King of cabaret noir, Joe Black is currently touring the UK with his new show Meet me at the Eldorado, which is based around the lavish queer Berlin show-club.
A prominent destination for LGBT people and tourists in the 1920’s and 30’s, the Eldorado was closed in 1932 when the Nazi’s rose to power. This week Jason Reid spoke to Joe to find out more about the new show and his love for that period…
Hey Joe, thanks for taking time out for a quick chat, I know you’re very busy at the moment. How’s the tour been going?
Hello! Yes, it’s been wonderful. I’ve found it inspiring, enjoyable and completely exhausting.
Why did you choose to base the show on the Eldorado?
It seemed the best fit for me. I have a book that describes and lists the various LGBT venues that existed in Weimar Berlin and the Eldorado jumped out at me. I believe it is also considered one of the more infamous establishments.
Those were much more clandestine times. How do you imagine the atmosphere and set-up of the club was?
That’s what I’ve found most interesting – we can only imagine! There can be descriptions but you take from that what you want to take from it. I would envisage a dark and smoky environment, and I’ve read that it was also covered in wall murals.
Where does your curiosity for the Eldorado and that period stem from?
It’s down to the imagination aspect of it. We can read about it, we can see pictures, but we’ll never really know what it was like to actually be there. I’m drawn to that period because it is aesthetically what I’m interested in. That aesthetic and vibe really draws me in and inspires me: musically, aesthetically and stylistically.
Given the eventual fate of The Eldorado, do you draw any comparisons between the cabaret/queer venues of then and now?
Absolutely. The past repeats itself in some way or another. In the case of the Eldorado, it was shut down very specifically for what it was. Nowadays I think queer venues aren’t shut down specifically for what they represent, but sadly there’s just a huge amount of them being shut down. As there are less queer spaces, it deals a bigger blow and takes away something that there wasn’t a plethora of to begin with. Which is why you should hold them dear to you and support them every way you can.
Why did you choose the Royal Vauxhall Tavern for the London leg of your tour?
Because of what the RVT represents and because of what the RVT is and continues to do.
If you could go back in time and spend a night at The Eldorado, which of its performers would you want to perform with?
It was rumoured that Marlene Dietrich performed there, so i’m going to be completely predictable and say her.
In one sentence, tell the readers why they simply MUST come to Meet me at the Eldorado.
Come to the cabaret, here it is right.
• Joe Black, Meet me at the Eldorado is at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern on Wednesday 30th November.
• For tickets, head to vauxhalltavern.com
U OK HUN?
‘Just fucked a pumpkin [onstage]. You had to be there really’ – Holestar
‘The KKK is back thanks to Donald Trump. I might have to cryo-preserve my extensive collection of weaves as unlike Mzz Kimberley’s, they burn’ – Son Of a Tutu
‘Well I was greeted by a tray of ripped vaginas when I arrived at work this morning, how is everyone else’s Monday going so far?’ – Virgin Xtravaganzah
