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There are iconic nightclubs – The Cotton Club, Studio 54, and of course Spiders in Hull – and then there is the Tropicana in Havana. This legendary club was the pinnacle of the Golden Era in the 1950s, the happening joint in post-war, pre-missile crisis Cuba where the likes of Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Duke Ellington and Celia Cruz would drink, dance and dazzle.
It was known for its glamour and its music, with a cabaret showcasing pulsating performances.
And now, you can visit the Tropicana in the 50s, just over in Earl’s Court. Not via time travel, but the closest thing to it, a new immersive experience by The Lost Estate, who previously had a big hit with their Jazz Age experience, 58th Street.
This new Tropicana experience is called Paradise Under the Stars and looks set to be the best night out in London, combining killer Cuban cocktails, fine dining and an incredible music and dance line-up; renowned Cuban choreographer Luanda Pau – whose mother was the choreographer at the Tropicana in the 80s – is one of the collaborators taking the authenticity to the next level.
“After 58th Street, we were looking to create a music-led experience,” says Eddy Hackett, one of the co-founders of The Lost Estate along with Rowan Bell and Will Kunhardt, “We are all classical musicians and I also played a lot of Afro-Cuban music as a percussionist. I always wanted to something about Cuba in the 50s, which was the golden era of Cuban music and then we found a book on the Tropicana.
“Cuba in the 50s had parallels with Vegas, it was the same crowds, a casino and this undercurrent of drugs and bootlegging. But because the casino was bankrolling what was happening on stage you had these really extraordinary revues, like one of the Roman Empire where there were acrobats and twenty dancers on stage. It was very over-the-top.”
The revue taking place when you go to Paradise Under the Stars is named The Heart of Cuba and brings forth Afro-Cuban folkloric traditions, underpinned by some of the best Cuban musicians in London, including Yelfris Valdes, the co-musical director.
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Yes this does mean you will be dancing, and yes this means you should dress up 1950s casino-style for it. But of course, since this is what Hackett calls ‘experiertial hospitality’, the food and drink are all part of the fun.
“Our executive chef at the Lost estate is Ash Clark, who is executive chef at Gordon Ramsay at the Savoy,” says Hackett, “He's really amazing at researching the recipes, the menusthe chefs behind each of the periods that we bring up.
The challenge from a culinary perspective on this show is that Cuba is famous for its street foods, so how do you translate that into a fine dining presentation?
He's done a really amazing job doing a twist on some of the dishes that you would get, in that street food scene.” It’s on our menu but you're only allowed to have two of those!”
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It all makes for quite some experience, one where you can step over into a different era and have everything from food to entertainment mapped out for you over the course of the evening; avoiding those rows about finding someplace to eat before a theatre show. More than anything though, Paradise Under the Stars is an enticing prospect since it is exactly the kind of thing we all need in our difficult, austere times.
“The world is a difficult place right now, and I think people more than ever need true, total escapism to get a little bit of respite from that,” says Hackett, “We're very proud to offer that. And nice to have a taste of the glamour from some of those iconic old eras.58th Street and Paradise Under the Stars are two brilliant examples of like the golden age of hospitality. The fact that people in the 50s, spent so much time and effort on their presentation, making this a big special night out. When audiences do that it really does contribute to the really lovely nostalgic element of our productions, and brings some true romance to the night.”
Tickets for Paradise Under the Stars start at £59.50 (plus booking fee) with three-course dining and VIP packages also available. For more information and to book tickets, visit www.paradiseunderthestars.com
