Every January, Cirque du Soleil takes up residence at London’s impressive Royal Albert Hall. I went along last night to see their latest offering, Totem, which returns to London after a successful run last year.

Loosely based on the origins of man, Totem brings together a variety of amazing circus acts, from a scientist who juggles fluorescent balls inside a giant test tube to a cast of realistic apes.

My favourite acts were the unicycle riders, who kicked dishes from their feet onto their heads; and a troupe of acrobats who performed breathtaking somersaults above Russian bars.

I also loved the modern-day clown, who played a sleazy Italian tourist; and the incredible special effects, which included a “sea” projected onto the stage, from which characters appeared to emerge.

Each act is accompanied by a different style of music from around the world. There’s no speech, which makes Totem ideal for deaf people and non-English speakers.

Totem is at the Royal Albert Hall until 16 February 2012

La Soirée is giving away four “Posh Seats” to one lucky winner this Christmas.

A heady cocktail of cabaret, new burlesque, circus sideshow and contemporary variety La Soirée is a rare and unforgettable treat in the incredible setting of the Roundhouse in Camden.

These tickets entitle you to a reserved table with table service before and throughout the performance, not to mention a great view of all of the performers close up!

Due to the risqué nature of some of the acts, La Soirée is recommended for adults only.

Enter now to win this fantastic festive night out!

We love it so much we want to make sure you see it too!

Here’s your chance to win one of five pairs of tickets to see the show in January. Enter now, and if you win, you’ll have something really spectacular to look forward to in the New Year!

The following top cabaret stars will be on stage for your delectation at the Magic Mirrors Tent in the South Bank Big Top

• The English Gents
• Captain Frodo
• David O’Mer (better known as Bath Boy)
• Miss Behave
• and many, many more!

Enter to win tickets to La Soirée now!

La Soiree is a fusion show of all things fun and fabulous from cabaret to circus, burlesque to vaudeville; it’s got it all. The performance takes place at the South Bank Big Top, a huge coloured tent located just behind the National Theatre.

The show rotates a number of artists, all unique in their special talents. Many of the performers have come straight from award-winning show La Clique. La Soiree is held together by a few key performers: Scandinavian contortionist Captain Frodo, “Bath Boy” David O’Mer, tumbling duo The English Gents and cabaret chanteuse Miss Behave. Each act has its own little quirks, and fine detailing that has been perfected for the short sketches.

Hamish McCann’s Gene Kelly-inspired pole-dance routine was particularly memorable. He grips onto a lamppost, and holds his body horizontal as he walks through the air. The ease with which he performs is quite astounding considering the physical feat. I loved Captain Frodo, who captivates the audience while twisting his body and comically narrating his act throughout.

The venue is enchanting and warm, with a waft of freshly made popcorn in the air. La Soiree certainly considers the audience’s total experience. I didn’t find everything funny, and think there is perhaps a little too much clowning around, the acrobatics and tricks are so impressive I would like to see more of that area.

The best thing about it is every night of La Soiree is different so you can go again and again.

La Soiree has been extended til 27 Feb 2011. Get your La Soiree tickets here

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from Twisted Cabaret, a variety show focusing on the dark side of cabaret, at Bush Hall. Wasn’t cabaret dark enough already? Well, no, it turns out there was plenty I hadn’t seen before.

So I sat down to two and a half hours of the weird and wonderful. From a light bulb-crunching burlesque dancer to a fire-eating fishman.

I winced as Vivid Angel hammered nails into her nose, chuckled at Spencer Maybe‘s boy burlesque (Dracula doing a striptease), was wowed by headliner Empress Stah‘s aerial acrobatics and silently prayed not to be chosen to go on stage for Ophelia Bitz‘s rather fruity song!

Host Dusty Limits was on fine form as always (though I noticed even he watched some of the acts through his hands!) The lovely old Bush Hall with its chandeliers and Victorian fittings was the perfect venue for this show (apart from when the roof started to leak but it was pouring outside).

