I sat down with Catherine Clay to find out more about Vaudevillains: A Killer Cabaret coming to the Drayton Arms Theatre this November.

Can you tell me a little about your show and what audiences can expect?

Folly, Music, Dance – the three pillars of Vaudevillains: A Killer Cabaret. The show centres on four mischievous emcees as they give iconic villains, who we love to hate, their moments in the spotlight. Audiences can expect killer jokes, wicked talent, and numbers that are so good, they’re downright criminal.

What drew you to this specific story?

The four of us originally met in our graduate program and all love musical theatre. We set out to create a cabaret, as we love the genre, but hadn’t had the chance to explore it quite yet. Some members of the group are horror writers and others are comedy fanatics, so we initially were drawn to creating a show that investigated both styles in tandem. With a little extra funny and a few extra thrills, we settled on villains and understanding their side of the story.

What has been the biggest challenge in bringing this production to life?

Bridging the gap between Vaudeville style and pop culture iconography felt like quite a challenge when we first started developing the show. However, in leaning into the camp of both Cabaret style and Vaudeville characters that balance became much easier.

How does the design of your show (set, sound, or lighting) impact the presentation of your story?

Our minimalist set design is inspired by the Vaudeville era of the early 1900s and features various props and costume pieces scattered around the stage. We wanted to play with the theatricality of employing these elements to quickly transform into various characters throughout the show. One member of our group, Haley Sliker, is a talented lighting designer who, alongside the wonderful Cameron Moreton, has transformed the Drayton Arms Theatre into an animated and vibrant cabaret act that allows these dark characters to have their moment in the light.

If you could sum up the show in one word or phrase, what would it be and why?

Camp – At some point in the rehearsal room, we just started throwing out the craziest and funniest associations we could, the campier the better. What if Darth Vader was in a Cell Block Tango number? What if Lord Farquaad was in Hamilton? Camp is good for the soul, who doesn’t love a little folly?

Vaudevillains: A Killer Cabaret runs at the Drayton Arms Theatre, London, on 20 – 21 November. Tickets available at https://www.thedraytonarmstheatre.co.uk/vaudevillans-a-killer-cabaret