La Soirée is a cabaret/variety show presented by Brett Haylock, Mark Rubinstein and Mick Perrin that debuted in London in October 2010 to rave reviews.(6 September 2010). "La Clique Cast Return for South Bank Xmas Soirée". What's on Stage. The show features a number of artists who previously appeared in La Clique, a variety show co-created by Brett Haylock.Arratoon, Liz (26 November 2009). "La Clique". The Stage. Haylock was also the Creative Producer of La Clique.Robinson, Sophie (11 November 2009). "La Clique: circus berserkus", The Telegraph. La Soirée is traditionally presented with a small, circular red stage as its centerpiece, with the audience sitting in rows surrounding the stage. The show features a rotating cast of approximately 25 artists, with the acts varying from night to night.
The cast of La Soirée′s first season in London included previous La Clique artists Captain Frodo, David O'Mer, The English Gents and Miss Behave.(6 September 2010) "La Soirée Features La Clique 10/12". Broadway World. The cast also included returning La Clique artists Ursula Martinez,BWW News Desk (7 December 2010), "Le Gateau Chocolat, Ursula Martinez Join La Soirée Line-up This December". Broadway World. Camille O'Sullivan,BWW News Desk (17 January 2011), "Camille O'Sullivan Joins LA SOIRÉE For Limited Run From Feb 1", Broadway World. Meow Meow,Girvan, Andrew (8 February 2011) "Xmas Soirée Planned for Roundhouse, 23 Nov". What's on Stage. Cabaret Decadanse, Le Gateau Chocolat, Marawa and Jess Love, as well as new cast member Mooky Cornish.CB (13 October 2010). "New acts join London Soirée". Official London Theatre. The season took place in the South Bank Big Top tent on London's South Bank, behind the Royal National Theatre.Brown, Mark (7 September 2010). "La Clique company to hit the South Bank", The Guardian.
Some of the cast of La Soirée first performed together as La Clique in 2004 at The Edinburgh Festival Fringe.Bailey, Patricia (17 July 2006). "The Anti-Cirque du Soleil". CBC. Since then, La Clique has performed in several cities, including London, New York (as "Absinthe: Les Artistes de La Clique"),Midgette, Anne (11 August 2006). "‘Absinthe’: Take a Cabaret, Mix It With a Circus, Then Add Mirrors". The New York Times. Paris, Sydney, Stockholm and Dublin.Shenton, Mark (7 September 2010). "La Soirée, New Cabaret Show Featuring Stars of La Clique, to Play London Season" . Playbill. In 2009, La Clique won a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Entertainment for their 2008 London season hosted by Haylock."Olivier Winners 2009" Olivier Awards. Since its inaugural season in London at the South Bank, La Soirée has completed seasons in Australia, Sweden, Denmark and Germany, and returned to London for another Christmas season at The Roundhouse. La Soirée has also announced seasons in Montreal, Canada; Chicago, USA; and an extensive Australian tour that reached Darwin, Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide in 2012 and 2013. In September 2013, it was announced that La Soirée would be opening a season at the Union Square Theatre in New York City, commencing 29 October 2013,BWW News Desk (12 September 2013) "LA SOIREE Set for Limited Run at Union Square Theatre; Performances to Begin 10/29". Broadway World. for which it won an Off Broadway Alliance Award in the category of Best Unique Theatrical Experience.Purcell, Carey (27 May 2014) "Off Broadway Alliance Awards Go To Fun Home, Hand to God and Saint Joan" . Playbill. In May 2014, La Soirée made its South American debut in Buenos Aires, Argentina, performing in an acclaimed season at the Buenos Aires Polo Circo.Cruz, Alejandro (21 May 2014). "Las mil y una formas de hacer circa". La Nacion.
