Alex De Porteous’ Best Life
In the lead-up to hosting Adelaide Fringe cabaret show BITE at The Garden of Unearthly Delights, local artist Alex De Porteous chats with SALIFE about the best advice she’s received and what brings her joy in life.
Tell us about what you do?
I am a proudly South Australian cabaret artist, singer, MC (or as I say ‘Master of Chaos’) and most fortunately the host of BITE – the hot new sensual cabaret experience coming to The Garden of Unearthly Delights for the 2025 Adelaide Fringe.
Describe the best day of your life.
Second to meeting my incredible partner, Emmett … walking in the gates of The Garden of Unearthly Delights for the first time as a ‘Garden Artist’ (I was backup dancing in a kids’ show) back in 2017 was an extremely memorable experience. It was a venue that for years prior I had dreamed of performing in, so the experience gave me so much pride. I’m sure I will be beaming with just as much joy when I do it again this year.
What brings you joy in life?
I feel the most joyful in life when I am surrounded by friends and family, and when I am expressing myself creatively … even better when those three things are in harmony.
What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
To never put your backup option first and upskill in every way you can. It can be terrifying but there is no greater reward than pushing yourself to achieve your dreams, and if you don’t, at least you have done everything you could to try. A mentor of mine once told me to learn the many skills and roles that make my job as a performer possible. Not only did I end up with qualifications as a graphic designer and an understanding of marketing, stage management, ushering and costume creation but I earned a huge amount of respect for the talented people behind the scenes.
What is the most treasured photograph you have and why?
It’s hard to pick just one, but I treasure this photo of my family and I at my first performance at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival as a part of their Class of Cabaret program. It was also my first performance stepping outside of the jazz gigs I played at local live music venues around Adelaide, so to have the support of my family there meant the world.
Describe the best meal you’ve ever eaten.
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I truly hope that any item off the menu at Zen House (the incredible plant-based Asian fusion restaurant on Port Road) is my final meal. The ingredients are unbelievably fresh, the menu is exciting … and I crave it weekly.
What are the best qualities of your favourite person?
They are compassionate, kind, creative, grounded and so funny.
What are the best 5 songs on your Spotify playlist?
Time (You and I) by Khruangbin
Apocalypse Dreams from Tame Impala’s second album Lonerism
Contact by Brigitte Bardot
Strange Overtones by David Byrne from Talking Heads
100% Pure Love by Crystal Waters (which coincidentally is one of the songs in BITE)
What was your best purchase?
My best purchase to date was the huge black mango wood and rattan buffet that takes up most of my one-bedroom apartment. It was the first ‘big girl’ home purchase I made after moving back to South Australia and it is glorious.
BITE is presented at the Garden of Unearthly Delights venue The Vagabond, from February 21 to March 16.