Twelve Days of Christmas: Day #10

What good is sitting alone in your room? Come hear the music play ... Yes, it's time for a post dedicated to the wonderful and sometimes wacky world of cabaret. For those of you for whom cabaret conjures up nothing more than images of Nazis and Liza Minnelli in a bowler hat, today's treat is a bundle of videos to show you just what London's cabaret scene has to offer. Recently cabaret has had a new lease of life and is now an ideal platform to showcase the musical theatre talent that the capital has to offer, as well as providing an opportunity to playfully bend the rules - and a great night out to boot.

One regular cabaret night is Kinky Kabaret at Soho's Freedom Bar, which regularly attracts big names from the world of musical theatre. Whilst Hair was in town some of the cast made a visit and here is a little snippet from that night, a performance from Gavin Creel and Steel Burkhardt:



My second video offering comes from another regular cabaret series at Lauderdale House, the Christmas special of which I recently saw and reviewed. Here is a performance from one of their previous cabaret afternoons featuring Ramin Karimloo, currently starring as the Phantom in Love Never Dies, singing one of my favourite songs from Les Miserables:



I will round off my selection of cabaret performances with one of the most high profile London cabaret events, the Live in the Delfont Room series at the Prince of Wales Theatre, which has played host to Patina Miller, Daniel Boys and the cast of Les Miserables among others. This is the dazzling Hannah Waddingham performing in one of their series of special one-off shows:



This is only a fleeting glimpse at all that the unique cabaret format encompasses; as well as singing, cabaret performances can include dancing, comedy and burlesque. For a more comprehensive look at London's cabaret scene, check out the regular section of M. Magazine devoted to reviewing the capital's cabaret shows and giving tips for all the best cabaret venues and nights. In the last year cabaret seems to have gone from strength to strength and long may it continue into 2011. This art form is theatrical, glamorous, fun, sexy and occasionally outrageous. Don't take anyone else's word for it, go out there and see for yourselves. After all ... Life is a cabaret, old chum, come to the cabaret!