The Piano Men

Why is it when we think of the piano it is always men at the forefront?

From Bach to Ben Folds, Beethoven to Billy Joel and Mozart to Minchin, the list of famous piano players throughout history is dominated by men. In her exceptional Melbourne Cabaret Fringe Festival debut, Emma Knights sets to balance the scales by exploring the unknown stories of historic women pianists.

“Sing us a song, you're the piano man...” Elton John, Billy Joel, Ben Folds, Tim Minchin: But where are the piano women? In The Piano Men, directed by Adrian Barnes, Emma puts herself in the spotlight as she investigates and interrogates the gender imbalance in musical history. She asks why there are only 10 women recognised in the “100 Most Influential Musicians in the world.

The one-hour production features 29 different songs, from classical to contemporary and every genre in between. Knight’s painstaking research and virtuosic piano skills come together to form a delightful and authentic hour of music and storytelling.

“Talent just oozes from her fingers.” - Sam About Town

“The Piano Men is a beautifully classy show.” - Glam Adelaide