I’m sad to report that Jean Paul Gaultier’s Fashion Freak Show has come to its final week here in London. Throughout July and August, the show has been performed at The Roundhouse in Camden, and on the evening I was in attendance, cast members kept their cool through 40 degree heat.
The show, which pays homage to the legendary French fashion designer’s career and upbringing, has been in the works for years and features a small cast with the energy of a stadium. It starts as it means to go on: with camp, extravagant, colourful joy that tells the tale of Monsieur Gaultier. Dancers cartwheeling across the stage dressed as giant teddy bears illustrate the invention of the now infamous ‘cone bra’, which before it belonged to Madonna, was originally designed for Gaultier’s childhood teddy.
There’s voguing, burlesque, fashion editors, sailors and punks, and we would expect no less. Following his retirement from fashion design in early 2020, Gaultier’s Freak Show has proved the perfect way to celebrate 50 years in the industry. After dedicating half a century to fashion, you can understand the difficultly in condensing a lifetime into a two hour show. That being said, the production manages to capture the essence of Gaultier without it feeling rushed or too heavily condensed.
Nicknamed the ‘enfant terrible’ of fashion, it’s no surprise that Gaultier was drawn to London during the 80s. Infatuated with all things punk he became a prominent figure in London’s nightlife scene, frequenting Soho and drawing inspiration from the figures that came out after dark. It makes sense then that Gaultier’s Fashion Freak Show would show in London, and is arguably more relevant here than in any other city. London’s experimental and fearless energy was the fuel to this enfant terrible’s fire, mirrored in the crowd that particular evening, who roared with cheering and laughter whilst donning their own cone bras and sailor hats.
Jean Paul Gaultier’s commitment to his craft is shown through his influence beyond fashion. He’s a figure known across multiple generations and cultures; a name that if not associated with stripes or corsetry, is associated with a smile. And that’s exactly what you’ll do at his show, grin from ear to ear.
