Comedy, Cabaret, and Burlesque

Londoners have recently decided that booze and music is not enough for a memorable night out: cabaret has come out of the closet, burlesque is shaking its tassels all over the mainstream, and experimental theatre and performance art have discovered that they're far more appreciated when people are drunk. Here are ten of our favourite places where you'll be guaranteed a memorably eccentric night out.

Bethnal Green Working Men's Cub

44-46 Pollard Row, London, E2 6NB
Until 2002 this Formica-clad, 1970s-style social club was an exclusive retreat for working class East enders. While the interior of this one-time dance hall hasn't changed much - leatherette and laminate coverings, Formica, garish red carpets and teak panelling still abound - the door policy and entertainment programme have seriously evolved. The upstairs area is now a fun, fabulous entertainment free-for-all. A giant heart made of raunchy red lights frames a stage, lighting up the garishly-costumed audience, showing off their feather boas and corsets. From dance classes, DJs and disco to karaoke and cabaret this club has well and truly embraced its new role as a 'living canvas' and one of the most creative venues in town. There's even bingo on offer for the seriously ironic, and it's become a post-modern playground for fashionable East Londoners. Remaining honest to its working class roots, local members can still retreat to a private area downstairs, while the income generated from the public outlet allows the original club to function without threat of closure. Refreshing and raunchy.

Current events at Bethnal Green Working Men's Club

Unskinny Bop event Friday 17th February
TIMES 9pm-2am. No entry after midnight. PRICING £5, £3 concessions
Here's a chance for all you misfits, non-conformists and generally lovely party people to indulge in a little judgement free disco dancing this Valen... More about this event

All events at Bethnal Green Working Men's Club

Bistrotheque

23 - 27 Wadeson Street, London, E2 9DN
For minimalist warehouse chic in the middle of the East End head down to this converted factory. Its whiteness, high ceiling and hanging lights (not too bright) just add to the effect, which is elegant and stylish. You'll find unpretentious classic dishes, bringing together choice influences from French and English food. The whole vibe is effortless - understated sophistication at its best. Downstairs there's an antique mahogany bar and a cabaret room, which is a great place to catch some lively acts in a style reminiscent of the old school music hall tradition. Regular shows begin every Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening at 9.30pm with camp musical entertainment from boys-as-girls starring Jonny Woo and The Lip Sinkers, experts in the silent art of lipsynching. Guest acts are by the likes of Lavinia - an original member of Bloolips, an international award winning gay drag theatre musical-comedy troupe. Drag queens and show queens, glad rags and hand bags; it's absurd, comical and very silly fun.

Bistrotheque - Information

CellarDoor

Zero Aldwych, WC2R 0HT
The Victorians built their public buildings on a grand scale and they built to last, which is why this former public toilet makes a surprisingly chic and comfortable 60-seat bar. The steps down are in the middle of the street, just opposite the Lyceum Theatre. Things are pretty intimate here, but there's no sense that you're cramped, just the pleasure of being close to the stage, and on friendly terms with neighbouring tables. The cocktails are excellent, and they've found a novel way of getting round the smoking ban by selling snuff behind the bar. The decor is a seductive futuristic take on Weimar Germany, with purple neon a dominant theme. As a tribute to the venue's original purpose, they also have some decidedly... unusual toilets. A progamme of jazz, cabaret and burlesque enlivens the small stage on most evenings and the low-arched roof and chic decor create a speakeasy atmosphere that would be impossible to replicate in a more conventional space.

Current events at Cellar Door

Monster Mash event running until Thursday 23rd February 2012
TIMES Thursday 16th February and Thursday 23rd February 2012 - 9pm PRICING Free
Resident DJs play jazz and swing, plus live act Kitty La Roar and Nick of Time.... More about this event

Friday Folies Bergere event running until Friday 24th February 2012
TIMES Friday 17th February and Friday 24th February 2012 - 9pm PRICING Free
A burlesque show starring striptease artiste Miss Beatrix Von Bourbon.... More about this event

Saturaday Night Diva event running until Saturday 25th February 2012
TIMES Saturday 18th February and Saturday 25th February 2012 - 9pm PRICING Free
Amanda Pet plays swing, jazz and retro classics, plus a burlesque and cabaret performance from Bettsie Bon Bon.... More about this event

Pete's Piano Lounge event running until Sunday 26th February 2012
TIMES Sunday 19th February and Sunday 26th February 2012 - 9pm PRICING Free
The pianist plays jazz standards.... More about this event

Life's a Drag event running until Monday 27th February 2012
TIMES 13th February, 20th February and 27th February 2012 - 4pm PRICING Free
Performance artist Michael Twaits entertains with a cross-dressing show.... More about this event

Trash Tuesday event running until Tuesday 28th February 2012
TIMES 14th February, 21st February and 28th February 2012 - 9pm PRICING Free
Champagne Charlie hosts this open mic night.... More about this event

