Cabaret

When corporate brands jump onboard a thriving nightlife phenomenon, it’s time to blow out the table candles and put away the feather fans, right? Now that cabaret and burlesque are so overground, so MTV-mainstream, you’d be forgiven for thinking that’s that, which was exactly my initial, stomach plummeting reaction. The bright lights of the mainstream are a surefire way to kill off the excitement surrounding any scene, and cabaret and burlesque have only just become cool again. But don’t put away your favourite vintage threads just yet because a corollary to the success at the top is that it’s never been healthier in the underground.

‘We’re trying to keep a low profile at the moment,’ admits Jamie McLaren, PR person for Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club, who has all but stopped sending out listings for the events at his club. ‘Quite frankly, Time Out is just too damn good at pulling a crowd for us and we get too busy! Are we worried about burlesque going mainstream? No, we’re rising to it! Burlesque is here to stay. The plus side of something going “pop” is that the bar is raised, and we’ve seen the standard of the performances improve. Feature continues

You’ll see more burlesque and cabaret hybrid forms becoming less exclusive and setting new standards, too.’ As ever, Bethnal Green WMC rarely do exclusively burlesque or cabaret nights; it’s a big performance hotch-potch, and the fiercely loyal regulars like it that way. They’re running Wednesday night classes called The Workers School of Excellence for aspiring burlesque stars or pole- and tap-dancers, too.

Bigger events such as Lost Vagueness and The Flash Monkey presents Cabaret Casbah sell out venues like the Coronet and Café de Paris every time. Volupte continues to present a wide selection of cabaret talent most nights of the week, despite being down a back alley in Holborn, from the acid-tongued Dusty Limits to the fabulous Hurly Burly Girlys. Whoopee have another burlesque spectacular planned next month, but bearing all this advanced ticket mania in mind, best get your tickets now if you hope to go.

Whether it’s Whoopee presents Hip Hip, a hilarious and occasionally cringe-worthy midweek try out night at Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club, or Dita Von Teese at Koko, London really can’t get enough burlesque and cabaret. All we need now are more venues suitable to putting on nights, like the Bethnal Green WMC, Koko and Volupte.

Dita Von Teese is this Sunday and Smirnoff & the Electric Cabaret is this Thursday, both at Koko. Lost Vagueness is October 28 at The Coronet. The Flash Monkey presents Cabaret Casbah is after Christmas at Cafe de Paris. Whoopee presents Hip Hip is October 20 at Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club. See The Social Club for listings.