Tag Archives: Soho Theatre

Denim: World Tour- 5 Stars

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Denim

Denim: World Tour

Soho Theatre

Reviewed – 11th January 2018

★★★★★

“There is no set … but with the amazing costumes and big personalities a set really isn’t needed”

 

Denim: World Tour, featuring “the drag supergroup with a unique brand of explosive pop,” is an utter delight. At its core, Denim is a fun drag show but it also has a serious message. Think socially conscious gender-bending Spice Girls for the modern age. The premise of the show is that Denim are performing at Wembley arena as part of their world tour. The five drag queens are supported by a band, featuring a guitar, keyboard, and drums, who are donned in black t-shirts emblazoned with “Denim World Tour” in pink. The show is a series of solo and ensemble pop covers with reworked lyrics. There is a vague storyline running through the show, which I don’t want to give away, but it isn’t the focus, which is fine because the queens, the music, and the message are what this show is really about.

The five Denims all have distinctive looks and personalities. Leading the troupe is the hilarious Glamrou (Amrou Al-Kadhi) who sings an amazing song about Islam and queerness. There’s Crystal (Tom Rasmussen) the sex-goddess drag queen with a glitter beard. Then we have Aphrodite Greene (Charlie Parham), a hot popstar, who believes that mums deserve to have a little fun too. Elektra Cute (Guy Woolf) is the punk rock anarchist of the group who reminds us that “gender is a construct.” Last, but certainly not least is Shirley (Hugh Wild) who describes herself as the “sweet and simple kind,” though we eventually learn that she might not be as sweet and innocent as she says. All the Denims are exceptional performers but Crystal’s falsetto is the star of the show. When Crystal hits those high notes the audience understandably goes nuts. The troupe are able to create strong harmonies, and the parts where they sing in unison are some of the most enjoyable moments of the show.

The band is tight and the sound fills the space upstairs at the Soho theatre. The song choices are excellent (all fun pop hits) and the changes made to the lyrics and arrangements are funny and tongue in cheek. A personal favourite of mine is a satirical radio one live lounge style cover.

There is no set, just the band at the back of the stage, but with the amazing costumes and big personalities a set really isn’t needed. The lighting is spectacular and plays on the idea that we are ‘supposed’ to be at Wembley area. The Denims certainly know how to use a strobe light to their advantage.

With tickets starting at just £8 this show is great value for money. My advice? Get your tickets now before the Denims make it big and you’ll have to shell out to actually see them at Wembley.

 

Reviewed by Caterina Incisa

 


Denim: World Tour

Soho Theatre until 3rd February

 

 

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Review of Sinners Club – 5 Stars

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Sinners

Sinners Club

Soho Theatre

Reviewed – 7th December 2017

★★★★★

“she is achingly cool from the moment she rocks up in a leopard print coat and huge sunglasses”

 

“An eye for an eye I deserve to die” the chilling final words of Ruth Ellis echo through a room lit only by flickering lights as a singer in a feathered cape tails off her belter of a last note. Welcome to ‘The Sinners Club’.

Presented as the live recording of a concept album about Ellis, the last women to be hanged in Britain, ‘The Sinners Club’ is wickedly unconventional with incredible musical performances. Ellis, who shot her unfaithful lover David Blakely in 1955, is embodied by singer-songwriter Lucy Rivers who also wrote the show. As the lead singer of The Bad Mothers she is achingly cool from the moment she rocks up in a leopard print coat and huge sunglasses. Her chemistry with the band members and the rest of the audience is electric and her performance is enrapturing for the entire 90 minutes. The small moments of stand-up like repartee between songs are delightful and her sharp quips get huge laughs. As if this weren’t impressive enough she also plays the guitar, piano and the violin in various musical numbers.

The space has been transformed into a recording studio complete with drinks cart and mismatched rugs. In the corner is a vocal booth from which our feisty singer argues with the recording editor, who exists only as a bodiless voice through the speakers. From this cell-like booth what start as creative difficulties begin to mirror Ellis’ desperate pleas for her lover to be faithful. Photos of Ruth Ellis are illuminated on the wall and recordings of her voice play on a loop at various points, giving the unsettling impression that she is haunting this retelling of her own story.

This is not a straight-forward retelling of Ellis’ life, and the singer weaves details from her own life into musical numbers and vignettes that require the audiences to piece events together. The three-man band supporting this musical endeavour are brilliant at reacting and performing with Rivers without detracting too much attention from her. Their collective energy means that even in sombre moments the pace doesn’t lag. An acoustic country song about Ellis suffering from her lover’s friend’s disdain is a particularly good number performed as the band sits in a circle providing harmonies.

Produced by Gagglebabble, Theatr Clwyd and The Other Room, The Sinners Club was captivating throughout and I was utterly blown away by Lucy Rivers and The Bad Mothers. You won’t leave knowing every detail of Ruth Ellis’ life but the lasting impression of the piece is far more powerful than facts alone.

 

Reviewed by Ella McCarron

Photography by Kieran Cudlip 

 

 

Sinners Club

is at the Soho Theatre until 30th December

 

 

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