La Soirée at the Southbank Centre

There is a timeless magic to the circus’ atmosphere and an enduring appeal to cabaret acts. The team behind La Soirée combines the two and lets a cast of skilled performers do the rest. The show comprises a succession of acts where various impressive feats are accomplished against the odds of gravity, often defying anatomical limitations.

The group’s journey began in 2004 when some of the current performers presented the variety show La Clique at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. La Clique went on to be an enormous success and travelled to several cities around the world. The growing popularity of the production coincided with a new wave of interest in cabaret-style shows, a phenomenon now in full swing. La Soirée not only confirms the group’s role as a valuable contributor to this scene, but it also plays a part in the expansion of cabaret as an all-encompassing artistic display, which is increasingly focused on theatricality.

Already the winner of several awards, La Soirée has received the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Entertainment this year after a 2009 win with La Clique. Now in its fifth year, the show returns to London under the perfectly suited Big Top on the South Bank. A small circular stage sees an undeniably talented cast: acrobatic duo The English Gents, contortionist Captain Frodo, comedienne Mooky, Mario the juggling Freddie Mercury imitator and Denis Lock with his magical bubble-blowing number.

The performance is animated further by frequent interactions with the audience; these are particularly amusing when randomly chosen spectators have to improvise dialogues or are asked to attempt hula hooping or similar acts with the performers. La Soirée ticks all the boxes for lighthearted entertainment and provides a good deal of laughter. With the right dose of appeal to charm most viewers, the show will no doubt continue its success on its global tour.

Mersa Auda

La Soirée is on at the Southbank Centre from 27^th October 2015 until 17^th January 2016, for further information or to book visit here.