Seasons
YearMonthLocationVenue2010-2011October–FebruaryLondon, United KingdomSouth Bank Big Top2011MarchUmeå, SwedenIdunteatern2011March–AprilStockholm, SwedenTyrol, Gröna Lund2011OctoberAalborg, DenmarkSkråen i Nordkraft2011-2012November–JanuaryLondon, United KingdomThe Roundhouse2012January–MarchSydney, AustraliaSydney Opera House2012MarchAdelaide, AustraliaGarden of Unearthly Delights2012May–JuneHamburg, GermanyFliegende Bauten Hamburg2012JulyMontreal, CanadaL'Olympia2012July–AugustChicago, USAThe RiverFront Theatre2012AugustDarwin, AustraliaThe Lighthouse, Festival Park2012SeptemberBrisbane, AustraliaThe Courier-Mail Spiegeltent, South Bank2012October–NovemberMelbourne, AustraliaForum Theatre2013January–MarchSydney, AustraliaSydney Opera House2013MarchAdelaide, AustraliaGarden of Unearthly Delights2013August–SeptemberDarwin, AustraliaDarwin Entertainment Centre2013SeptemberBrisbane, AustraliaThe Spiegeltent, South Bank2013-2014October–MayNew York City, USAUnion Square Theatre2014January–MarchSydney, AustraliaSydney Opera House2014MarchHobart, AustraliaSpiegeltent Hobart2014MayBuenos Aires, ArgentinaBuenos Aires Polo Circo2014August-SeptemberUmeå, SwedenSpiegeltent2014SeptemberHalmstad, SwedenStationsparken2014September-OctoberStockholm, SwedenTyrol, Gröna Lund2014OctoberLund, SwedenLunds Stadshall2014-2015November-JanuaryLondon, United KingdomLa Soirée Spiegeltent, South Bank2015January-MarchPerth, AustraliaPalais des Glaces Spiegeltent2015MarchAdelaide, AustraliaGarden of Unearthly Delights2015MarchHobart, AustraliaSpiegeltent Hobart2015MayBrisbane, AustraliaQueensland Performing Arts Centre2015May-JuneDarwin, AustraliaDarwin Entertainment Centre2015JuneGlastonbury Festival, United KingdomCircus Big Top2015AugustAalborg, DenmarkParadiso Spiegeltent, Skråen i Nordkraft2015August-SeptemberAarhus, DenmarkHermans Theatre, Tivoli Friheden2015SeptemberHong KongLyric Theatre, The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts2015SeptemberManila, PhilippinesThe Theatre at Solaire Resort & Casino2015-2016October-JanuaryLondon, United KingdomLa Soirée Spiegeltent, South Bank2016January-MarchPerth, AustraliaLa Soirée Spiegeltent, Perth Cultural Centre2016AugustAalborg, DenmarkSpiegeltent, Skråen i Nordkraft2016-2017November-JanuaryLondon, United KingdomLa Soirée Spiegeltent, Leicester Square2017January-FebruaryPerth, AustraliaEdith Spiegeltent, Cathedral Square, Perth2017MarchAuckland, New ZealandSpiegeltent at Festival Garden, Aotea Square2017MayPort Douglas, AustraliaWonderland Spiegeltent, Port Douglas Carnivale2017AugustAalborg, DenmarkSpiegeltent, Skråen i Nordkraft
London, United Kingdom; October 2010 – February 2011
La Soirée's inaugural season debuted in London at the South Bank Big Top in October 2010. The cast included previous La Clique artists Captain Frodo, David O'Mer, The English Gents, Miss Behave, Ursula Martinez, Camille O'Sullivan, Cabaret Decadanse, Le Gateau Chocolat, Marawa, Jess Love, Bret Pfister, Hugo Desmarais and Meow Meow, as well as new cast member Mooky Cornish.
In November 2010, the producers of La Soirée announced that its London run was extended to 27 February 2011 due to phenomenal demand.Arnold, Abigail (18 November 2010). "La Soirée Extends Its London Run to February 27th 2011", Broadway World. The original ending date for the season was 30 January 2011.
