Tricity Vogue's Ukulele Cabaret

This show raises interesting questions as to the nature of Cabaret: the difference between Variety, Cabaret and what this could have been – a night of people simply playing the ukulele. The creation of cabaret comes from the audience, here for a sing/play-a-long, that many of the artists define themselves as not just ukulele performers, and that the show itself creates an avenue for this discussion.

Tricity Vogue presents a competition, a line-up of artists playing one ukulele song, to varying success but always entertaining and fun.

Once the issue of the wrong venue is addressed, badly (concrete floor for the first hour is not at all accommodating), the audience is welcomed by the fabulous Ms Vogue, wearing a ukulele head piece, which she promises the winner of the ‘Uke of Edinburgh Award’ will have the honour of strumming.

Martin White, Helen Arney, Tim Clare, Eilidh McAskill, Eliot Mason, Mike Belgrave, Caroline Grannell, Isabel Hertraeg, Bob and Jim, and the Creative Martyrs make up the impressive line-up (including two no-shows), singing and cranking out their ukuleles (and cello and kazoos). The audience joins in for Ring of Fire, Hit the Road Jack and Que Sera Sera, ensuring a high energy engagement from what could have been a performance that dragged.

A change of Britain’s Got Talent-esque judges at half-time leads to an imbalance of points awarded, winner Caroline Grannell plays for too long, whereas relative low scorers Tim Clare and Eliot Mason shine with their witty songs – Tim composes “arbitrary lists” of his favourite things and Eliot would “pull a kazoo out of my arse for you.” All artists receive the requisite plug for their respective shows but not overwhelmingly so, which is a relief.