Cardiff cabaret company tours new Hitchcock-themed show

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March 25, 2015 by THE WELSH HORIZON

The international cast of Cardiff-based Mary Bijou Cabaret & Social Club is touring their newest show, “Hitch”, focusing on the phenomenon of Alfred Hitchcock films and the hype ensuing their release during the mid-twentieth century.

The show’s name is an homage to Alfred Hitchcock’s nickname and features several five to 10 minute short performances retelling the effect the US film maker’s movies had on the cast as a group and individually as a performers.

George Fuller, co-founder of the Mary Bijou Cabaret said he wanted to mock how seriously society took Hitchcock’s movies when they were first released, especially the media’s spin of the copious on-screen violence.

George Fuller performing a rope dance

When drawing up the short scenes he said the cast wanted to avoid the major stereotypes of Hitchcock’s films: “If you’re blonde and you’re cast in a Hitchcock movie you’re going to die, we wanted to avoid that.”

Fuller said the show is “a little disturbing and a little joyous”. At one point the cast performs a death dance in tribute to all those killed in Hitchcock films.

Mary Bijou’s cabaret style

Formed in 2010, the Mary Bijou Cabaret & Social Club is a travelling group of performers who perform compilations of short routines. The company does not act out of a particular theatre, but rather travels the United Kingdom and can be hired for parties and events.

A circus is “a cohesive whole”, said Fuller, whereas the Mary Bijou Cabaret “smashes all these short [performances] together and says look at these crazy, crazy things”.

Trained as a clown in San Francisco, Fuller came to Europe because, as he recalled: “I’ve said yes to a lot in my life”. He has performed with numerous companies including NoFit State Circus and Crashmat Collective in multiple various cities including Chicago, Berlin, Copenhagen and even on cruise ships.

Laughs a la Buster Keaton

As a professional performer Fuller appreciates how Buster Keaton, a formidable early twentieth century clown and performer, sculpted a career out of unhappy expressions.

“I never felt the pressure to be happy all of the time…Clowning is just another acting style, it encompasses the entire gambit of human emotion,” said Fuller.

Fuller’s partner, and the company’s co-founder, Anna Sandreuter trained at London’s National Centre for Circus Arts and toured with the famed troupe NoFit State Circus. She specialises in vertical rope and works part time as a circus coach.

A Mary Bijou Cabaret cast member hula-hooping with 4 hoops

Cabaret in Cardiff

In addition to Fuller and Sandreuter, the Mary Bijou cast is made up of more than 50 cast members, technical staff and collaborators hailing from all corners of the globe. All of whom Fuller and Sandreuter have met throughout their careers and who now call Cardiff home.

Managing a cast of cabaret performers is hard work said Fuller, but: “what comes out is amazing and surprising”.

Fuller said he and Sandreuter decided to base Mary Bijou Cabaret & Social Club in Cardiff because of the city’s rich counter culture and arts scene. “Running a business in Cardiff is exciting, you have to keep on your toes” he added.

Fuller moved to Cardiff from Sheffield, where there was very little of the cultural scene that has taken root in Cardiff. Mr Fuller said that every year the cultural scene grows; Cardiff becomes a home for performers of all talents.

The company relies on funding from the Arts Council of Wales, an organization that promotes the arts scene cherished by Fuller.

Support from organizations like this allows: “culture to be created outside of London,” he said.

 

By Emily Gowdey-Backus

Photography from Mary Bijou Cabaret & Social Club by Tom Beardshaw