"The idea is so vivid – timely, disturbing, and so well worked out in the best of Clancy's writing – that the show is impossible to resist, and it slices down to the hidden reality of the way we live now, in a way that makes the rest of our theatrical world seem pallid, and a little short of the courage it takes to face a terrible truth." Joyce McMillan, The Scotsman

Crawling and scratching their way up from the gutters and swamps of society, Gdjet and Lulu present an evening of anarchic entertainment. Armed with only stools, microphones, a red curtain and a spotlight, they expose the hypocrisy and reveal the truth behind the bedtime stories we are told by the powers-that-be who wish us to continue our 21st century sleep...

Criss-crossing from the recent Past to the relentless Present, they bravely face down the unimaginable and unavoidable Future.  Are they fallen angels sent here to warn us or desperate charlatans playing one last con?

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What our audience thought…

'I really loved this. Engaging, captivating, powerful and performed with heart.'

'That was an incredible experience of the utter power and possibility of the theatrical space. Not since Wallace Shawn's The Fever (which I saw about 20 years ago) have I seen such an affecting cathartic show. Wow!'

'Intriguing & thought provoking & FUN!'

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Partly based on little known prophetic babblings this is at once entertainment and profound revelatory spiritual experience.

Highly visual, bitingly original, with humour as black as midnight, Apocalypse combines satire, music, song and grotesquery in an anarchic evening of spectacular mayhem.

Is our world really about to end? Let Gdjet, Lulu and their strange un-named musical friend explain…

Apocalypse is a cabaret-style performance, where the audience are seated at tables and scenes are played in, and amongst, them.

The production began development during a two week residency, between The Occasional Cabaret and Clancy Productions, at Dance Base in September 2010. Exploring the distinctive theatrical style of bouffon within a cabaret environment, the collaboration produced a 35 minute work-in-progress performance, titled An Alternative History of Everything.

The enthusiastic reception of this work prompted further development which took the performance through to full production and a Scottish tour in October 2011.

This is where we went:

Tron Theatre, Glasgow
macrobert arts centre, University of Stirling
Henry Travers Studio, The Maltings Theatre, Berwick-upon-Tweed
Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh
Cumbernauld Theatre
Rothes Halls, Glenrothes, Fife
Haddington Town House, Haddington, East Lothian
New Pitsligo Public Hall
Royal British Legion Hall, Buckie
Braemar Village Hall
Lyth Arts Centre, Wick

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The Occasional Cabaret is a new partnership between Peter Clerke & Catherine Gillard, formerly of benchtours.

Clancy Productions is a New York based touring theatre company best known in Scotland for Fatboy, screwmachine/eyecandy and The Event (all Edinburgh Festival Fringe First winners).

Script - John Clancy
Direction - Peter Clerke
Musical Direction - Tim Brinkhurst
Design - Ali Maclaurin
Production Management - Camilla O'Neill
Performance - Catherine Gillard, Nancy Walsh & Tim Brinkhurst

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In Development:

The Taking of Zena Charbonne (Autumn 2012)

A one-woman show about life – and the desire for it

Zena Charbonne is past 37, going on 50, and the wife of MSFB chief executive Sir Robin Charbonne. Zena hasn’t wanted for much – but she hasn’t achieved much either.

On a wet Thursday afternoon in February, Zena is kidnapped by the BLF. As her life is torn apart, ‘what has been’ vies with ‘what might have been’; with ‘what might be no more’ a constant companion. In the embrace of oblivion, Zena’s demons are lining up to be counted…

The Occasional Cabaret’s second major touring show will be a newly commissioned piece that once again challenges and intrigues whilst remaining totally relevant to today’s audiences. The production will be small scale and adaptable to a wide variety of venues, including theatres, arts centres, community centres, village halls and schools.

It is envisaged that an initial development period will take place in Spring 2012 and that full rehearsals and production will follow in the Autumn.

For all further details please return to this page or to contact us please go to: info@occasionalcabaret.com