The building at 83 St George’s Road has had a rocky few years, but a new cabaret venue is hoping to write a different story.
Madam Lola’s opens its doors in Kemptown at the end of May, opening in the striking former Haus of Cabaret space beneath its distinctive Gothic dome and copper spire. But despite occupying the same building, the team behind the new venture are keen to stress that this is a completely new operation, with new management and a different approach to running the venue.
The venue remains owned by Tokyo Industries, but Madam Lola’s is being run by Luke Shaw and Josh Gomez, who come directly from the cabaret and performance world. According to the team, the focus is on a more artist-led model, shaped by their own experience as performers and industry professionals.
And that’s reflected in the concept.
Describing itself as “Brighton’s most beautiful madhouse”, Madam Lola’s is pitching itself as a performance-led, queer-friendly night out where drag, burlesque, aerial and circus acts unfold throughout the venue rather than from a traditional stage.
The idea is that the line between audience and performer gradually blurs over the course of the evening, with the room itself becoming part of the show.
Friday and Saturday nights centre around cabaret performances for just 120 guests, with cocktails, velvet booths and a rotating cast of performers, while Saturday afternoons are given over to drag brunches complete with 90 minutes of free-flowing prosecco.
The inspiration comes from venues including Crazy Horse Paris, The Box in New York and Faena Miami, albeit filtered through a distinctly Brighton lens. The team say they want to create something immersive and unpredictable, while also putting fair pay and performer wellbeing at the heart of the business.
That’s perhaps unsurprising given the operators’ backgrounds.
“The best nights out are the ones where you’re not entirely sure what’s going to happen next,” says co-founder Shaw. “That’s what we’ve built here. Madam Lola’s isn’t about standing around with a drink, it’s about being pulled into something.”
With Brighton Fringe closing at the end of May and the city heading into summer, the timing feels apt. Brighton has never exactly been short of cabaret, drag or circus talent, but a dedicated venue with an artist-led approach could prove an interesting addition to the city’s nightlife scene.
From 29th May; 83 St George’s Road, Kemptown. Launch weekend tickets cost £37.10
madamlolas.com
