Absolutely superb staging and performances that totally involved the audience (in more ways than one!). So poignant and disturbing, yet somehow uplifting. What a fanastic show. Saw it 16th March, evening performance. Stunning! - Andy Evans
18 Mar 13
Having missed this in London the first time around, yesterday afternoon I was thrilled to discover Taboo! Loved it so much that we came out and raced straight back to thd box office to grab evening tickets too! Best show I've seen in a long time - fantabulous cast all round - we saw u/s Billy - , the songs, the venue, the atmosphere - perfect. Go! - Julia Johnson
24 Feb 13
What an excellent show. The production works so well in the intimate Brixton Clubhouse. The cast are outstanding and the show, if a tad too long, is great. Loved it, I even got to chat to Phillip Sallon & try one of his smoked salmon creations ;-)
- Paul Wallis
27 Jan 13
saw the 2nd show of the new cast , after loving the original and seeing it over 10times was so glad this was revived , for us coming from up north after 2.45 hrs drive brixton was a bit of a nightmare to get round and find parking , would love to see it back in leicester square , however was great to see it live again , paul baker was fantastic as usual , not sure about the tweaks to story & script esp 2nd half didnt quite flow prefer the old ending but glad the new songs are in , the new cast should settle and grow with time , have booked to go again give it ago great night out - robg
14 Jan 13
Went to see this on a busy Friday night. Its 10 years since I saw the original production in the west end and I had bought the CD and DVD and loved both the show and the music. I had also bought the subsequent Broadway soundtrack that offered some new tracks ( but also omitted a couple, notably the wonderful Pie in the Sky).
This new production has allowed Boy George to incorporate a couple of the new songs from Broadway and to make some tweaks to the script. Notably the ending which is wrapped up into a sort of happy ending now and features the uplifting 'Come on in from the outside' as a finale.
This isn't your usual theatre. The Brixton Clubhouse has been transformed into a nightclub/Cabaret bar. Small rows of seats to each side and tables around the main part of the stage. However there are catwalks and mini platforms jutting out into the audience bringing the action into your lap. Even the bar serves as another stage at times as do some of the tables. Wherever you sit, at times some scenes or actors may be blocked by a pillar or they may have their back to you. However this didn't matter as it made for a sense of inclusion with the story being told around the club. If you don't have an allocated table seat then get there early to bag your choice of seat as the rest are unreserved. We ended up next to a catwalk where a naked Leigh Bowery sat feet away from us whilst sitting for a portrait.
You need to bear in mind this is fairly adult stuff, especially Paul Bakers' wonderful comedy interaction with the audience. He won an Olivier Award last time round and he is THE star of this show. His put downs and ad libs with the audience are a highlight of the show. Sam Buttery as Leigh is a revelation. Note perfect and an abundance of camp and he totally inhabits this role and fills the flamboyant costumes with gusto-a memorable stage debut. Matthew Roland as Boy George looks the part and brings depth to the character but he isn't the lead, this is shared between several characters. There isn't a weak link anywhere. All the cast give it their all and the audience could sense that. I could not believe a cast of this calibre were performing for such a small audience. It feels like a team performance right down to the stage hands manning the bars in the interval. The staff at the venue were also very friendly.
Don't go expecting lots of Culture Club numbers as there are only two. The rest is Boy Georges' original score and has some excellent songs within it that can standalone for repeat listenings. This isn't therefore the usual musical biopic which are usually just songbooks. It isn't Boy Georges' life story either but is loosely based on it with some fictional characters added to give it some breadth.
The sound worked well in the venue and the balance between the small band and the vocals was spot on.
The minute it ended I thought immediately about when I could return. This isn't theatre, its a superb night out and an experience watching something fresh and original and is highly recommended. It underlines why the Broadway version failed as this needs to connect with its audience and not be on a large stage. The run has been extended so plenty more opportunities to see this. Would make an excellent Christmas Do with colleagues or friends.
- kevinyork
13 Nov 12
I have over the years seen too many musicals and Taboo is certainly one of the best. The story is very compelling and the music and the songs are fantastic. I would advise everyone to spend an evening "In the world of Taboo," it is a great experience. - Bjarne
03 Nov 12
Saw this Sat 27th with a male (straight) friend and we loved it. I saw it 10 years ago and loved it then and this revised version with new songs and new venue is possibly better. The intimate Brixton Clubhouse makes this a very interactive production, with the case dancing on tables and working the audience. Buttery in the Bowery role is good, though not stunning. His voice is good, not powerful, but his characteristation was excellent and for a debut performance was pretty good. For me Paul Baker steals the show. His break to the audience (who were 90% gay couples, giving him lots of material) was very funny and well timed, but his vocals on two particular songs were really emotional and flawless. There was not a single weak vocalist in the cast, all loving their different roles and costume changes. The other two leads of Perry and Brammer were very good, especially the gorgeous Brammer. The venue makes great use of its space with some surprise entrances. Delighted this has been extended as it might give me a chance to see it again! - Missa
28 Oct 12
Just a brilliant night out....Excellent cast & Band, well worth the trip to Brixton...This should be the hottest ticket in town, Miss it at your peril... - Tim
01 Oct 12
Brilliant revival, clever dynamic use of atmospheric club space, and definitely carves out its own strong identity after the previous productions. A triumph! - Ben
