Seeing U2 at The Sphere with 20,000 people or Bruno Mars at Dolby Live with 5,000—those are undeniably special moments. But so is hosting a dinner party with performers in Nipton or at my home in St Kilda, Australia, with musicians to entertain guests. It’s a rare, personal treat, one that I truly cherish. Spiegelworld has always valued intimacy in our venues and shows. When we set out to create THE PARTY at Superfrico, I wanted to capture the feeling of an exceptionally talented performer sharing something special—just for you and your friends, just like one of my dinner parties at home.
Some performers are best appreciated up close and personal.
I first became aware of Denis Lock in 2002 when he attended NICA, the National Institute of Circus Arts, where I sat on the board. He was brilliant, and he didn’t hang around long. Soon, he was performing the acclaimed hand-to-hand strongman act with his partner, Hamish McCann. Together, they became The English Gents. Their street-born routine, shaped across Europe’s arts festivals, married vaudeville charm with contemporary circus.
Years later, once Absinthe found its permanent home in Las Vegas, I convinced Denis and Hamish to rejoin us. By then, each had developed a solo act: Hamish created the stunning pole routine still featured in Absinthe today, and Denis created the bubble act—an homage to his mentor, Tom Noddy. He debuted it at one of our Absinthe anniversary parties, and the audience loved loved it. (Yes, double loved.) His wise, centered, gentle persona could silence even the rowdiest of Vegas crowds, drawing gasps as kinetic bubble sculptures floated into life before their eyes.
When we launched Opium at The Cosmopolitan in 2018, we added Denis to the cast as a counterpoint to the ridiculous comedy of the other acts. He often earned standing ovations. I was sad when we closed the show on New Year’s Eve 2023, but Denis saw it as a chance to return to his roots…literally, farming in Tasmania. For the past year and a half, he’s been rounding up cattle, planting crops, and experimenting with sustainable farming techniques, approaching each project with the same calm, methodical wisdom he brings to his art.
I knew THE PARTY’s scale and intimacy would spotlight Denis’s bubble act like never before. I was thrilled when he agreed to leave his farm and return to Vegas. It’s winter in Tasmania (close to Antarctica), so let’s call it a strategic escape.
His bubbles remind us that life is fleeting and that we must cherish the tiny, beautiful moments we share with close friends and loved ones.
That’s exactly what THE PARTY is all about. Hope to see you there.
Ross Mollison
Impresario Extraordinaire, Spiegelworld