REVIEW | Bernie Dieter’s Club Kabarett, Underbelly Boulevard

Bernie Dieter. Credit Craig Sugden

Written by Penny

*Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in return for an honest review

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London’s newest cabaret venue has officially opened its doors. Underbelly Boulevard is the first permanent home for the team behind the iconic purple cow that has offered seasonal comedy and cabaret entertainment, both in London and at the Edinburgh Fringe. In the heart of Soho, the venue also has a cocktail bar and restaurant. It all looks very plush and inviting. The staff are friendly and welcoming. It’s a great place to start, or indeed spend your evening.

Moving into the auditorium, there are seats all around a small stage, with a three-piece band to the rear, and also a balcony that offers a great view of the show. The low lighting – in shades of red, blue, and purple - creates a suitably decadent atmosphere. It feels very intimate but not cramped. 

The first show at Underbelly Boulevard is Bernie Dieter’s Club Kabarett. Dieter is an international cabaret superstar and has been described as “the first lady of Weimar punk cabaret”, a hedonistic style with political undertones. In this show, she is joined by a group of performers she lovingly describes as “punks, freaks and weirdos” for an evening filled with jaw-dropping talent.

Bernie Dieter is an incredible host. She struts onto the stage with big Frank-N-Further energy, launching into an original song about some of her “romantic” encounters. It’s a great ice breaker and she is fantastic at audience interaction, cutting through that famous British reserve to delight the audience members she has chosen to play with. Her seductive moves are not restricted to those fans who have chosen to sit in the front row, nobody is safe as she prowls around the room. She is a great singer, displaying vocals as powerful as her stage presence as she belts out the big songs, but she’s also equally at home with a softer number, singing with real emotion and expression

Dieter is also a very generous host. The show includes a number of acts – fire eaters, aerial acrobats, and a range of circus and cabaret performers. The main question I came away asking was how on earth did this talented bunch first discover that they could do all these weird and wonderful things?! Everyone is given their moment in the spotlight to showcase their phenomenal talents. The physical strength and technical skills of the performers are impressive enough but each act is also brilliantly presented with style and charisma. Dieter sings to accompany some of the acts but never upstages. It’s fast moving and there is no weak link. I expect everybody who sees the show will have a different favourite. I enjoyed every performance, but was completely blown away by Joe Keeley’s routine on aerial silks – demonstrating not only a stunning technical ability but also making me feel quite emotional at the beauty of his work. 

Bernie Dieter has put together the perfect show to open this fabulous new venue. Over the course of 90 minutes, you will gasp, cheer, laugh out loud and even think about running away to join the circus. As Dieter says towards the end of the show, with the world in such a mess, we need shows like this more than ever. If this incredible cast is made up of misfits, why would anybody ever want to fit in?

Bernie Dieter’s Club Kabarett runs at Underbelly Boulevard until 6th January 2024. Find out more and buy tickets here.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★