London Never Dies at London Cabaret Club

New York may be the city that never sleeps, but until 25^th November, London is the place that never dies. Taking up a permanent residence at the undeniably decadent Bloomsbury Ballroom last year, London Cabaret Club is back with a new show that pays homage to British National treasure, Bond, James Bond.

Set in an opulent art-deco venue that would do Gatsby proud, London Never Dies is an immersive dining experience and a treat for all of the senses. Putting guests up close and personal with award-winning performers from the international cabaret circuit, the cavernous ballroom boasts a central stage, so audiences can soak up the action from wherever they can afford to sit.

Packages range from a humble £35 to the crème de la crème of VIP, £125. The food is modern British tapas-style eats that can be enjoyed without detracting from the performance and easily washed down with a lychee martini (or 12).

Tailoring their usual performances to recreate the world of Bond, cabaret fans will see familiar faces, (and, ahem, other body parts), gracing the stage. Each act offers up a truncated taster – a cabaret canapé – to keep viewers on their toes. From Cyr wheel to fire dancing and acrobalance to angle grinding, variety truly is the spice of life. But there really is a lot going on. At times, it’s hard to know where to look and diverting one’s attention from the scantily clad singer to the Old English Sheepdog runs the risk of whiplash.

Even if, somehow, someone has managed to avoid seeing a Bond film, they need not worry, the concept isn’t hard to grasp. It’s all guns, girls and gambling with the ever-present figure of a tux and tap-shoe clad 007. The music borrows from all the best movie songs, from Madonna to Adele and Sam Smith to Jack White. It’s a musical time warp that marches audiences through the ages, one Bond belter at a time. 

Though an undeniably iconic British institution, Fleming’s 007 harks back to glory days that have long since passed. In 2017, the archaic hero doesn’t quite ring true and, for some, the half-clothed performers and synchronised writhing, like in so many kaleidoscopic opening credits, may leave guests shaken, not stirred.

A delicious departure from the banalities of everyday life, London Never Dies is ultimate escapism, even if you did arrive on the number 8, rather than an Aston Martin.

Katy Pryer

London Never Dies is at London Cabaret Club from 25^th March until 25^th November 2017, for further information or to book visit here.

Watch the trailer for London Never Dies here: