Pinch Cabaret
A celebration of variety, community, and artistic cross-pollination!
The Pinch Cabaret is a monthly variety show presenting 10 minute sets from performers across the artistic spectrum: poets, playwrights, dancers, comedians, drag queens, storytellers, musicians, burlesque artists, historians, improvisers, and who knows what else!
Poster Design by Aaron Read
Upcoming Shows
Pinch Cabaret #51
Sat June 27, 2026 - 8pm
Hosted and curated by AI chatbot Ben Gorodetsky. Expect the unexpected!
Featuring:
Vanessa Ricci-Thode - Storyteller / Fantasy Writer
Tor Lukasik-Foss - Music & Stories
Kristopher Mielke - Stand Up Comedy
Grand River Opera - Opera
Making Woman - Singer-Songwriter
Nathaniel Voll - Zines
Advance tickets are $5 / $10 / $20 / $30 – you choose the option that’s right for you.
Indigenous community members are welcomed to attend for free.
Enormous thanks to Waterloo Region Community Foundation, Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, Cities of Kitchener & Waterloo, Uptown Waterloo BIA, and the Registry Theatre for their generous support, allowing for accessible ticket pricing!
VENUE:
We're back at Button Factory Arts (25 Regina St, Waterloo)
Perform at Pinch!
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Perform at Pinch! 〰️
Pinch Cabaret thrives on new acts, and that means you!
Email Ben@PinchCabaret.com to submit.
All acts paid $$$!
All experience levels welcome.
Past Shows
Host Ben Gorodetsky
Horn player Micajah
Comedian Renee Groux
Poet Chris Banks
Comedian & Door Person Aashay Dalvi
Musical Poet & House Technician Braeden Etienne
Pianist Ryan Antooa
Pianist Ryan Antooa
Pole Dancer Ellie Gravitas
Pole Dancer Ellie Gravitas
Pole Dancer Daffy Long Legs
Finger Drummer & Producer Edan it again
Pinch Audience
Pinch Audience
Comedian & Door Person Aashay Dalvi
Drag Creature Yovska
Cellist Miriam Stewart-Kreoker
Musical Comedian Rando
Storyteller and Ukrainian Refugee Lilia Samchuk
Poet Nathaniel Voll
Audience members at intermission
Host Ben Gorodetsky
Drag Creature Yovska
Standup and Activist Aashay Dalvi
The cast of Pinch #6
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Pinch #1 - Sep 24, 2021
Circus Artists Kimberlee Walker & Carly Schelken
Playwright & Poet Ciarán Meyers
Singer-Songwriter Rachel Hickey
All Female and Non-Binary Improv Troupe The Phlegm Fatales
Image of Carly Schelken by Kaylens Photography
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Pinch #4 - Mar 19, 2022
Comedian & Trans Activist Kez Vicario-Robinson
Writer Johnny Wideman
Classical String Trio String Theory
Burlesque Dancer Bonita Chinchilla
Improv Comedy Duo Braeden Etienne & Sarah Bennet
Image of Kez Vicario-Robinson