FREAKY FASHION at the Queen Elizabeth Hall

FASHION FREAK SHOW

All dressed up for the Freaky Fashion Show

Jean-Paul GAULTIER

Fashion’s enfant terrible, Jean-Paul Gaultier, lit up Queen Elizabeth Hall with his supercharged, super fun and super professional cabaret fashion extravaganza, The Fashion Freak Show. Following a hugely successful run in Paris at the legendary Folies Bergere – it relocated to Queen Elizabeth Hall in London, a far more sedate venue associated with classical music recitals and poetry readings. But as they say ‘the times they are a-changing’ and the hall was packed to capacity with an audience eager to participate. Following the designer’s life, the show featured his beloved teddy bear, Nana, his (many) obsessions, the people he encountered and the challenges he overcame to fulfil his childhood dream.

The review show mixes cabaret, fashion, and performance and as Gaultier says ‘it’s my journey through fashion, design and a look behind the scenes, that as the lining of a jacket, is often just as beautiful as the outside.’

The show is a joyful mix of entertainers – models, male sex objects oozing desire and mature supermodels alongside fashion Icons (yes, even a lookalike Anna Wintour).

The cast consisted of singers, hip hop and circus-trained performers, including the Charleston World Champion Jean – Charles Zamaboo (also an international coach in dance and physical expression, a writer composer and a choreographer), Nacer Marsad, the French champion, and world number 2 for acrobatic rock and Demi Mondain, a singer from the underground scene with several albums to her name.

And then there were guest stars, or as Gaultier refers to them ‘Friends in high places’ projected on screens who lent their faces, creative eyes and voices, such as actress Catherine Deneuve, playing the continuity announcer and “directrice” of couture. The legendary singer, actress, painter and presenter, Amanda Lear, the ‘original Disco Queen’ and friend of Gaultier, ‘we’ve been knocking around together for years’.

Merchandise, merchandise…and then there was the perfume

Gaultier’s sexy bottles

The show was brilliant and so was the audience. Many had gone to a great deal of trouble to ‘dress the part’ and were singing, dancing, waving their arms and banging their feet.

Love the look

Guys having fun

August in London is not where TheEye would choose to be. Well, there are the compensations: parking and restaurant reservations are a doddle, but this unique and joyous show really made it worthwhile.

Merci, Jean-Paul!

9 Comments

  1. You have all the fun. I just wilt away, chained to my office chair, living vicariously. Keep me posted on life in the Jan Lane!
    Love, the lonely scribe. xxx

    • Oh Kath, can’t bear to think of you tied to a chair – are you sure it isn’t some kind of bondage?? Your turn will come once you finish your novel

  2. How fantastic to read about this! Am gutted to have missed it. When I gave my clothes to the V&A the agreement was that I would give them instalments every 10 years, so I reckoned I was shopping for England and bought Gaultier Haute Couture for many years, intended as part of my prospective gift. After 10 years were up the department of Textiles and Dress had merged with Furniture and the head of department told me they would not take another large gift as they did not have the storage. So the future of the Gaultier treasures is tbc

    It would be wonderful if you would flag upcoming shows you think are unmissable for your fans!

    • Thank you for your comment. I would love to see your Gaultier collection. The Freaky Fashion show was pretty wild but wonderful with fantastic witty performances.
      We both loved it and loved the audience. Much cross dressing as you would imagine.
      We have returned from the Edinburgh Festival and it will be posted next Wednesday. Fantastic. Overwhelming. Inspiring. Have you seen the Cindy Sherman exhibition at The National Portrait Gallery – terrific.

  3. How fantastic to read about this! Am gutted to have missed it. When I gave my clothes to the V&A the agreement was that I would give them instalments every 10 years, so I reckoned I was shopping for England and bought Gaultier Haute Couture for many years, intended as part of my prospective gift. After 10 years were up the department of Textiles and Dress had merged with Furniture and the head of department told me they would not take another large gift as they did not have the storage. So the future of the Gaultier treasures is tbc It would be wonderful if you would flag upcoming shows you think are unmissable for your fans!

  4. I saw this in Paris and it was fabulous. The thing I wasn’t expecting was how moving it was, especially the final couple of scenes. Also, the bit where he comes to London to lead the permissive life! It’s difficult to think of how at one point – and maybe still, but I’m not young enough to know – London was a centre of anything-goes hedonism and wild experimentation. Great review as ever and loved the audience pics.

    • Thanks for your comment. I think London in the ’60’s really was a turning point for fashion and later for art. Please read my post next week on the Edinburgh Festival (at least what I managed to squeeze into just a few days). So exciting, inspiring and fun and such a great atmosphere – almost took my mind off Brexit for a while.

  5. Wish I’d been there, too.

  6. Looks fab! Definitely must catch it. Love your photographs.

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