Our take on the second edition of the London scene’s annual awards
My hero:
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark
Why I love her:
For me, the vampiric late-night TV presenter of trashy horror movies encapsulates low-brow style with wit and glamour. I admire anyone chugging away at something cool they’re passionate about in a basement, on a stage, on a sidewalk or on a cable-access show without slick, market-savvy backing. I love the low-budget aesthetic too! Long live the DIYers!
Her influence on ‘Sleaze’:
We’re all about the DIY: my lovingly handcrafted props and games (including a spin-the-bottle love wheel); Miss Cairo’s creative use of anything from napkins to tin foil to create stunning stage attire; Mat’s ability to make the audience squeal with no props or effects whatsoever (just a bit of nudity and a mean dolphin impersonation); Hit Man Hearn spinning punk bands who sound like they recorded with a tin can!
I also love…
Ron Jeremy is a bit of a mascot for us: a little fuzzy hedgehog who rose to the top of the porn industry basically for having a sense of humour about himself. You’ll never find a performer at ‘Sleaze’ who can’t laugh at themselves. We want to be inclusive and we want everyone to have fun. And John Waters for his warmth and affinity for all the beautiful freaks, oddballs, eccentrics and weirdos out there! The ‘Sleaze’ family could be the neighbours in any of John’s films: the gameshow-obsessed mom, the seal-boy dad, the tranny baby and the weirdo DJ uncle with a box of vinyl and a shoe fetish!
Advertising
From its beginnings in late 2011, it was clear that ‘Sleaze’, at Camden’s Lockside Lounge, was a bit special. Conceived by supersmart shock merchant Mat Fraser and saucepot Trixie Malicious – joined by DJ Hit Man Hearn and drag hellion Miss Cairo – in tribute to New York’s down-and-dirty alt-burlesque scene, its deliciously scuzzy mix of go-go dancing, games, fun, art, smut, satire and tits soon found an appreciative audience.
‘Sleaze’ returns for a new year looking stronger than ever: February’s line-up, including Jonny Woo and Fancy Chance, might be its best yet, and it’s now free to boot! In anticipation, we asked the crew to fill us in on the figures who influenced them to become the happy filth merchants we know and love.
See more cabaret galleries
Advertising
Cabaret diva Ursula Martinez shares some of her favourite photos with Time Out
Myra DuBois and Kiki Kaboom slug it out as cabaret’s two biggest scenes face off
Advertising
You may also like
You may also like
Discover Time Out original video
Advertising