burt Bacharach and his orchestra, this is Dietrich at her peak. Don’t miss this special Pride Festival performance.

“Magnificent. Mr Sanderson took us on a journey all the way from Miss Dietrich’s early Berlin life, her transformation from podgy teenager into the glittering god-like creature beloved of photographers, queens and audiences the world over, her determination to decry the devastation the Nazis had wrought upon her homeland and its people (mainly by working her proverbial arse off, entertaining the Allied troops), and her love-hate relationship with Hollywood – and its leading ladies and men.” – Dolores Delargo, Museum of Camp blogspot

“A highlight for me was Terry Sanderson’s presentation of the life of Marlene Dietrich” – Tony Dingle blog

“Intensely moving. Marlene was a force of nature” – Brian Magee