Twisted Cabaret was a good start to the spooky month of October – it would be even better if they put this on over Halloween weekend.

Twisted Cabaret was on for two nights at the Bush Hall but you can find lots more cabaret and burlesque listings on our main site.

Last night I went to the launch of London’s first-ever drive-in cinema.

Located in a large carpark in the Old Truman Brewery off Brick Lane, the Starlite Drive-In consists of about 20 brand new Volvos parked in front of a big screen for your viewing pleasure.

For the launch, the cars were the stars: we were invited to explore the three types of Volvo provided (a convertible, a sporty 2-door model and a 4×4) – by sitting in the driver’s seat, playing with radio and sun roof controls, and honking the horns (although this was discouraged!). There’s no need to bring your licence though, as all the cars remain stationary and the engines are firmly off. We only saw a short promo film, but tonight and tomorrow cinema-goers will watch Dirty Dancing and Grease.

Catering and entertainment was provided by The Brickhouse nightclub, which backs on to the carpark. There was a brief speech from Damien Barr – the visionary behind the Starlite Drive-in:

“We all grew up with the drive-in dream. But it never happened in Britain because we don’t have the space, the weather, or that car culture. I wanted to update the idea and make it work for an urban, eco-conscious audience and this seemed the perfect way to do it.”

After which, we were treated to 1950s-style performances – retro singers, burlesque and a hula hoop girl.

I’d love to say long live the drive in but Volvo Sarlite Urban Drive-In is open for two nights only in London, before relocating to other spots around the UK.

Let’s hope it returns next year!

This weekend, I attended the launch party for pop up “palace” Salon d’Eté. The venue is a 1930s-themed restaurant and bar offering live cabaret, burlesque, music and dancing in London for the summer months.

Salon d’Eté is nestled above members’ club L’Equipe Anglaise (near to Selfridges). It’s a small venue consisting of a beautifully decorated main room plus a smaller entrance room with a rather exciting swinging chair in it (guests were vying for this coveted spot!)

The lavish décor includes cascading ivy plants and palm trees, painted champagne glasses and immaculately dressed waiters in 1930s costumes.

I’d recommend getting a table reservation as it’s the only way to get a seat (perhaps explaining the popularity of the swinging chair!) Otherwise, you can watch the performances from the space around the tables.

The bar was a little chaotic as one end was for waiters only and the queue for the bar seemed to be in their way. That said, the cocktails were very tasty and the bar staff were friendly and enthusiastic, even offering to mix cocktails that weren’t on the menu.

Drinks prices: Cocktails £11, beer £4, house wine £6 per glass

Entry fee: £10 after 10pm, £20 after 1am which includes all entertainment and access to L’Equipe Anglaise nightclub (open until 6am). Advance booking recommended – email 21dukestreet@gmail.com or call +44 (0)20 7617 7150 for guest list or table reservations

Salon d’Eté is open to the public from 8pm until 1am on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights over the summer – closing date TBC www.salondeteclub.com

Another bank holiday weekend is upon us. The weather is forecast to be warm but not too blistering hot (fingers crossed it won’t rain too much!). So it should be a lovely chance to get out and about in London. Here’s a few suggestions for things to do:

All weekend

• Eat delicious curries at Cobra Brick Lane Curry Festival all weekend
• Celebrate the London Wetlands Centre’s 10th birthday all weekend
• Jive and imbibe at Greenwich Beer & Jazz Festival all weekend

Saturday 29 May

• Join the Fiesta en la Calle Spanish street party at Camino in Kings Cross on 29 May
• Enjoy free entertainment and shop at market stalls at the Crystal Palace Triange Festival on 29 May
• Check out the Mobile Picnic Pavilion being dragged through the streets of Islington by a band of performing gardeners (part of Secret Garden Project) on 29 May
• Watch Rugby’s Guiness Premiership Final at Twickenham 29 May
  

Sunday 30 May

• Laugh along to stand up comedians Terry Alderton, Otiz Canneloni, Jarred Christmas and Carl Donnelly at theThe Rose Theatre on 30 May
• Catch a special Sunday cabaret show at the Bathhouse’s Boom Boom club on 30 May

Monday 31 May

• Cheer on the runners in Hyde Park at the BUPA London 10,000 marathon 31 May

Last night’s London Burlesque Festival opening was a glamorous affair attended by media, the general public and stars of the UK and international burlesque stage.

