Bloomsbury Ballroom in Victoria House, Holborn is a stunning 1920s art deco building that was originally the South Ballroom for the Liverpool Friendly Society. Nowadays it plays host on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights to the London Cabaret Club, co-founded by CEO Evelina Girling and Artistic Director Doni Fierro in November 2013. The company was born after Girling and Fierro spotted a gap in the market for a unique type of luxury entertainment combining fine dining, world-class performances, and impeccable service.
London Cabaret Club’s latest entertainment extravaganza is a dazzling new production of Roxie Rocks Chicago. Inspired by the iconic film, ‘Chicago’, a satire about corruption in Chicago’s criminal justice system, Roxie Rocks transports audiences back to the Roaring Twenties era of glamour, glitz, and showbiz, replete with flamboyant costumes, jaw-dropping acrobatics, mouthwatering cocktails and delicious food.
I visited one evening in late April with my friends S and T. We are ushered in through the lavish entrance and descend the marble staircase to check in and receive our ‘boarding passes’ (a lovely touch). We are escorted into the sumptuous Rose Bar for the pre-show. We sip Prosecco and savour a succession of tasty canapés (including truffle arancini and miniature burgers) as we enjoy the vocal stylings of Lorna Marshall and Katie Cook along with the tap-tactic feet of Alastair Crosswell. This, though immensely enjoyable, is merely a preamble to the main event, and at 8pm we are escorted into the elegant Ballroom, which is a gorgeous space, full of dining tables surrounding a performance stage, great lighting and decor, and projections on the curtained wall spaces. The vocal performances continue while all the guests are seated. The serving staff look every bit the part and deliver fantastic service throughout.
What follows is a sensational cabaret show in three acts accompanied by a tantalisingly tasty three course gourmet menu. We’re entertained by songs from Chicago, along with others from Frank Sinatra, The Blues Brothers and Police. At the heart of this original production is the charismatic Roxie Hart, a chorus girl with an insatiable desire for stardom. Her dreams unfold on stage, with guests immersed in Roxie’s captivating performances as though they were watching at The Onyx Club, the iconic cabaret club featured in the original Chicago film. Some of the performances are sung live to a backing track, by the very talented Paul McDowell and Sofia Klimovsky, along with Marshall and Cook. Other songs are mimed to the backing track, but the glitz and glamour and the great choreography make these equally entertaining; including many recognisable Fosse inspired moves – performed by dancers Elliesha Wiltshire, Myles Newland, Tia-Loren Bourne, Georgia Chapman, Lowri Davies, Caitlin Hanlon, Lucy Collins, James Pullum, Cristian Cauteruccio, Steven Woods and Wellington Santos. This is no mean feat, as the dining audience are sat in the round, yet the clever staging means that no part of the audience is left out of the action, which can be a risk when performing in this way. There is also another turn by the exceptionally talented tap dancer, Crosswell, during Act Two. Interspersed between the acts are breathtaking balancing acts from Britain’s Got Talent Finalists, Duo Odyssey (Maksym & Sophia Korbun).
It’s a non-stop showcase of talent– so mesmerising it means there are times when I didn’twant to eat in case I missed anything, although the food and wine were of a fine dining standard and every mouthful added to the pleasure of the evening.
The night reaches its zenith with a thrilling after-party, which is attended by performers from the show, and is complete with DJ sets guaranteed to keep you dancing into the early hours.
With catchy tunes, sensational dance numbers, extravagant costumes and a captivating cast of characters Roxie Rocks Chicago is a toe-tapping tour de force that promises audiences a show-stopping night of electrifying entertainment alongside decadent gastronomy at this astonishing production by The London Cabaret Club.
From 27 June, The London Cabaret Club's colourful Copacabana show returns, bringing the hottest party in town to Bloomsbury, with a flamboyant carnival atmosphere to rival Rio de Janeiro.
Roxie Rocks Chicago at The London Cabaret Club, Victoria House, Bloomsbury Square, London WC1B 4DA until 22 June 2024. Copacabana at The London Cabaret Club from 27 June-26 October 2024.
@thelondoncabaretclub
Email:bookings@thelondoncabaretclub.com
Telephone:+44 (0)20 7242 0002
Tickets:
Silver from £55 (Pre-show entertainment from 6:30pm, reserved area for the show and access to the after party).
Gold from £95 (as per silver, plus three-course dinner).
Diamond from £140 (as per Gold plus canapés on arrival, VIP reserved area for the show, themed cocktail, VIP 3-course menu).
Royal Diamond from £185 (as per Diamond plus a half bottle of champagne and VIP 4-course dinner).
