What IS CABARET BIZARRE?

Characterised by freedom of expression, sexuality and fantasy, Cabaret Bizarre was originally inspired by Federico Fellini and Bertolt Brecht to create an old-fashioned carnival, a wonderland, a dark dreamland where amazing personal adventures are made possible.

Cabaret Bizarre rediscovers the 1920’s Weimar Cabaret and mixes into its essence elements from the circus and vaudeville tradition, the recently rediscovered burlesque era, as well as influences from the fetish scene and modern primitives tribes – a truly timeless cocktail with a very bizarre edge, served only by the most influential, talented and vanguard performers globally. Cabaret Bizarre is an adult playground for the senses, a sex positive space with consent and comfort at it's principle core. Cabaret Bizarre does not consist of a fixed ensemble. Our productions are not commercial and not aimed for profit.

Cabaret Bizarre was born in 2006, in Basel, Switzerland and prodigiously conquered the hearts of neighbouring countries and cities. So far, more than 70 shows have been staged in fifteen different cities – four different countries pledging their allegiance to what is now only the beginning of a new movement!

While Cabaret Bizarre is a themed night, where the audience is invited to dress accordingly and become part of the show, the dress code is wide and encompasses different styles; from 1920’s to Dieselpunk and Fetish attire: Dress to impress! Enjoy our own homegrown feel and let your free spirits embrace diversity and your fantasies take over. Our shows are unrehearsed, experimental and uncensored and we expect our audience to be the same!

WEIMAR CABARET

Weimar Cabaret was a feature of late 1920’s Germany, which has become known for its high living and decadent night clubs. Having previously lived under authoritarian government, where entertainment and social activities were tightly regulated, many Germans thrived on the relaxed social attitudes of Weimar.

The late Weimar era was one of liberal ideas, new forms of expression and hedonism. After World War I, cabarets became enormously popular across Europe – and nowhere were they more popular than in Germany. The Weimar government’s lifting of censorship saw German cabarets transform and flourish.

Stories, jokes, songs and dancing were laced with sexual innuendo and by the mid-1920’s, open displays of nudity, to the extent that most German cabarets had at least some topless dancers, were the norm. Some cabarets were patronised by gay men, lesbians and transvestites; once forced to conceal their sexuality, they seized upon the liberality of the cabaret scene to openly display and discuss it.

As we are now slowly entering the 20’s of a new century, our generation faces similar liberties but faces similar ambiguity and dangers as well.