All events at Cellar Door

Comedy Cafe

66 Rivington Street, EC2A3AY
The cheap-and-cheerful paintwork on the exterior disgiuses a venue that has ben very carefully thought through. It's a far less slick-seeming outfit than Jongleurs or The Comedy Store, but the Comedy Cafe has a reputation as the venue most favoured by performers. It's a purpose-built venue with a laid back, intimate environment. Rafts of small tables have been crammed into a dimly lit space, with a small, unobtrusive stage for the comic. Finger food, pies and good value pints are the main items on the menu. On Wednesday nights they welcome new talent and let lucky Londoners in for free. The quality can be a little patchy so if you want guaranteed laughs aim for a Friday or Saturday.

Current events at Comedy Cafe

New Act Night! event Wednesday 29th February
TIMES Wednesday 29th February 2012 - 8pm PRICING Free
... More about this event

Comedy Cafe event Friday 2nd March
TIMES Friday 2nd March 2012 - 8pm PRICING £12
Sharp and edgy storytelling from Canadian stand-up Tom Stade, plus Michael Legge, Ola The Comedian and Mick Ferry.... More about this event

All events at Comedy Cafe

Comedy Store

Haymarket House, 1a Oxendon Street, SW1Y 4EE
The Comedy Store is the spiritual home of stand-up in the UK. Despite being the best large comedy venue in the country, the Store still succeeds in creating an intimacy between comic and audience and the central London location gives it a wonderfully mixed crowd. It can also be credited with discovering a host of alternative comedians throughout the 80s: Paul Merton, Rik Mayall, Adrian Edmonson, Eddie Izzard, Steve Coogan, Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French, Keith Allen, Clive Anderson and Ben Elton all started out in this small West End joint. Weekends are always busy so try and book tickets as far in advance as possible. The world-famous Comedy Store Players take to the stage every Sunday and Wednesday with their one-off displays of improvisation at its best, Tuesdays offer topical comedy from 'The Cutting Edge' crew, while Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays promise 'The Best in Stand-Up', and by this they mean exactly what they say: a superbly programmed night. You’re having a laugh if you don’t pop in.

Current events at Comedy Store

The Best In Stand-Up event Thursday 16th February
TIMES Thursday 16th February 2012 - 8pm PRICING £18 & £23
Slick stand-up and banter from John Fothergill, plus Carl Donnelly, Addy Van Der Borgh and MC Joe Bor.... More about this event

Just 4 Laughs: Montreal Showcase event Monday 20th February
TIMES Monday 20th February 2012 - 8pm PRICING £12, concs £10
Rap-infused stand-up from Doc Brown, plus Tony Law, Al Pitcher, Keith Farnan, Josh Howie, John Lynn, Ian Stone, Elis James, Paul Sweeney, James Mullin... More about this event

The Cutting Edge event Tuesday 21st February
TIMES Tuesday 21st February 2012 - 8pm PRICING £14, concs/NUS £9
Topical comedy from Ian Stone, Sean Collins, Stephen Grant, Rob Rouse, Steve Gribbin and Paul Sinha.... More about this event

King Gong event Monday 27th February
TIMES Monday 27th February 2012 - 8pm PRICING £8, concs £5
With MC Mick Ferry.... More about this event

All events at Comedy Store

Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA)

12 Carlton House Terrace, The Mall, SW1Y 5AH
The ICA boasts three galleries (exhibitions changing approximately every six weeks), a cinema, theatre, restaurant, bookshop and late bar and cafe. They also play host to series of lectures, events, late night art and music parties. Housed in elegant Regency premises on the Mall, the ICA is nonetheless a good place to start if you're looking for the very cutting edge of gallery art work.

More info: Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

Current events at Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA)

Factory Floor event Saturday 18th February
TIMES Saturday 18th February 2012 - 9pm PRICING £8, concs £7, mems £5
Art-rock by the London-based outfit.... More about this event

The Themersons: Talk event Saturday 18th February
TIMES Saturday 18th February 2012 - 12.30pm PRICING £8, NUS/mems £5, concs £7
Presentations, talks, events, and film screenings about the Polish duo's work.... More about this event

In Numbers: Serial Publications By Artists Since 1955 event running until Sunday 25th March 2012
TIMES 25th January 2012 to 25th March 2012 - Various Times PRICING Free
A survey of artists' serial publications.... More about this event

Lis Rhodes: Dissonance And Disturbance event running until Sunday 25th March 2012
TIMES 25th January 2012 to 25th March 2012 - Various Times PRICING Free
Experimental films spanning the artist's career, challenging perceptions of the medium as a tool of communication.... More about this event

All events at Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA)

Madame Jojo's

8-10 Brewer Street, W1F 0SP
This was once a sleazy Soho strip club, as the name suggests, and it really shows. Deep reds are the dominant colour, with mirrors, booths and velvet curtains creating an atmosphere of sleazy glamour. This sordid ambience makes it one of Soho's most enjoyable bars, adding a superb frisson to the many excellent early-evening comedy and cabaret events it hosts. Sundays are reliably ridiculous, with everything from burlesque to belly-dancing on offer. On Friday and Saturday nights, there's good food to accompany the early evening stage shows, then later on DJs step up for their devastatingly fashionable funk, ska and rockabilly nights, which give patrons the chance to flash their finest vintage fashion selections.

