Rhonda Burchmore chats all things GLAMAZONIA
40 years in the ‘biz is no easy feat. But as always, Rhonda Burchmore makes it look like a walk in the park.
A staple of the Australian entertainment industry, Rhonda has done everything – TV, film, and most notably, stage. From The Drowsy Chaperone to Into The Woods, she truly is a chameleon of her craft. She is currently touring her new show, Glamazonia, a love letter to the industry in which she’s dedicated so much of her life – as well as a wink to her time in the jungle.
The idea came to her after finishing up on I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! (in which she placed third overall).
When I got out of the jungle I thought “oh my gosh, I need to do a new show.” And then with COVID, I had so many concerts and corporate gigs, everything gone. Coming into 2021, no one really knows how things are going, but touch wood, everything’s like looking full steam ahead for Australia. So I thought, oh it’s 40 years in this industry. I added it up during COVID. And forty years is a pretty good milestone, especially since I’m still actively working.
The show is a musical collage of stories, anecdotes, and experiences from her life on the stage and screen. She’ll be singing some of her favourite pop songs, including new arrangements of Katy Perry’s ‘Roar’, Gloria Gaynor’s ‘I Will Survive’, and even a lovely introspective rendition of Cher’s ‘If I Could Turn Back Time’.
Rhonda is self-producing the show, something that she said has been extremely exciting as well as nerve-wracking. “Last year was another year of extreme survival, both mentally and financially for all. COVID kind of knocked a lot of people on their head because they had to look for other employment – I can’t do that with this. So I invested my own money, and it’s more an exercise for me to actively do what I love and not let that virus, or anything, stop me from doing that.”
Self-producing also has opened up some opportunities that Rhonda noted were quite different to working on mainstage productions. “I mean, when you do a show like Mamma Mia! where you’re employed by someone else, you kind of have to stick with them, you know the boundaries of what that is. But this show is almost picking fun at my career, and rather than going on about everything I’ve done, I actually do a whole section on the roles that I actually didn’t get, or the shows I wanted to do but because I’m a certain physical look, I didn’t get them. I’ve experienced enough and done enough to take the piss out of myself [laughs]. A lot of people think it’s a very easy ride. But 40 years has been a bit of a bumpy one, but mostly good news.
Rhonda will be joined by a fabulous band and two very talented dancers for Glamazonia, and the show is sure to be an emotional rollercoaster. “It’s very funny. But there are moments there toot hat you absolutely need two boxes of Kleenex tissues for.
Being such a versatile performer, Rhonda has amassed fans from all over. Some know her from her stage performances, other from her hosting, and some from her more recent exploits in the jungle. “I couldn’t believe there is a fan base from the jungle… like 12 to 15, some even younger than that, which is adorable.”
Glamazonia really does celebrate Rhonda in all her glory – the highs, the lows, and everything in-between. It’s an empowering night of femininity and strength, and is sure to be a great evening for all.
This concept is all about survival, girl power, me being in the industry for 40 years. The show had its first outing at Adelaide Fringe, and that was received incredibly well, which is pretty frightening after not being on stage for a long time and with new material. And so I thought, pardon the pun, this show’s got legs.
SK Entertainment and Rhonda Burchmore Productions present GLAMAZONIA
Touring Adelaide, Wyong, Springwood, Orange, with more to be announced.
Tickets and more information are available at www.rhondaburchmore.com
