A new circus-cabaret spectacle has arrived in London, setting up shop at Lafayette near King’s Cross.
Sabrage - which takes its name from the French tradition of opening champagne with a sword - pops the cork on an evening of daring feats, high-energy performances, debauchery and deliciously unhinged antics.
Lafayette, best known for hosting gigs by the likes of Charli XCX, Olivia Dean and Dave, is a fitting backdrop. The venue’s Nola’s Bar drips with Parisian decadence, inviting audiences to sip on cocktails before being whisked away into the madness. The stage itself is intimate, bringing those who dare to come along right into the heart of the action.
Directed by Scott Maidment, a maestro of circus cabaret who has toured his productions through 32 countries and previously worked with Madonna on her Rebel Heart tour, Sabrage incorporates both improvised chaos and carefully calibrated precision.
“We want it to feel chaotic and crazy, but there’s a lot of technical precision that goes into making that happen. There's a lot of moving parts in the show. There's aerials, a lot of lighting, sound, dance - and everything needs to work together.” Maidment tells Euronews Culture. “So the audience feels like it’s chaos, but it’s actually precision.”
And precision there certainly is. The show brings together a small but undeniably talented cast of performers. There’s jaw-dropping table-juggling wizardry from Emma Phillips, who trained in a remote Chinese village for two and a half years to master the art of spinning parasols and furniture on her feet. Flynn Miller and Kimberley Bargenquast mesmerise with a sensual aerial performance, while singer Rechelle Mansour keeps the mood sultry and electric. Christian Nimri zips around on roller skates, Skye Ladell seduces with her tantalising dance moves, and the unashamedly eccentric Spencer Novich contorts his body into comic frenzy during a mashup of sounds and snippets from across pop culture.
Then there’s Rémy Martin, whose abiltiies defy explanation... Let’s just say his “instrumental” performance involves some audience participation, some lube, and a microphone strategically placed near his private parts. Some things are best discovered in person. "I invented a special instrument, since I would say my birth. I'm the only one in the world using it as I use it. I don't wanna say more," he teased before the show.
Maidment describes Sabrage as an experience designed for those looking for more than just a night at the theatre. “People that come to our shows aren’t necessarily theatre-goers,” he explains. “They’ll have a few drinks, see the show, maybe go out for dinner - it’s a whole evening of entertainment. And once they see it, they often come back because they want their friends to experience it.”
While Sabrage might not be everyone’s cup of tea (or glass of bubbly), for those looking for a silly night of absurdity, acrobatics, and audacious fun, it’s a ride worth taking.
Check out footage from the circus-cabaret spectacle in the video above.
