Last Updated on May 1, 2026
Immersive Theatre and Dining at Chat Noir
4.5 out of 5.0 stars
It’s 1890 in Paris, and the night is young. Imagine you’ve travelled back in time as a guest of Rodolphe Salis, stepping into his infamous nightclub, Chat Noir, to embrace the anarchic spirit of bohemian Montmartre.
The Lost Estate does exactly that, only this time, the illusion unfolds on a Tuesday in April 2026 in West Kensington. Chat Noir is the latest immersive theatre and dining experience from the talented team behind The Great Christmas Feast, a highly successful Dickens-themed production that I saw last Christmas.
Chat Noir takes you on a magnificent, dreamlike journey from the moment you arrive. Staff dressed in period costume welcome you through the doors into a sumptuous cabaret club. At its centre is a stage, surrounded by tables set for the night ahead. Glowing red lighting, candles, and rich velvet set the decadent scene, superbly realised through Thomas Kirk Shannon’s design, and complemented by the pitch-perfect costuming and exquisite couture of Susan Kulkarni.
Tickets for the evening offer different packages. As part of the VIP package we received a glass of champagne on arrival before being seated at a table for two on floor level. Tickets include an excellent three-course Parisian banquet, starting with a charcuterie, cheese and pâté maison which was already on the table, a nice touch, allowing you to tuck straight in. Courses are served seamlessly between acts, by the friendly staff. The show runs, with dinner for 3.5 – but I assure you you’ll be entertained!
The cocktails are also rather good; I can highly recommend the ‘Crusta’, a divine mix of cognac, lemon, sugar and anisette. Wine is served with dinner alongside a choice of Coq au Vin for meat eaters or Chartreuse de Légumes for vegetarians, followed by Tarte au Citron for dessert…Ooo lala! Non-alcoholic options are available. Please note that standard tickets include a three-course meal, but drinks are purchased separately.
The music instantly transports you to the era: Guy Button on violin, Peteris Sokolovskis on cello, Will Fry on percussion, Áine McLoughlin on accordion, and Alex Ullman on piano. This highly accomplished band seamlessly intertwines with the performers, setting the tone and bringing a sense of fun and celebration to the evening.
Hosting the proceedings is the man himself, Rodolphe Salis, excellently portrayed by Joe Morrow, the creator of this daring bohemian revue. In bringing together four highly esteemed entertainers of the day, he propelled Chat Noir to the height of its notoriety.
The artists are exceptional across the board. Paul Legrand, the mime artist, touchingly played by Alexander Luttley in the classic Pierrot tradition, enchants with his melancholy, charm and flashes of humour. There are deft interludes of magic from Joseph Buatier (Neil Kelso), while Issy Wroe Wright commands the stage as the Muse, Yvette Guilbert, with an alluring presence and an impressive vocal range. The evening hots up with the dancer Cléo de Mérode, portrayed with captivating poise and seduction by Coco Belle.
Settling into the night, the show begins. As Salis explains, it unfolds in three acts, beginning with The Essence of Art, “art is death, it matters.”
This is followed by Absinthe, a spirit which was central to the culture of Montmartre at the time and became as much a ritual as it was a drink, which Salis suggests separates us from sanity and reason. For something a little different, an absinthe fountain is brought to the table during the evening. The absinthe comes on the rocks and is dripped over sugar cubes, creating a strong, feisty drink.
Guests are encouraged to play along and descend into the dreamlike world of Rodolphe Salis. As he reminds us, “always be drunk”, “regrets are for tomorrow.” I can certainly vouch for the strength of this highly alcoholic spirit!
The final act is Anarchy, a descent into the mad, unpredictable and misty world of cabaret and Carmen, I challenge you not to embrace it. It’s utterly fabulous.
A note from Creative Director, William Kunhardt
“CHAT NOIR! is our attempt to bring one of the most seminal moments in Western cultural history back to life: the artistic crucible that was Le Chat Noir in its heyday under founder Rodolphe Salis. This was a place that stood at the very forefront of the European Avant-Garde, a place that birthed so much of modern culture and yet today, it stands largely forgotten. In reimagining what it was like, we’ve tried to create something total – a living work of art you can step inside – where music, performance, food, and world-building collide to transport and move you.
Cabaret, at its birth, was dangerous, outrageous and experimental. By combining obsessive research with creative fantasy – what was with what might have been – we hope we’ve recreated not just the club, but the actual feeling of being there. In a world of screens, tension, and ‘AI slop’, I believe this cocktail of pure escapism and passionate, uplifting ideology feels not just joyous, but urgent and necessary.”
CHAT NOIR! is at The Lost Estate, 9 Beaumont Avenue, London W14 9LP, near West Kensington and Earl’s Court stations.
020 3666 2182
Now booking until end of July 2026
Check out our London Theatre Previews, January – July 2026 – Off West End
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