EastEnd Cabaret

EastEnd Cabaret
Genres Cabaret Comedy
Years active 2009 (2009)–Present
Associated acts Dusty Limits, Amanda Palmer, Camille O'Sullivan, Frisky and Mannish, Die Roten Punkte, Desmond O'Connor, The Tiger Lillies
Website www.eastendcabaret.com
Members Performers: Jennifer Byrne, Victoria Falconer-Pritchard. Director: Tom Velvick.

EastEnd Cabaret is an award-winning musical comedy cabaret character duo based in London, England, formed in late 2009.[1]

EastEnd Cabaret is Bernadette Byrne (played by Jennifer Byrne), a European chanteuse of unknown origin, and Victor Victoria (Victoria Falconer-Pritchard), a faux-bilateral "hermaphrodite" reminiscent of the sideshow "freaks" such as Josephine Joseph. Acclaimed for their risqué original songs, character comedy, raucous live shows and innovative audience participation, the double act have been called "a high-powered feminine 'Flight of the Conchords' dipped in acid and drenched in smut."[2]

The pair, along with their creative director and co-writer Tom Velvick, were the first cabaret act to be named one of the hClub100, awarded by The Hospital Club in 2013, a national search for the most innovative and influential people working across the creative industries. Other recent winners include Stella McCartney, Grayson Perry, Kate Moross and Benedict Cumberbatch.

Early Appearances and Notable history

The first incarnation of EastEnd Cabaret was in November 2009 at the iconic East End pub owned by artist Pauline Forster, The George Tavern. The show was called Bernadette Byrne and the EastEnd Cabaret, and took the form of a cabaret revue, featuring singers, poets and comedians.[3]


In 2010, the two main characters of the EastEnd Cabaret show became a duo: Bernadette Byrne and Victor Victoria. Their early performances featured original and improvised songs, stories, and the recontextualisation of other material, subverting songs by Radiohead, The Magnetic Fields, The Kings of Leon, Right Said Fred and David Bowie, however since 2011, they have not included cover songs in their full-length shows. The duo, choosing to perform under the original name, appeared at performance spaces around London, including "CellarDoor" in Aldwych,[4][5][6] Theatre Souk with Theatre Delicatessen[7] and The Old Vic Tunnels.[8]

EastEnd Cabaret created and curated "The Attic" in December 2010, a pop-up cabaret bar in an illegal squat in the heart of Soho. The building (which once housed the Limelight Club, famed in the 1980s for celebrity nightclubbers including Prince) was taken over by art squatters The Oubliette Arthouse.[9] The aim of "The Attic" was to recreate the experimental, intimate and informal atmosphere of early cabaret bars in Paris and Berlin, and performers included Dusty Limits, Sarah-Louise Young and Piff The Magic Dragon.[10]

After successfully establishing themselves on the international cabaret scene, the duo have since performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Brighton Festival Fringe, Adelaide Fringe Festival, Fringe World in Perth, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, variety shows at The Lowry in Manchester, the Komedia in both Brighton and Bath, Brussels, Dublin and Melbourne, shows in Denmark including the Nørrebros Teater in Copenhagen and Nordkraft in Aalborg, and at UK festivals including Latitude, Bestival, Secret Garden Party and headlining the Cabaret Tent at T in the Park. They have also been a special guest act on the award-winning cabaret and circus show, La Soirée, during its 2012 Australian season.

In 2011, in an article celebrating the London cabaret scene, the duo was named as one of Time Out magazine's Top Ten "Cabaret Superstars"[11] and featured on the front cover as 'the queens of musical smut'. The magazine was published with a series of ten different front covers, featuring David Hoyle, Le Gateaux Chocolat, Jonny Woo and Dusty Limits amongst others.

In 2012, Victor Victoria made a guest appearance for Amanda Palmer and the Grand Theft Orchestra at Koko in London, accompanying Neil Gaiman as part of a "sawchestra": an ensemble of musical saws, led by Adrian Stout of The Tiger Lillies, also featuring performance artist Le Pustra and Michael McQuilken of the Grand Theft Orchestra.[12]

In 2013, EastEnd Cabaret were named as part of the "vanguard of female rock cabaret" alongside Amanda Palmer, Martha Wainwright, Camille O'Sullivan, Meow Meow and Christa Hughes by David Zampatti in The West Australian newspaper.[13]

The duo have also hosted a number of well-known variety shows around London, including the Friday Night Freakshow at the udderBELLY and the London Wonderground on the South Bank, and The Black Cat Cabaret at Cafe de Paris.