Current events at Madame Jojo's

Trannyshack event running until Wednesday 22nd February 2012
TIMES Wednesday 15th February and Wednesday 22nd February 2012 - 10pm-3am PRICING £5, w/flyer £3, Free before 12midnight
Miss Dusty O, Tasty Tim and Lady Lloyd spin commercial dance and pop.... More about this event

The Good Foot event running until Friday 24th February 2012
TIMES Friday 17th February and Friday 24th February 2012 - 10pm-3am PRICING £8, mems £5
DJ Snowboy and weekly guests spin funk, soul and retro hits.... More about this event

Kitsch Cabaret event running until Saturday 25th February 2012
TIMES Saturday 18th February and Saturday 25th February 2012 - 8pm-3am PRICING £25
A Las Vegas-style show with old-fashioned music and comedy, starring Miss Terri, Krystal and Sahara.... More about this event

Lost And Found event running until Saturday 25th February 2012
TIMES Saturday 18th February and Saturday 25th February 2012 - 10pm-3am PRICING £5
Keb Darge and Andy Smith play blues, rockabilly, funk and Northern Soul.... More about this event

Free Your Soul event running until Sunday 26th February 2012
TIMES Sunday 19th February and Sunday 26th February 2012 - 10pm-2.30am PRICING £5, £3 before 11pm
Resident DJs spin old skool, disco, jazz, soul, house and Latin.... More about this event

White Heat event running until Tuesday 28th February 2012
TIMES 14th February, 21st February and 28th February 2012 - 10.30pm-3am PRICING £4-£5
DJs Matty, Olly and Marcus spin electro, techno and indie.... More about this event

All events at Madame Jojo's

The Pigalle Club

215-217 Piccadilly, W1J 9HN
Inspired by the genteel, romantic elegance of the 1940s the Pigalle Club is located in an old tearoom and cinema dating back from the same decade. Waiters in Forties suits, big bands, live crooners and celebrities are all on hand to submerge you into another world, a sophisticated joint with a hint of subterranean subterfuge. Named after Paris's red-light district, Pigalle is decorated accordingly: mirrored walls, wood-panelling and twinkling diamond lights provide the setting for an evening of food and entertainment which can range from the swinging house band, to DJs, cabaret performers, cheeky burlesque and even the occasional impromptu celebrity act. Van Morrison and Shirley Bassey have both taken to the stage here in ad-hoc performances. An excuse to dress up (the official code is smart/casual, but most guests aim to add to the ambience with vintage styles), dine out and dance away, an invitation to stay up late here is hard to refuse.

Le Pigalle - Information

Royal Vauxhall Tavern

372 Kennington Lane, London, SE11 5HY
The Royal Vauxhall Tavern has been a gay venue since the Second World War, surviving both oppression and the great mainstreaming of gay culture that saw it lose its biggest stars (including Lily Savage) to television. It's the spiritual heart of Vauxhall's gay village, and a busy midweek program packs it out every night for bingo, comedy, music or drag acts. On weekends, queues stretch all the way round the block for Duckie, the collective who've performed their cabaret/comedy/experimental theatre show everywhere from the Barbican to New York. Straights are very welcome, but the more delicate should be aware that there is a lot of audience participation.

Current events at Royal Vauxhall Tavern

Duckie event running until Saturday 25th February 2012
TIMES Saturday 18th February and Saturday 25th February 2012 - 9pm-2am PRICING £6
The resident DJs spin pop, indie and cabaret.... More about this event

S.L.A.G.S / CHILL-OUT Sundays event running until Sunday 26th February 2012
TIMES Sunday 19th February and Sunday 26th February 2012 - 2pm-12midnight PRICING £8, £5 before 7.30pm
Simon Le Vans, Andy Almighty and Sean Sirrs spin disco, electro and house, plus The D E Experience performs live.... More about this event

Bingo Pub Night event running until Monday 27th February 2012
TIMES 13th February, 20th February and 27th February 2012 - 8.30pm-12midnight PRICING admission Free, £1 per game
Bingo hosted by Timberlina, with music from DJ Hey Baylen and DJ 50 Pence.... More about this event

Bar Wotever event running until Tuesday 28th February 2012
TIMES 14th February, 21st February and 28th February 2012 - 6pm-12midnight PRICING Free
Camp cabaret, performance, comedy and music.... More about this event

All events at Royal Vauxhall Tavern