The Best of British Pop showcases decades of Brit music at the London Cabaret Club

The dynamic show The Best of British Pop sizzled last night at the London Cabaret Club Launch Party, celebrating its debut at the beautiful Bloomsbury Ballroom. Hollywood glamour (even the loo decor is movie star glam) meets sophisticated and cutting edge in this glowing, pink art deco venue where charming hosts offer champagne at the door and elegant little dishes of delectable edibles are presented to guests during the performance. Surrounding a platform stage are chairs and small tables, an alcove with a band in the back and, on the walls, large multiple identical projections of scenes and patterns changing in sync with the acts; the ambiance is sophisticated and electric.

With highly talented singers, dancers, acrobats and even a gorgeous sheepdog, The Best of British Pop‘s cast were phenomenal. Wonderful, well-loved “oldies” to popular noughties hits comprised a procession of terrific performances covering beloved tunes from the 1960s to contemporary favorites. Costumes were magnificent, with everything from kilts and Queen’s Guards to Vegas-style dancers with huge birdlike headdresses and swishing gold capes, or massive feathery cloaks.

The mesmerising spectacle kicked off with Isley Brothers’ Shout and Dusty Springfield’s The Look of Love with fantastic ballroom dancers and singers, followed by Beatles tunes, and projections of Abbey Road with a shaggy dog, which then delightfully appeared on stage. Fabulous dancers performed to The Kinks’ You Really Got Me, Manfred Mann’s Doo Wah Diddy Diddy and The Stones’ Satisfaction. An acrobat accomplished impossible feats with an enormous hula hoop. Ballet dancers and British Guardsmen danced to Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody and Bowie’s Space Oddity.

Extraordinary girl group Stooshe amazed with powerful Motown-inspired ballads. Dancers wearing Cabaret-style dress accompanied Sweet Dreams by the Eurythmics. Dressed in kilts, five men and a woman sashayed to Human League’s Don’t You Want Me, followed by beautiful acrobatic balletic choreography to Lady in Red. Elton John’s Goodbye English Rose inspired, with performers holding flares, following by another eating fire with a champagne bottle spouting flames to Duran Duran’s The Reflex. Noughties hits included You’re Beautiful by James Blunt, Bleeding Love by Leona Lewis, Mercy by Duffy and Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars.

A very talented group, with some amazing voices and exceptional dancing, inventive and interesting choreography and extraordinary acrobatics; good food, very congenial staff, lovely decor. Absolutely brilliant show.

 

Catherine Sedgwick

The Best of British Pop is on at The London Cabaret Club from 22^nd April until 27^th August 2016. Book your tickets here.

Watch a trailer for the production here: