GLAMOUR, CHAOS, AND A LITTLE ROOM FOR REFINEMENT

By Tanya Howard | Founder, The Live Review London · @glamglitzlondon ⭐⭐⭐ | Press Invite

Emerald London was designed for immersive entertainment, live music, and cabaret. In particular, the Diamonds and Dust show, directed by Dita Von Teese and Tosca Rivola. Rivola also produces Sinematic, so it already feels like a natural home for the production. The venue has that low-lit, slightly decadent vibe that suits big, visual moments and Sinematic promises burlesque, stunts and cinematic spectacle. So, you walk in expecting drama, glamour, and maybe a little chaos.

After a delayed and slightly awkward false start, the evening opened with drag queen Charity Kase performing a Rocky Horror number. It was high-energy and bold, a strong opener to set the tone, although sadly that level wasn’t consistently maintained throughout the night. Lolo Brow then stepped into hosting duties and was giving full camp Ab Fab energy. There was some audience interaction throughout, although it did stretch on too long at times. Likely to accommodate costume changes, it’s not disastrous, but it does affect the pacing and momentum of the show.

ICONIC FILM REFERENCES WITH MIXED RESULTS

The whole concept leans into iconic film moments reimagined through burlesque and cabaret. Now I must admit, I’m not the most up to date on the “classics” so a few did go over my head. Not that that’s a reflection on the performances. There was a recreation of the From Dusk Till Dawn beer scene and a sultry Jessica Rabbit performance of “Why Don’t You Do Right”. And even a Catwoman sequence complete with whip tricks, including knocking a flower from someone’s mouth. Genuinely impressive.

The Magic Mike segment? The audience absolutely lost their minds. The girls and the gays were thriving. Audience members were selected for lap dances, although one participant looked like she was ready to take it a step further. It was chaos, fun chaos, but slightly uncomfortable watching by the end. On the flip side, a dominatrix-style act dragged on with more talking than performance. And the Jaws moment, whilst creatively lit in blue with aerial swimming, lacked the payoff expected when you hear those iconic sounds.

STRONG TALENT BUT SLIGHTLY MISLEADING BILLING

The show is billed as featuring “the best stunts”, and while there are some standout skills on display, the balance tips heavily towards burlesque. That’s not inherently a problem, but it does create a slight mismatch between expectation and delivery. I would have liked to see a little more variety. But there are some great skills on show, including Lady Lydia’s jaw-dropping hair-hanging moment during Moulin Rouge. I genuinely cannot comprehend the pain tolerance, skill and control required to learn and perfect that. It was astonishing to watch.

Costume-wise, they absolutely deliver. The pink Marilyn gown from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and Jessica Rabbit’s iconic red sparkly dress are visually striking. Austin Powers’ purple suit and the fembot outfits were another highlight. This was actually one of my favourite acts of the night. Camp, sharp and genuinely funny in a way that felt more polished than some of the other segments. It’s clear that real thought has gone into the visual side of the production.

A FUN NIGHT OUT, BUT NOT A PERFECT PRODUCTION

The lighting was a bit all over the place, with Lolo even joking at one point about needing to be found. The sound also dipped during the start of the Chicago medley, which didn’t help. It’s also worth saying that if you’re a regular on the burlesque and cabaret circuit, this won’t be the most refined show you’ve seen. A little more cohesion, sharper pacing, and stronger technical consistency would elevate it significantly.

That said, there are strong performers here, and the highs are genuinely entertaining. If the show is approached as a lively, boozy night out rather than a meticulously crafted theatrical production, it absolutely works. The crowd were engaged, the costumes are striking, and there were moments of real fun scattered throughout. Seating is unreserved, so arriving early is essential as annoyingly, there are a few spots with restricted views. Sinematic isn’t a must-see masterpiece, but it is an entertaining evening with flashes of brilliance.

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