Major Productions

The Revolution Will Be Sexual

"EastEnd Cabaret:The Revolution Will Be Sexual" poster, Edinburgh Fringe 2011

EastEnd Cabaret's first appearance at the Edinburgh Fringe was to debut their full length-show, entitled The Revolution Will Be Sexual, in August 2011.[14] The show featured mostly original songs, some re-appropriated covers, and the only appearance of Bernadette's communist sex education puppets, Mister Little Red Book, Mr Hammer and Miss Sickle. The show received much critical acclaim, four and five-star reviews,[15][16] a "Must See" award from The Stage[17] and a Total Theatre Award nomination for Best Emerging Company.[18]

In a year when it was noted by arts commentators that many Free Fringe shows were finding it hard to get broadsheet reviews, The Scotsman newspaper reviewed their show: "musically adept, marvellously funny, genuinely naughty and utterly in control, they leave the audience screaming for more."[19]

Record audience numbers made the show one of the most successful in the history of the Free Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

The show transferred to the Arcola Theatre,[20] London in November 2011. The show was selected to perform at "The Garden of Unearthly Delights"[21] at the Adelaide Fringe Festival, where EastEnd Cabaret won the award for Best Cabaret.

Notoriously Kinky

"EastEnd Cabaret: Notoriously Kinky" promotional image, 2012.

Performing at Underbelly Cowgate, EastEnd Cabaret's second full-length show composed solely of original songs and stories in their now-trademark risqué style, gleaned from the characters' own "personal experiences". Victor Victoria (Victy) played even more instruments in this production – piano, loop pedal, violin, musical saw, kazoo and glockenspiel, and Bernadette also played the ukulele. This show premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2012, receiving only 4 and 5 star reviews, and a nomination for the inaugural Time Out and Soho Theatre Award. EastEnd Cabaret's Edinburgh Fringe run was capped off by an appearance on BBC Radio 1's live show, the "Fun and Filth Cabaret" hosted by Nick Grimshaw.[22]

Notoriously Kinky then went on tour around Australia in early 2013, headlining at The West Australian spiegeltent at Fringe World in Perth, and then on to a full season at The Garden of Unearthly Delights for the Adelaide Fringe Festival, garnering more 5 star reviews and packed shows. Their final show in Australia was a one-night only, completely sold-out show at the Melbourne Arts Centre's Famous Spiegeltent.

On their return to London, "Notoriously Kinky" transferred to the Soho Theatre for a sold-out two-week season. Steve Bennett of the comedy website Chortle wrote: "...Their performances are perfect: assured, intimidating and knowing."[23] In 2013, the show toured around Denmark, including Copenhagen, Aalborg, Aarhus and Odense.

Dirty Talk

EastEnd Cabaret at The Famous Spiegeltent, Melbourne Arts Centre (2013).

Returning to Underbelly at Cowgate for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival the duo's third hour-long show incorporated the debut of new songs, stories and elements of clown, including a number about a David Bowie-inspired sex dream. The Scotsman's review said that the show was "musically inventive and delightfully dirty as ever"[24] and ThreeWeeks gave the show five stars, describing it as "a joyful evening of music, stories and debauchery."[25]

After a successful Fringe run, garnering critical acclaim[26][27] and packed houses, the show toured Australia in early 2014. As well as returning to Fringe World in Perth and Adelaide Fringe Festival, EastEnd Cabaret made their debut at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, and were named "one of this year's festival must-sees" by the Herald Sun newspaper.[28]

Sexual Tension

Performing at the new "Topside" venue of Underbelly at the Edinburgh Fringe 2014 and appearing in the "Comedy" section of the Edinburgh Fringe Guide for the first time, EastEnd Cabaret's newest show, "Sexual Tension" was their most well-received to date. Featured in The Daily Telegraph's "Edinburgh Comedy 2014: The best shows to see at the Edinburgh Fringe" round-up,[29] the show was described as "a lascivious, lip-smacking, faintly terrifying treat." EastEnd Cabaret were also named one of the Top 20 shows by The List,[30] a Comedy Highlight by Time Out and a Top Act from the Huffington Post.[31] They received 4 and 5 star reviews from the Scottish Sunday Express, The Scotsman,[32] ThreeWeeks[33] and The List[34] amongst others.