Umeå and Stockholm, Sweden; March – April 2011 After a successful Swedish season as La Clique in 2010, it was announced that La Soirée was returning to Umeå's Idunteatern and Stockholm's Gröna Lund for a six-week season.(10 December 2010). "LA SOIRÉE featuring stars from La Clique" Södra Teatern. The cast included Ursula Martinez, Captain Frodo, The English Gents, David O'Mer, Cabaret Decadanse, The Skating Willers, Amy G, Yulia Pykhtina and Le Gateau Chocolat, all of whom have appeared in previous seasons of La Clique or La Soirée.
Aalborg, Denmark; October 2011 After performing for two consecutive years at the Aarhus Festuge in Aarhus, Denmark as La Clique,(22 July 2010). "Oplev kultshowet La Clique i Tivoli Friheden" Alt om Aarhus. La Soirée returned to Denmark, playing at the Skråen i Nordkraft venue as part of the Aalborg Fringe Festival. The cast included previous La Clique artists Yulia Pykhtina, The English Gents, Hugo Desmarais, Captain Frodo, Amy G, Susannah Martinez, David O’Mer and Le Gateau Chocolat, as well as new cast members Chris & Iris.(7 October 2011). "LA SOIREE - det mest spektakulære show du nogensinde har oplevet" PressWire.
London, United Kingdom; November 2011 – January 2012 In early 2011, the producers of La Soirée announced that for the 2011 Christmas season, La Soirée would return to perform in The Roundhouse for a 10-week season. La Clique previously played at The Roundhouse during the 2009 Christmas season, where it broke box-office records for the fastest selling show in pre-opening sales, grossing over £500,000 in sales before its first performance.BWW News Desk (20 November 2009), "La Clique Breaks Box Office Records At The Roundhouse". Broadway World. The cast for this London season included previous La Clique artists Yulia Pykhtina, The English Gents, Mooky, Le Gateau Chocolat, Katharine Arnold, Hugo Desmarais, Chris & Iris and Mario, Queen of the Circus.Shenton, Mark (4 October 2011). "La Soirée Announces Featured Acts for London Return to Roundhouse From Nov.23" Playbill. In addition, regular La Clique cast members The Skating Willers announced that after thirty years of performing together, this London season at The Roundhouse would be their last together.Walters, Ben (November 2011). "The Skating Willers: their history in pictures" . Time Out. The cast also included artists Nate Cooper, Paul Capsis, Omar Cortes, Up & Over It and comedian David Armand, all of whom were performing in a La Soirée season for the first time.Bennett, Steve (29 November 2011). "La Soirée 2011". Chortle.
In October 2011, London newspaper The Evening Standard shortlisted La Soirée for an Evening Standard Award in the category of Best Night Out at the Theatre, calling it "a joyous evening of the outrageous, bizarre and beautiful, as variety blended with cabaret and threw in some burlesque for good measure." La Soirée was nominated against long-running London West End productions Chicago, Les Misérables and Wicked.Mountford, Fiona (18 October 2011). "Razzle, Dazzle" , Evening Standard.
In November 2011, La Soirée was also nominated in the first annual London Cabaret Awards, which celebrate the growing cabaret scene in London. La Soirée won in the category of Best One-Off Show."London Cabaret Awards Best One-Off Show" London Cabaret Awards.
Sydney, Australia; January – February 2012 After having previously played as La Clique in Sydney as part of Sydney Festival, La Soirée’s producers announced that La Soirée would return to perform a season at the iconic Sydney Opera House.(11 October 2011). "Bent cabaret: La Clique invites you to their new Soirée". Sydney Morning Herald. Due to overwhelming demand, the show ended up extending its season twice, running for an unprecedented 10 weeks at the Sydney Opera House.(8 February 2012). "Final Season Extension for La Soirée" , Sydney Opera House Media Release. La Soirée’s Sydney cast included David O’Mer, Captain Frodo, The English Gents, Ursula Martinez, Jess Love, Mooky, Bret Pfister, Gerry Connolly, Yulia Pykhtina, Le Gateau Chocolat, Susannah Martinez and Mario, Queen of the Circus.
Adelaide, Australia; March 2012