Cabaret

On Wednesday 11th February, a group of 28 members of the Theatre Group arrived at the Kit Kat Club for a matinee performance of Cabaret. It was suggested we arrive about an hour early for a pre-show experience. We were intrigued, or in some cases quite excited, by the instruction “no touching” as we went down several different staircases to a dimly lit room where we came face to face with a living

tableau of some rather erotic and decadent behaviour. It soon became apparent we were experiencing the pre-Second World War nightlife of the Berlin cabaret shows. I know our leader for one was a bit concerned how it would go down with some of our group, but she needn’t have worried — we all entered into the spirit of it.

We eventually, by another series of downward spiraling staircases, entered a more conventional theatre space, but even here we found many scantily dressed girls and boys cavorting among the audience. When the play started, it was completely gripping and, as many of us said afterwards, quite draining. It moved from the decadent world we had originally entered to the beginnings of the Nazi movement, where the previously erotic dancers all donned Lederhosen to represent the Nazi youth movement. You realised you had moved from one extreme of decadence to another extreme of cruelty and oppression. Characters who had formed meaningful relationships were torn

apart due to their political or religious beliefs.

It was all very moving and, at times, difficult to watch, yet while maintaining the atmosphere of dance and showmanship, it gave us a powerful understanding of the horrors of that period in German history. It combined everything we like best: good company and great theatre.

Jenny Green