Other Media

Television

EastEnd Cabaret filmed two of their songs for the third season of Live at the Electric, BBC Three's comedy variety show hosted by comedian Russell Kane. The episodes were screened in early 2014. They also appeared on ABC2 in 2014 for Comedy Up Late, a live variety show featuring the best of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.[35]

Radio

EastEnd Cabaret appeared on BBC Radio 1's Edinburgh Fringe programme, "Fun and Filth Cabaret" in 2012. Hosted by Nick Grimshaw, it streamed on radio and YouTube.[36] In June 2011, the duo appeared on BBC London's Late Night Show with Joanne Good, performing "Is It in Yet" (a song recounting Bernadette's attempt to deflower three different virgins) to a shocked host, but delighted listeners.[37] Although the song contained no swearing and was aired on late-night radio, the host apologised on behalf of the BBC for the content of the song and insisted that listeners should phone in if they thought the song inappropriate. However, with no negative feedback, and phone-callers comparing the song to those by Fascinating Aida and Flanders and Swann, Good played the song again several times throughout the show.

Bernadette Byrne and Victor Victoria at BBC London

EastEnd Cabaret have also performed live on 3 JOY's programme The Cabaret Room with Paul Williamson[38] in Melbourne, as well as on Sundays with Libbi Gorr on 774 ABC Melbourne, Fresh Air, SAFM and 891 ABC Adelaide.

Online and Elsewere

EastEnd Cabaret's innovative use of online marketing tools – their character profiles on Facebook and Twitter, the creation of audio "postcards" using SoundCloud and their videos on YouTube – was one of the aspects highlighted by judges of The Hospital Club hClub100 award. They have also been lauded for their strong imagery and branding, which is created and designed by Tom Velvick. The music video for their original song, "Dangerwank", filmed and edited by Triple A Films, has had over 28,000 hits to date.[39]

Yeti's Demon Dive Bar

In late 2015, Byrne, Falconer-Pritchard and Velvick started a new project, "Yeti's Demon Dive Bar". Developed in London, this multi-character-driven musical sketch comedy had its first "work in progress" showings at Soho Theatre. With a set of characters (all played by Byrne and Falconer-Pritchard) including a yeti and a crooner severed head, the show is set to tour Australia in 2016.

Awards and Accolades

Reviews and articles

2013

Chortle reviewed by Steve Bennett
Stage Milk ★★★★★, reviewed by Thomas James
Three Weeks ★★★★★, reviewed by Samantha Strachan
InDaily, Adelaide ★★★★★, reviewed by Steve Horne
SA.FM ★★★★1/2, reviewed by Matt Gilbertson
Rip It Up reviewed by Bobbie Goudie
Three Weeks Interviewed by Caro Moses
The Australian Times Interviewed by Georgia Dawes
The Scotsman ★★★★, reviewed by Claire Smith
The List Interviewed by Clare Sawers

2012

The Scotsman Interview by Claire Smith
Time Out London ★★★★★, reviewed by Ben Walters
Edinburgh Spotlight ★★★★★, reviewed by Keith D
Fest Mag ★★★★, reviewed by Matthew Macleod
Broadway Baby ★★★★, reviewed by Thom Louis
Younger Theatre ★★★★, reviewed by Katharine Wootton
Backstage Pass ★★★★, reviewed by Scott Purvis

2011

Three Weeks ★★★★★, reviewed by Alison Treacy
What's On Stage ★★★★, reviewed by Scott Purvis
The Scotsman ★★★★, reviewed by Claire Smith
The Skinny ★★★★, reviewed by Daph Karoulla
Hairline ★★★★, reviewed by Benn Beaton
Fest Mag ★★★★, reviewed by Catherine Sylvain
SoSo Gay ★★★★, reviewed by James Waygood
Time Out London London's 10 Cabaret Superstars, interview by Ben Walters
Time Out Melbourne interview by Vanessa Mulquiney
The New Current Edinburgh Fringe Interview with EastEnd Cabaret
Total Theatre Magazine review by Dorothy Max Prior

2010

Erotic Review Magazine, posted by Eleanor Harvie
Londonist by Franco Milazzo
London Is Cool by William Wallace

