Life as a Cabaret

Cabaret has historically existed on the fringes, populated by those who find themselves, voluntarily or involuntarily, falling outside of conventional society. It pushes the boundaries of gender, politics, identity, power, and social norms. It’s live and unpredictable, bringing together a variety of performances to create a unique, and often never-repeated, entertainment experience. A cabaret show consists of a selection of short performances in a variety of styles and genres, including drag, burlesque, boylesque, circus and sideshow. Shows happen anywhere and everywhere - bar, club, theatre, library, carpark; cabaret’s adaptability and ephemeral nature are what set it apart from the formality and precision of traditional theater.

Life as a Cabaret celebrates the vibrancy and diversity of the underground cabaret scene, uplifting and representing those who are typically overlooked. With a focus on Drag Kings, Queens and In-Betweens, Burlesque, Boylesque and Queerlesque, this book showcases this incredibly dynamic and fascinating world for what it really is - glamorous, polished and professional at times, but also intoxicatingly punk, inescapably queer and gloriously messy. It’s a space for experimentation, for pushing and challenging boundaries, for seeking a voice and a platform that’s unavailable in mainstream society, creating a different kind of society, even if it’s just for one night.

Life as a Cabaret is not only a cross-section of the drag world, but also a love letter to it. The photographs showcase each performer’s individuality as works of art in and of themselves, immortalizing the beauty and power of these individuals who are determined to stand out from the crowd, embracing the hustle, oddness, contradictions, differences, and most of all, the unstoppable creativity.

Isaac Williams, known on stage as Mark Anthony, is a Drag King and Cabaret performer from the UK. After finishing an undergraduate degree at Oxford University and postgraduate study at Birkbeck College, University of London, Mark fell into drag through the LGBTQ+ community in London, and over the next seven years, thanks partly to a rare visual condition that hampered their ability to pursue other livelihoods, what began as a hobby turned into a full-time career. Mark now performs across the UK and internationally and is the reigning Mr Boylesque UK. He is proud to be the first trans-masculine performer to hold the Mr Boylesque title in any country and is keen to increase the visibility of trans/non-binary performers wherever possible. Through satire, nostalgia, music and burlesque, he hopes to pass on the feeling of empowerment that drag has given him, using it as a medium of social commentary about inequality, gender, identity, trans representation and queer joy.

Veronika Marx began her career as a stylist and often showcased her love for the elegance and edge of the 1950s in her selections before becoming a photographer. She was the exclusive photographer for Dita Von Teese’s GLAMONATRIX show and has worked with celebrity clients including burlesque queen Immodesty Blaze, Miss Miranda, Miss Tosh, and Kimberley Wyatt from The Pussy Cat Dolls, among others. Veronika’s work has been featured in magazines such as Vintage Life Magazine, Bomb Boudoir, Slovakian OK Magazine, and she is the in-house photographer for Playboy Czech Republic.