Jean Paul Gaultier’s Fashion Freak Show, Teatre Coliseum Review
Photo by Grup BalañáWritten by Laura
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in return for a honest review
Fashion Freak Show is Jean Paul Gaultier’s eccentric production, dancing between a cabaret, a runway, and a concert. It debuted in 2019 at Folies Bergère and later premiered in London in 2022.
During the first act, the show presents a timeline of events leading to Gaultier’s success, from the moment he dressed his teddy bear Nana with a rudimentary version of his iconic cone bra, to falling in love, moving to London, starting his career at Pierre Cardin, and finally creating his own brand and organizing his first fashion show in 1976. Gaultier himself is represented by a young dancer in a striped t-shirt.
In the second act, Gaultier's character is less prominent, giving it a somewhat more disjointed feel, becoming a runway-cabaret show rather than having the clear narrative thread of the first act. Throughout the performance, many of Gaultier’s influences are brought up, whether through costume, character, song, or appearing in the enormous screens placed around the stage.
The show pays homage to pop culture of the last 50 years, and this is very well represented by the music. Demi Mondaine, a singer on stage, performs iconic songs such as It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World, but there are also plenty of prerecorded tracks ranging from The Rocky Horror Show to David Bowie or Conchita Wurst.
Surprisingly, the theatre was somewhat empty. The ticket price, quite high for Barcelona standards, may have contributed to this. Nonetheless, the cast made sure everyone enjoyed themselves as much as possible.
One of the highlights of the show is the incredible crew of around fifteen artists, including singers, dancers, circus performers, and actors. Their energy on stage was contagious! Gaultier designed all the costumes for the show, ranging from authentic pieces to replicated ones, and of course, new designs specifically created for the show. The costumes, beautifully designed and crafted, fit each actor perfectly, showcasing Gaultier's exceptional craftsmanship. While some costumes seemed perhaps a bit incoherent next to some others, but that just added to the extravaganza of it all.
Performed in English with some parts in French, the show occasionally lacked subtitles, which was a bit jarring. Having subtitles would benefit not only non-English or French speakers but would also make the show more accessible for the deaf and hard of hearing.
In short, the Fashion Freak Show is a fun time, an insightful dive into Gaultier’s life, and is a perfect example of incredible technical artistry in every possible aspect.
Fashion Freak Show will be playing at Teatre Coliseum in Barcelona until April 21st. Afterwards, it will play in Vienna, Cologne, and Amsterdam.
★★★★