References

  1. ↑ http://www.timeout.com/london/cabaret/event/166084/bernadette-byrnes-east-end-cabaret
  2. ↑ http://blogs.crikey.com.au/curtaincall/2012/03/27/review-east-end-cabaret-red-bennies-melbourne/
  3. ↑ http://www.thisiscabaret.com/eastend-cabaret-celebrates-three-years-of-salacious-songs-gin-and-half-moustaches
  4. ↑ http://www.thelondonword.com/2010/10/east-end-cabaret
  5. ↑ http://londonist.com/2010/11/eastend_cabaret_cellar_door_zero_al.php
  6. ↑ http://londoniscool.com/eastend-cabaret-live-at-the-cellar-door
  7. ↑ http://londonist.com/2010/10/theatre_review_theatre_souk_2-4_pic.php
  8. ↑ http://www.londonist.com/2010/08/review_dark_carnival.php
  9. ↑ http://londonist.com/2011/01/review-the-attic-the-oubliette-arthouse.php
  10. ↑ http://www.trebuchet-magazine.com/index.php/site/article/forget_the_art_world_in_the_oubliette_art_house/
  11. ↑ http://www.timeout.com/london/gallery/826/londons-cabaret-superstars
  12. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYj314ATeFs
  13. ↑ http://fromtheturnstiles.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/music.html
  14. ↑ http://www.edfringe.com/whats-on/cabaret/eastend-cabaret-the-revolution-will-be-sexual
  15. ↑ http://www.threeweeks.co.uk/article/ed2011-cabaret-review-eastend-cabaret-the-revolution-will-be-sexual-eastend-cabaret-laughing-horse-comedy/
  16. ↑ http://www.whatsonstage.com/reviews/theatre/edinburgh/E8831314361421/Eastend+Cabaret:+The+Revolution+Will+Be+Sexual.html
  17. ↑ http://ed.thestage.co.uk/reviews/1288
  18. ↑ http://totaltheatrereview.com/reviews/revolution-will-be-sexual
  19. ↑ http://www.edinburgh-festivals.com/viewreview.aspx?id=3081
  20. ↑ http://hackneycitizen.co.uk/2011/11/06/eastend-cabaret-the-revolution-will-be-sexual-arcola/
  21. ↑ http://www.gardenofunearthlydelights.com.au/event.asp?eventID=2590
  22. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8aawjXvxb4
  23. ↑ http://www.chortle.co.uk/shows/edinburgh_fringe_2012/e/20931/east_end_cabaret:_notoriously_kinky/review
  24. ↑ http://www.edinburgh-festivals.com/blog/2013/08/15/cabaret-review-eastend-cabaret-dirty-talk/
  25. ↑ http://www.threeweeks.co.uk/article/ed2013-cabaret-review-eastend-cabaret-dirty-talk-eastend-cabaret/
  26. ↑ http://www.theskinny.co.uk/theatre/edinburgh_festivals_2013/305348-eastend_cabaret_dirty_talk_underbelly_cowgate
  27. ↑ http://www.femalearts.com/node/664
  28. ↑ http://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/comedy-festival/eastend-cabaret-in-dirty-talk/story-fni0fdju-1226868433269?nk=226212b309933f11733892b0366341ae
  29. ↑ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/edinburgh-festival/10988708/Edinburgh-comedy-2014-what-to-see.html
  30. ↑ http://edinburghfestival.list.co.uk/article/62161-the-20-best-shows-at-the-2014-edinburgh-festivals/
  31. ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/tomas-ford/edinburgh-fringe-acts_b_5619610.html
  32. ↑ http://www.wow247.co.uk/blog/2014/08/22/eastend-cabaret-sexual-tension/
  33. ↑ http://www.threeweeks.co.uk/article/ed2014-cabaret-review-eastend-cabaret-sexual-tension-east-end-cabaret-in-association-with-underbelly-productions/
  34. ↑ http://edinburghfestival.list.co.uk/article/63242-eastend-cabaret-sexual-tension/
  35. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUY7Vp2-H9o
  36. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8aawjXvxb4
  37. ↑ https://www.bbc.com/iplayer/cy/episode/p00h16wx/The_Late_Show_with_Joanne_Good_With_Paul_Burke_Sally_Windsor_Kim_Ismay_and_East_End_Cabaret/
  38. ↑ http://paul-williamson.blogspot.com/2011_02_01_archive.html
  39. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKd5X68vvM4

External links

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