The Show
„Verrucht und extravagant"
Berliner Morgenpost
Photo: © Teri Darnell
Le Pustra’s Kabarett der Namenlosen is a provocative theatrical "cabaret play" and contemporary interpretation of the progressive Weimar era Cabaret Culture and hedonistic nightlife of Post War Berlin. The all time sold out show returns, after a 3 year hiatus, on the 8th and 9th of December 2023 for a limited run at the Heimathafen Neukölln, Berlin (built in 1875).
In March 2016, Kabarett der Namenlosen made its Berlin stage debut in the intimate Ballhaus Berlin (built in 1905) and the last run concluded in March 2020. The project was conceived and directed by English actor and iridescent "kunstfigur", Madame Le Pustra (Babylon Berlin, Season 3-4) and co-produced by the Grande Dame of 1920s entertainment, Else Edelstahl (Bohème Sauvage).
Taking inspiration from various colourful Berlin Cabarets including the Eldorado (1928) nightclub, Weiße Maus Cabaret (1919) and naturally Erich Lowlinsky’s original Kabarett der Namenlosen (1926), Le Pustra reimagines Berlin’s legendary nightlife. The show is presented as a salon with transitioning short scenes or vignettes, resulting in a richly layered tableau vivant. The Kabarett explores the newly found sexual freedoms available (partially due to the relaxation of censorship) and avant-garde artistic innovation, especially seen in theater, dance, film and cabaret. Thus the aim of this lavishly curated production is to not only recapture but also to celebrate the exhilarating yet unstable Zeitgeist during the interwar years in Europe’s new sex capital, Berlin.
Le Pustra says “I want to offer our audiences a voyeuristic glimpse into the erotic and smoky underworld of a secretive late night “Nachtlokal” where one might encounter the icon of Weimar nightlife, the scandalous dancer Anita Berber or perhaps witness the naked dance troupe Ballet Celly de Reidt performing one of their infamous Schönheitsabende." Berlin’s wild nightlife and erotic notorious hotspots still fascinates us today and the 1920s is more popular than ever with tourists, artists and historians in search of that mythical “divine decadence” à la Sally Bowles in 1972's Cabaret.
In 2022, Le Pustra’s Kabarett der Namenlosen was also featured in the award winning TV hit, Babylon Berlin (Season #4) starring Le Pustra as Edwina Morell, the queer flame-haired Souteneur and diabolical Conférencier.
So... leave your inhibitions at the door and enter a world of scandal, intrigue and self indulgence. Celebrate the Grotesque and the Bizarre. Immerse yourself in a decadent mise-en-scène and dance the night away with The Beautiful and The Damned.
Featuring selected music from Friedrich Hollaender, Kurt Weill, Rudolph Nelson, Mischa Spoliansky, Willy Rosen, Noël Coward, Bertolt Brecht and poetry by Kurt Tucholsky and Anita Berber.
More Information:
Cast: Le Pustra, Charly Voodoo, Vicky Butterfly, Lada Redstar, Mama Ulita, Shir-ran Yinon, Bridge Markland, ReveRso, Julietta la Doll, Lars Schwuchow, Pierre-Louis Dezert and guest performer: Lola la Tease.
Concept & Art Director: Madame Le Pustra
Co-Producer: Else Edelsthal
Light Designer: Bryan Schall
Set Design: Lars Schwuchow
Hair: Nina Butkovich-Budden
Makeup: Astrid Stebich
Choreography: Charlie Peters
Stage Manager: Mayliss Salles
Photographer: Daggi Binder (Maizucker.de)
Illustrations: Massimiliano Mocchia di Coggiola and Suzanne Forbes
Running time: 90 mins (excluding interval)
Suitable for 18+ (Full Frontal Nudity)
Languages: English and German
Dress code: Elegant Evening Attire/Vintage, Costume. STRICTLY NO SPORTSWEAR.
Facebook Event: Le Pustra's Kabarett der Namenlosen (2023) | Facebook
„Luder, Laster, Leidenschaft"
- B.Z.
The CreativeTeam
Le Pustra
Creator, Artistic Director & Conférencier
Madame Le Pustra is an actor, singer, salonnier and dazzling "Kunstfigur". From underground cabaret darling to accidental club kid-cum-avant-garde fashion muse, Le Pustra is a colourful shapeshifting conduit thriving on visual stimuli inspired by circus, vaudeville, silent films and fashion. His most iconic role to date is that of creator and star of the sumptuous Le Pustra's Kabarett der Namenlosen: a cult theatrical cabaret play inspired by the provocative 1920s in Berlin.
Le Pustra also guest stars in the award-winning German TV series: Babylon Berlin (Season 3 & 4) as the owner of the Luxor nightclub, "Edwina Morell".
Le Pustra has appeared in countless theatrical events, revues and fashion shows across the Globe including London Fashion Week. His stylish image has been documented in prestigious publications such as Vogue, Playboy, i-D Magazine, Harper's Bazaar and numerous photo art books and is the subject of numerous artworks.
“Wild and Provocative” –
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
Else Edelstahl
Co-producer
Else Edelstahl is the Grande Dame of the famous 'Bohème Sauvage' and with her 1920s expertise, a highly in demand events manager. She is also the co-producer of the 'Berlin Burlesque Festival' and the 'Hamburg Burlesque Festival'.
Nina Butkovich-Budden
Hair Design
Nina is celebrity hairstylist and has worked on numerous editorials for publications such as Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, L’Officiel and celebrity clients include Ute Lemper, Pamela Anderson and Lady Gaga. Nina's Hair Parlour was the first vintage hair salon to open in 2005 in London and featured in Vogue, Tatler, The Guardian and BBC.
Astrid Stebich
Make-up
Astrid has a background in Opera and Theatre make-up and currently works on the Netflix series "Dark" and "1899".
Bryan Schall
Light Design
Bryan is a Berlin based light designer, technologist, and drag queen. His theatrical designs have been showcased internationally; Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, Scotland, Great Britain and the United States. Bryan is a graduate of the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, having focused in performance design and production. He is also known to be Berlin’s Premiere 96 year-old Jewish Drag Grandmother, Nana Schewitz.
