Chat Noir at The Lost Estate

“You will not watch, you will not listen. You will be dragged under.” The infamous Le Chat Noir, the world’s first cabaret club, is recreated in West London for a limited run only.

It’s the 1890s in Paris, and Le Chat Noir is setting the stage for its grand reopening. The club’s founder, Rudolphe Salis, is planning an epic show of Art, Absinthe and the yet-to-be-written third act of Anarchy.

Joining Salis on stage is his collection of the most highly regarded performers of the era: the singer Yvette Gilbert, the dancer Cléo de Mérode, the mime Paul Legrand and the magician Joseph Bautier.

Chat Noir! is a complete experience. Guests enter through a series of beautifully dressed corridors that explain the history of the club and tease the story of the night, Salis’ comeback show and his chance to either go down in history, or go down in flames. Through the doors, guests are then seated in a stunning Parisian cabaret hall.

Every opportunity for more theatre is taken, from the club’s reception desk to the waiters in cat masks. Gorgeous antique-style table lamps fill the room while artwork adorns the walls. Absinthe drips are even brought out to the tables to serve zero purpose other than to introduce more spectacle between acts.

The show itself is heady. Salis draws the audience in and makes them his accomplices in a freeing evening of insanity. The first act is a showcase of the performers’ individual arts before they come together to form an intoxicating green-tinted tableau. The show ends in chaos, a new raucous act hastily written by Salis that flows into a retelling of the opera Carmen simply because Salis doesn’t want to end the show yet.

The tickets may seem pricey at first, but they all include a three-course dinner, and for some, a rather boozy one at that. Given the cost of that kind of meal alone in West London, it’s not such an unreasonable ask, and no doubt provides a grander experience than simply doing a show and a separate meal. And not for nothing, the food is all great, and the cocktails are as strong as they are delicious.

For those willing to embrace the theme and the theatrics, Chat Noir! is a superb and unforgettable experience.