The sumptuous Café de Paris is a great venue for this sort of event and the evening got off to a saucy start with, quite appropriately, a lingerie fashion parade. Announced by Bond Girl burlesquer Agent Lynch, the retro-styled Bettie Page collection by festival sponsor Secrets In Lace was modelled by a series of burlesque beauties.

Next up was the Red Carpet Rollout – where the festival’s top performers were introduced by the husky-voiced host, Ivy Paige. It was a nice touch and a tantalising taste of things to come. Despite the volcano situation, this year’s festival will feature artists from Antwerp to Australia, New York to NZ and, of course, the best of British burlesquers (including Visit London-featured Kiki Kaboom).

Impressive acts in the first half included festival organiser Beeby Rose from Amsterdam, who fluttered our feathers with her red and gold parrot. Then there was Bristol lass Bettie Bottom Dollar, whose Charlie Chaplin burlesque was my favourite act of the evening. We also had some fire eating, or rather fire licking, and unzipping (!) from hot Italian Miss Honey Lulu.

Part two featured a swing dance strip by Missy Fatale and Ben from Swingcopation. And there was Equador the Wizard‘s magic boylesque with a Queen soundtrack, plus Perth trio Sugar Blue Burlesque with their “cherry mambo”… cherry ripe!

It’s only just begun and I can’t wait for the rest of the delights in store as London Burlesque Festival week continues.

On Saturday night, I glammed it up for a evening of cabaret, comedy and burlesque at Wam Bam Club in the West End.

Wam Bam is a weekly event, held in the sumptuous surrounds of Café de Paris. For those who haven’t been, the venue is a Grade II listed building that opened in 1924 and retains all of its Art Deco opulence. The staff add to the luxe feel – whisking away coats and ushering us to our table with a flourish, then continuing to be solicitous but not intrusive all evening.

The club was set up cabaret style with tables of two to six, and exclusive banquette seating on one side. They had carefully arranged each table so all diners had a good view of the stage. As did the non-dining guests, who filled up the first-floor balcony areas.

Wam Bam’s lineup, led by the vivacious Lady Alex, was a mixed bag. My companions and I loved retro dancers Cirque de la Rouge, were impressed by Craig the Hula Boy’s skills, enjoyed Missy Malone’s burlesque, and laughed lots at Jack Whitehall’s stand-up routine – he’s definitely one to watch. Some of the other acts were rather flat, and my companion felt we could have seen a few more faces on the bill, but it was a good mix in general.

While we were entertained, we enjoyed a three-course meal. The food won’t be winning any Michelin stars, but is perfectly decent.

The Wam Bam crowd was a mix of birthday celebrations, hen nights and people up for a bit of razzle dazzle in the West End. Once the show was over and meals finished, the tables were swiftly moved away so guests could throw some shapes on Café de Paris’s magnificent dancefloor. A steady stream of crowd-pleasers from the 80s ensured we didn’t sit down for long.

At £75 for the 3-course meal and show, Wam Bam isn’t cheap, but it’s a top night out in a wonderful venue, right off Leicester Square. Turn up early, and you can attend a free burlesque lesson before the show, led by Lady Alex!

Visit London has heard that auditions are currently underway to  recruit a new batch of cabaret talent. Any performers out there who think they’ve got what it takes should get in touch with Lady Alex ASAP to arrange an audition. Check out www.wambamclub.com for details.

And, don’t forget, next week’s London Burlesque Festival kicks off at Café de Paris. I, for one, can’t wait!