By definition, Sabrage is the opening of a bottle of Champagne (or sparkling wine) with a sword or sabre. Rooted in Napoleonic ceremonial ritual, the technique is impressive and flamboyant in equal measure.
It is this combination of French glamour and extravagance that oozes throughout the aptly-named Sabrage show in London’s Kings Cross.
The Standard got a peek behind the scenes of the acrobatic show as part of a new video series, taking viewers behind the curtain of the best West End Shows.
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In the video, Emma Phillips takes viewers on a tour that begins inside the opulent Lafayette. If you didn’t know what a Chinese foot juggler is, you will now.
Phillips is from New Zealand but trained in her profession at two Chinse acrobatic schools, perfecting the art of foot juggling, balancing parasols and solid wooden tables alike.
“People think [the table’s] made of cardboard or balsa wood or something, but it’s real. It’s about 9kg,” she says.
“And yes, it does hurt if you drop it.”
The dressing room is as glamorous as you would expect; adorned with feather dusters, champagne, and French flags, which Phillips explains are used for censoring body parts throughout the show. Phillips’ eyelashes in a champagne saucer are the epitome of the show’s playful extravagance.
Phillips even shares her good luck charms, but it is more than luck that makes Sabrage a spectacle worth seeing. An introduction to “rollerskater/ariel hoooper/diva” of the show Christian is a preview to the variety of talent that the show has to offer; a show filled with energy and adrenalin.
Read also: Peek behind the scenes of Clueless the Musical with lead Emma Flynn
But the best kept secret is the Lafayette’s speakeasy, Nola’s, open to audiences before and after the show and perfect for grabbing hand-crafted cocktails. If Sabrage was a cocktail, it would be one ounce of glamour, two ounces of artistry, a squeeze of flamboyance; all washed down with plenty of champagne.
Step into the world of Sabrage, presented by Strut & Fret and Menier Chocolate Factory. Tickets are available via sabrageshow.co.uk
