REUBEN KAYE: THE BUTCH IS BACK
Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall
8th to 30th Dec at 8pm
“In The Butch is Back!, Reuben explores the relationship between fathers and sons through his connection to his own father as a queer, creative child and now, how it feels to process his childhood as a cabaret superstar. Drawing links between masculinity and the apocalypse, the show tears apart the social phenomenon of coming out, re-claiming slur after slur, and expertly taking down our right-wing government.
The Southbank Centre shows see Reuben backed by his four piece band and plays with a myriad genres, styles and songs from Stormzy to Geri Halliwell, Bobby Gentry, Reba McIntyre, The Rolling Stones and Janelle Monae, with Reuben barely drawing breath for the entire evening. For only fifteen nights, Kaye gives us a much needed, swarovski studded revolt against the ever narrowing views of an increasingly conservative world. Join him on his journey to the centre of attention. ”
Review by Richard Lambert, 5 Stars
Strutting onto the stage in full ownership comes Reuben Kaye. A combination like a love-child of Freddie Mercury and Liza Minnelli, this is a super-slick, superbly polished, cabaret performance that’s rides the throttle like you’re escaping a tsunami.
The dialogue is irreverant, hilarious, politically charged and acidic. The voice is powerful with fabulous vocal chops, and the timing in and out of the songs, meshing the dialogue and the musical underscore just impeccable.
Not afraid of the audience, Reuben does a little crowd-surfing but at lap level. His live band never missing a beat and coming back in precisely on cue.
A Vegas-style and Vegas-quality cabaret theatre performer here at the Southbank!
Photo credit: Holly Jackson
Reuben Kaye – Artist
Shanon Whitelock – Musical Director/Pianist
Matthew Herd – Saxophone
Lizzy Gregory – Trombone
Tom Gardner – Trumpet
Cammy Maxwell – Bass
Joel Prime – Drums
Harry O’Meara – Lighting Technician/Relighter
Becky North – Stage Manager
Kathleen Price – Producer for Chambers Management
Website & Clips: reubenkaye.com/media
Twitter: @ReubenKaye
Instagram: @reubenkayeofficial
Facebook: @rebuenkayeofficial