The final touches were going onto Spiegeltent's latest incarnation in the sultry haze and close air of the travelling carnival stage as the walls went up in Civic Park again this week.
Loca Vida - billed as a big, brassy, lustrous fever dream capturing one high-energy night of life in the fast lane - brings a new cast and a whole new show to the Hunter after a rollicking debut in Darwin.
Cabaret company Strut and Fret - creators of Spiegeltent hits Blanc de Blanc Encore, La Ronde and The Party - return to Newcastle with a month-long run of a production promising a fresh shine on the troupe's unique embrace of high-kicking chaos.
"Spiegeltent brings a vibrant theatrical atmosphere that will transform Civic Park and deliver an unforgettable live entertainment experience," New Annual festival direct Tory Loudon said.
The performance combines classic circus acrobatics, "old school show biz glamour" and cabaret to revive the style and aesthetic of the smoky small-theatre carnival-weird attractions of another time.
Cuban acrobatic duo Nadelys Aguila and Rey David's act promises a daring display of skill and athletic expression, showrunners said.
The performance also includes Baz Luhrmann's Strictly Ballroom original cast member Melanie Hawkins in her return to Newcastle.
Hawkins previously visited in Blanc de Blanc Encore, adding another showbill to a litany of musical credentials including Wicked and Rocky Horror.
The tent's return heralds a packed schedule of performance, art and culture over the next two months as culture showcase New Annual gears up for another year.
Ms Loudon told the Newcastle Herald last month she was proud of the bumper festival program, which launches on September 25.
The schedule boasts a stable of new original works commissioned by the City of Newcastle's Made New program, coupled with a revival of headliner events from last year.
"You can tell it is building on the success of last year. You can see the evolution," Ms Loudon said.
Spiegeltent's Loca Vida opens Friday, September 4, with its run closing on October 4. Tickets are available via the Civic Theatre website.
