While many of the capital's cabaret talents have migrated north to the Edinburgh Fringe, there is still plenty to enjoy around town. With zip, zero and zilch further ado, here are our Zingers for this week.
Zinger Of The Week: UnderConstruction @ Royal Vauxhall Tavern, Thursday
The London cabaret scene is growing every which way and this revolution will not be televised; at least, not by Simon Cowell. The UnderConstruction series gives experimental cabaret a good name by affording the old guard the opportunity to try out new ideas alongside spunky up-and-comers.
Producer and performer Lisa Lee has somehow fused quality and quantity to bring together ten of the best acts from this year for a special show as part of the Royal Vauxhall Tavern's Hot August Fringe. Go.
Wednesday's Zingers: Cirque des Ombres is back from this week at East End supperclub The Brickhouse with a cast featuring firebreather Preacher Muad'Dib (don't ask him about the size of his worm), dark magician Johnny Electrofuzz , contortionist and acrobat Jo Foley, soul singer Sheila Atim and assorted guest stars including Bohemianaut Tom Baker. Standing room is free before 7:30.
The Tiger Lilies need no introduction (ok, maybe just one). Fans of these cabaret veterans should pitch up outside the Soho Theatre tonight.
Thursday's Zingers: If the Zinger Of The Week isn't for you, get your Hallowe'en kicks early by seeing The London Magician unveil the dark world of seances, mind-reading and the world beyond. Through A Glass, Darkly is at the Old Operating Theatre Museum.
Climb aboard the the Hot August Fringe's alternative venue for Cheese ‘N’ Crackers on the Battersea Barge. Unleash your inner Cheryl ColeNicole Scherzinger as you try to spot The Next Big Thing amongst ten variety acts all competing for Paul L Martin's coveted Cheese & Cracker platter. Expect music, magic, burlesque, cabaret, clowns, stand-up and possibly something to wash your dinner plates in.
Friday's Zingers: They may be bereft of the usual panoply of performers but La Reve at Cafe De Paris pulls out another classy lineup with compere's compere Dusty Limits on MC duties tonight and performances from top burlesquer Kiki Kaboom, aerialist Empress Stah, dancers Bee's Knees and hula hooper Pippa the Ripper amongst others.
Arcola's new pop-up tent presents the first of two evenings of the Tiny Wallops' old school cabaret with music, games and freakshows.
Saturday's Zingers: David Hoyle is the Philosopher King of cabaret, never afraid to speak his mind or verbally eviscerate audience members or the powers-that-be. In a step sideways, his new show David Hoyle Unplugged sees him singing some of his favourite songs. We recommend checking out his version of Hurt (see below) for a taste of what to expect.
Old school American juggling troupe, The Flying Karamazov Brothers don’t fly, are definitely not Russian and they’re not brothers but they are will be appearing at the Vaudeville Theatre before hotfooting it across town to performing at a Prince's Trust fundraiser.
Sunday's Zinger: Jonny Woo and cohorts Ma Butcher and John Sizzle will be going all Gay Bingo on the Soho Theatre crowd as they unleash their "alt-drag-performance-art-game-show-party". Now, that sounds like fun.
