If you spot someone in Moulin Rouge or 1920s garb somewhere near West Kensington tube station anytime soon, there’s a strong chance they’re heading for Chat Noir! the latest show from immersive experience specialists, The Lost Estate. The production is set in 1890s Paris, inspired by legendary Montmartre cabaret spot, Le Chat Noir.
The transformation of an unassuming West London warehouse into something akin to a low-lit Belle Epoque film set is impressive. Flickering lamps, velvet banquettes and a soft-focus haze in the air are undeniably transportative. The cabaret is good too, with a talented cast made up of a mime, singer, dancer and illusionist, with cabaret star Joe Morose leading the organised chaos as club proprietor Rodolphe Salis. They romp through three lively acts (Art, Absinthe, Anarchy), supported by live musicians, and Alexander Luttley is an unexpected standout as mime Paul Le Grand.
We got the VIP experience (priced at £224.85; the cheapest seats are £129.85), which includes booth-style seating, champagne, canapés, a three-course dinner and a digestif. The food is decent, centring around a juicy coq au vin, but this is by no means a fine dining “banquet” experience. The drinks are better - icy Piper-Heidsieck, well-mixed cocktails and, most fun of all, absinthe fountains that let you drip water over sugar cubes into your shot. Nice touches, but all at extra costs, so you could rack up quite a tab here. Not to mention a hangover.
The best thing about the evening was that showgoers stuck to the no-phones rule without exception. During the two intervals for service, it was heartening to hear the din of lively, properly engaged conversation - the kind you never get when people still have half an eye on their screen. Equally rare was the chance to enjoy it all without the nagging pressure to capture the photogenic moments for a blurry Instagram story. It’s this, as much as the cleverly crafted set, that really did make a West Ken warehouse feel like a step back in time.
With a run time of three-and-a-half hours, this is not a short show. Admittedly, some sections could be shaved down and some moments may veer slightly too close to panto for those sceptical about immersive experiences. But, then again, they’re probably not going to shell out hundreds on a ticket in the first place. This is for people who want to get dressed up, stamp their feet and say yes to another glass of absinthe on a Wednesday night. You get the sense that the show’s considerable length is intended to give them their money’s worth. And by the looks on their faces when the show wrapped up at 10:30pm, they got it.
