"Leave your troubles at the door, you're with us now. Welcome to
The Famous Spiegeltent"
- The Spiegelmaestro
Welcome to The Famous Spiegeltent. A hand-crafted jewel of wood, mirror, stained glass and velvet, built in 1920 by Belgian master craftsmen Oscar Mols Dom and Louis Goor.
Originally created as a travelling dance hall, she is the last of her kind still on the road today: a living, breathing time capsule of European glamour and festival spirit. Over more than a century, her etched mirrors and billowing canopy have reflected the faces of thousands of artists and audiences, from cabaret legends to first-time festivalgoers. Wherever she appears, The Famous Spiegeltent becomes the beating heart of the celebration.
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Since 1996, under the care of producer and pianist David Bates, she launches global sensations, shapes festival culture, and sparks a worldwide Spiegeltent renaissance.
Now, at 105 years old, The Famous Spiegeltent returns to Edinburgh’s St Andrew Square — ready to begin her next chapter.
A Living Legacy: The Timeline of
The Famous Spiegeltent
Mid-1990s
A Love Affair Begins
While performing with Madame & Her Orkestra at the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival, Australian musician David Bates first sets foot inside The Famous Spiegeltent. Captivated, he begins a lifelong relationship with the tent that will shape its future.
1930s
Stars Take to the Stage
The world’s biggest names begin gracing her stage, including Marlene Dietrich, who performs “Falling in Love Again” under her velvet canopy, setting the tone for the generations of icons to follow.
1920
The Birth of a Legend
Crafted in Belgium by Oscar Mols Dom and Louis Goor, The Famous Spiegeltent is born. Built of wood, etched glass, mirrors, canvas, and brocade, she begins life as a travelling dance hall and cabaret salon, dazzling Europe with her beauty and atmosphere.
1996
Edinburgh Debut
Bates brings The Famous Spiegeltent to Edinburgh for the first time, setting her atop the Waverley Mall. This marks the venue’s official debut at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, a pivotal moment in Fringe history.
Late-1990s
Innovation Under the Velvet Canopy
Bates invents the small, central circular stage. A revolutionary design for Spiegeltent performance that becomes the gold standard for venues around the world.
2000
Australia's First Spiegeltent
Bates introduces Spiegeltents to Australia, establishing The Famous Spiegeltent as a centrepiece of the country’s major festivals. In Adelaide, he co-founds The Garden of Unearthly Delights, now a fixture of the national cultural calendar.
Early 2000s
Planting the First Spiegel Garden
Bates establishes the first Spiegel Gardens in Edinburgh, creating pop-up cultural oases in George Square. These immersive festival hubs fuse performance, food, and atmosphere, a model now replicated globally.
2004
La Clique is Born
In 2004, beneath the velvet canopy of The Famous Spiegeltent, a genre-defining show took its first breath. Conceived and produced by Spiegelmaestro David Bates, La Clique fused cabaret, circus, burlesque and vaudeville into a bold, electric late-night spectacle. With a rotating cast of boundary-pushing performers, razor-sharp wit and a hypnotic sense of intimacy, La Clique captured the imagination of audiences and critics alike.
It wasn't just a hit, it was a moment of cultural ignition. The show helped redefine what spiegeltent performance could be, sparking a global appetite for boutique, genre-blending entertainment that still thrives today.
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It wasn't just a hit, it was a moment of cultural ignition. The show helped redefine what Spiegeltent performance could be, sparking a global appetite for the genre-defining entertainment that still thrives today.
2009
La Clique’s World Stage Legacy
Following sold-out seasons around the world, La Clique landed in London’s West End and in 2009 was awarded the Olivier Award for Best Entertainment.
The impact of La Clique rippled far beyond the award. It blazed a trail for a new wave of innovative productions, inspiring a generation of cabaret and circus shows that have toured the globe from Limbo, La Soirée, and VELVET, to Blanc de Blanc, Briefs, Club Swizzle, and more.
While many have followed in its footsteps, La Clique remains a true original born under the mirrored roof of The Famous Spiegeltent and still dazzling audiences more than two decades on.
2016
20 Years in Edinburgh
Over those 20 years, The Famous Spiegeltent introduced Edinburgh audiences to an extraordinary array of artists, including Meow Meow, Tim Minchin, Camille O’Sullivan, Paul Kelly and many more. It became more than just a venue, it was a meeting place, a nightlife hub, and a performance legend in its own right. The tent's warm glow and velvet-draped intimacy drew in crowds night after night, creating an atmosphere where discovery, connection, and artistry flourished.
2025
Return of the Grand Dame
After almost a decade away, The Famous Spiegeltent returns to Edinburgh to celebrate her 105th birthday, along with the 21st anniversary of La Clique.
Once again at St Andrew Square, the Grande Dame invites a new generation to fall under her spell.