Boo! As we say goodbye to another pagan year, we wave hello and welcome in another year of top-notch cabaret. With zip, zero and zilch ado, here are our zingers for this week.
Monday's Zingers
A couple of Halloween treats tonight. The Soho Theatre’s Terror Season continues with more morbid fare from cabaret luminaries aplenty while close-up expert Katherine Rhodes will be hosting the Halloween Magic Show at Wilton's Music Hall.
If you like it creepy and crawly, make your way to Jackson's Lane for the family-friendly Insect Circus.
Tuesday's Zingers
Festive frolics at a secret venue as stripped-down storytelling is the order of the night at Naked Ghouls Reading.
There’s an Office Party to end all office parties at the Pleasance presented by Duckie vet Christopher Green (aka Ida Barr aka Tina C) and La Clique’s Ursula Martinez. We previewed it here.
Performance artist Dickie Beau is one of the few who can move effortlessly between the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, the Old Vic Tunnels and (this week) an Islington fringe theatre as he explores fear and family in Steven Berkoff’s Kvetch. See him at the King’s Head Theatre.
More fun at Jackson's Lane as the tale of Little Edie (from legendary documentary Grey Gardens) is brought to life as part of the Suspense London Puppetry Festival.
Wednesday's Zingers
Raunchy revolutionaries EastEnd Cabaret return from the Fringe with songs of joy, fun, rape, necrophilia and ping pong balls. Not for the easily offended or for those who only associate “left-wingers” with Joe Cole, Samir Nasri et al. You can see them downstairs at CellarDoor for a very round price.
Incoming! Brand new show Sleaze brings American alt-burlesque-style entertainment to Camden's Lockside Lounge with Mat Fraser and Trixie Malicious hosting an ever-changing bill.
Thursday's Zingers
Boris and Sergey's Puppet Cabaret is a lewd, crude and crazy ride into the minds of a couple of Eastern European bunraku poker dealers. Part of this year's Suspense London Puppetry Festival.
Do the Monster Mash with a cocktail and lounge covers at the Cellar Door as couple Kitty La Roar and Nick Of Time do their own entertaining laidback versions of rock classics (including Nirvana) over the gentle thrum of Kurt Cobain’s spinning corpse.
Friday's Zingers
Pop into Bistrotheque for Bourgeois and Maurice, the non ultra plus of neo-cabaret. If you don't know what that chunk of Latin means, grab a dictionary and then a ticket, you won't regret either.
If you see only one gay Danish a capella quartet this week, check out Scando satirical satyrs Schwanzen Sanger Knaben (aka The Singing Willies) at the King's Head.
Saturday's Zingers
Remember, remember, Marcella Puppini and The Forget Me Nots are playing at the Half Moon Herne Hill tonight. Describing her band as "Rock'n'Roll-art-punk-Weimar-mini-orchestra of misfits and drama queens" raises more questions than answers but in a good way unlike something else we could mention.
Riot grrls and boys should make a beeline to the Scala for some splendid action at Wotever World's Riot Cabaret with onstage dragsters of all persuasions plus some r&b and disco to get down and dirty to. Here's what it looked like last year.
Sunday's Zingers
We're not usually so spoilt on a Sunday but you can see a Bonfire Night Bonanza at Madame Jojo's, take part in some Gay Bingo at the Soho Theatre with care of Jonny Woo and co. or grab your hankies for the very last night of this year's Suspense London Puppetry Festival as the Puppet Grinder Cabaret are joined by ace ventriloquist Nina Conti.