Review: CHAT NOIR! (The Lost Estate)

Review by Daz Gale

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If you've ever fantasised about stepping into a club in Paris in the 1890s, The Lost Estate have answered your prayers… and you can even access it via the District line. Their West Kensington home was last seen hosting their annual Great Christmas Feast and has now been completely transformed for the premiere of Chat Noir, promising art, absinthe and anarchy. Would this night out prove to be as magnifique as it promised, or would it find itself lacking a little je ne sais quoi?

If you are unfamiliar with The Lost Estate, they have become heavyweights in London’s immersive scene, creating unforgettable and unique experiences that have captivated over 200,000 guests since their launch in 2017, with productions such as 58th Street, Paradise Under The Stars and The Great Christmas Feast. Chat Noir is a brand new offering from them, offering visitors the chance to travel back in time to Montmartre in 1896, to set foot inside the legendary Parisian cabaret club that launched a cultural revolution.

The world-building involved in the creation of Chat Noir is breathtaking to experience, made all the more fabulous by the fact that it all sits behind a plain, nondescript door a minute away from West Kensington tube station. The fact that you can walk past it without having any clue about the rich and colourful world that waits behind it makes entering all the more fun, as if you are part of a secret nobody else is aware of (apart from the other guests, of course). Once you have checked in, it is no longer London in 2026, but Montmartre in 1896, where everybody, including yourself, speaks perfect French (it is all in English, but let’s use our imaginations).

Chat Noir mixes together various elements to create a unique, immersive experience. There is a sense of theatricality to it, of course, but it extends far beyond that, offering an evening to tantalise all of your senses. Coming in at just under four hours, it provides a three-course dinner, a three-act show, and alcohol that extends more than simply “a drink”, but an experience in itself

Each course of the meal precedes one of the three acts of the show, with a fixed menu for all guests to enjoy (of course, vegan and dietary alternatives are available). The quality of the food is a key reflection of the quality of the evening, and each of the courses more than raised the bar. Speaking of the bar, there is plenty of drinks options available, ensuring your table is never at risk of running dry, and it did seem as if my friend and I were collecting glasses at one point. The free choice you have for these drinks means that the experience is tailored to your own preferences, while simultaneously sharing the overall experience with all the other guests.

I mentioned absinthe, and that name may give shudders to people depending on your own experience with it, with my own memory involving shots in my younger days a bit spotty to say the least. The way absinthe is consumed here is a whole experience in itself, and a highlight of the evening. After choosing from one of seven variations, a drip is placed on your table with the process you need to follow clearly explained - this proved to be theatre in itself, something different and incredibly fun to attempt.

The overall aesthetic of Chat Noir impresses at every turn, with meticulous design effortlessly transporting you to another time and place. At a previous experience I visited, I was disappointed by the inconsistencies in interactions with the performers and the immersive element. This was certainly not a problem here, with performers going to great lengths to ensure everybody was included, speaking to the visitors both during the show and in between, creating a fun and friendly atmosphere. I guess the moral of the story is be careful what you wish for, as I found myself the first person spoken to from the stage - when they found out I was there to review the show, I ended up the butt of several jokes, but it was all good fun. In the show, every night is press night, so this just became a case of life imitating art.

That brings me on to the show itself. Split into three sections: Art, Absinthe and Anarchy, it combines singing, dancing, cabaret, comedy, magic and even a bit of burlesque in a varied evening that features an abridged version of Carmen, and a chance to be amazed by some truly talented performers. Joe Morrow held everything together as a wonderfully charismatic Master of Ceremonies, Rodolphe Salis, with Issy Wroe Wright showcasing a stunning singing voice as the Muse. Incredible dance moments came from Coco Belle, with Neil Kelso providing some spellbinding examples of magic. Though mime has never been a particularly big love of mine (ironically enough, given how much I like Britney Spears), I found Alexander Luttley to be utterly captivating as the Mime, Paul Legrand, with their key sequence in Act One a standout moment of the evening for me.

It cannot be understated how meticulously planned this entire evening was. Though they promised anarchy, it was organised chaos, with incredible attention to detail ensuring everyone had a good time. Did I expect to be on my feet miaowing to the melody of a famous song towards the end of the evening? Well, after the absinthe, anything goes. It was refreshing to see that a couple of shortcomings I noticed upon my visit to The Great Christmas Feast last year had notably improved, with the great care taken to maximise the enjoyment of every visitor’s experience paying off. This was a production that ensured everybody got involved and was comfortable at every time. It proved to be a great bonding exercise, with strangers sparking up conversations and sharing the enjoyment.

To that end, the entire experience proved utterly faultless. From beautiful food and drink to a brilliant show and some sensational performers, Chat Noir ticked every single box for me. If ever I was unsure why people rave about any production from The Lost Estate, my visit here more than answered that question. Masters of the immersive experience, Chat Noir is a welcome new addition to the scene in London and is surely one of the best nights out you can have at the moment. Chat Noir isn’t just an opportunity to eat, drink and be merry; it is a celebration of life itself (despite the appearance of death). The opportunity to time-travel to 1890s Paris simply by stepping through a nondescript door is one I would wholly recommend to anyone wanting a memorable experience like no other. Chat Noir is proof that when it comes to immersive theatre, The Lost Estate really are the crème de la crème - this Parisian escape truly is très bien.

CHAT NOIR! plays at The Lost Estate’s London home until 20th September.

Pay no fees when you book tickets from allthatdazzles.londontheatredirect.com/experience/chat-noir-tickets