If you close your eyes and think about the word "cabaret," you probably see Liza Minnelli in a bowler hat or maybe a dimly lit basement in 1920s Berlin with a lot of cigarette smoke. Most people think it’s just a musical or a specific type of burlesque. It’s not.
So, cabaret: what is it exactly?
At its simplest, it’s a form of theatrical entertainment featuring music, song, dance, recitation, or drama. But that definition is honestly a bit clinical. Cabaret is defined more by the space than the script. It’s a performance where the fourth wall—that imaginary barrier between the actor and the audience—doesn't exist. You aren't sitting in a dark row of 500 people looking up at a distant stage. You’re at a table. You have a drink. The performer might be three feet away, look you dead in the eye, and ask you a question that makes you spill your gin. It’s intimate, often messy, and usually political.
The French Roots and the "Chat Noir"
We have to go back to 1881. Paris.
Rodolphe Salis opened Le Chat Noir in the Montmartre district, and that’s basically where the modern concept took flight. Before this, you had taverns and you had theaters, but they didn't really mix the "high art" of poetry and political satire with the "low art" of drinking and rowdy social gathering.
Le Chat Noir was a chaotic melting pot. You’d have aristocratic poets rubbing elbows with anarchists and painters like Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. They weren't just there to watch a show; they were there to argue. The "master of ceremonies" (the MC or Conférencier) became the glue. This person wasn't just an announcer. They were a provocateur. They’d insult the guests, comment on the morning’s headlines, and keep the energy tight.
Eventually, this vibe spread to Germany, which is where things got dark, edgy, and arguably much more interesting.
The Weimar Era: Art as Survival
When people ask about the "golden age" of cabaret, they’re usually talking about the Weimar Republic in Germany (roughly 1919 to 1933). Think about the context. Germany had just lost a world war. Hyperinflation was so bad that people were literally bringing wheelbarrows of cash to the bakery to buy a loaf of bread. There was a desperate, "live for today because tomorrow we might starve" energy.
In Berlin, cabaret became the place where you could say the unsayable.
It was deeply queer-friendly long before that was mainstream. Places like the Eldorado were safe havens for the LGBTQ+ community. Performers like Anita Berber shocked audiences by dancing nude or sporting a bobbed haircut while snorting cocaine off a ring—not just for the sake of being scandalous, but as a giant middle finger to the conservative "old guard" who they felt had led the country into a senseless war.
The music changed here, too. Composers like Friedrich Hollaender and Kurt Weill started writing songs that sounded like a mix of jazz, classical, and street songs. These weren't "I love you" ballads. They were "the world is ending and the government is corrupt" anthems.
The Massive Misconception: Cabaret vs. Burlesque
This is where things get annoying for historians. People use these terms interchangeably.
Let's clear it up:
Burlesque is fundamentally about the art of the tease and parody. While modern burlesque (neo-burlesque) often has political themes, its primary vehicle is striptease and physical comedy.
Cabaret is a broader umbrella. You can have a burlesque act inside a cabaret show, but a cabaret show can also be 90 minutes of a woman in a turtleneck singing Sondheim songs and talking about her divorce.
The common thread is the "variety" aspect. A traditional cabaret "revue" is a patchwork quilt of different acts. A juggler, a singer, a satirical poet, and a dancer. It’s the original "scrolling through TikTok" but in a room with expensive cocktails.
What Makes a Modern Cabaret Show?
If you go to a show today—maybe at Joe’s Pub in New York, The Butterfly Club in Melbourne, or Crazy Coqs in London—what should you expect?
Honestly, it varies wildly.
- The Venue: It’s almost always small. Tables and chairs instead of rows.
- The Interaction: The performer will talk to you. If you’re on your phone, they will roast you.
- The Repertoire: Most cabaret singers perform the "Great American Songbook" (Gershwin, Porter, Berlin), but "alt-cabaret" artists like Taylor Mac or Meow Meow might perform punk covers or original avant-garde compositions.
- The Narrative: Unlike a concert where a singer just goes "Here’s another song from my album," a cabaret artist usually weaves a story. There’s a theme. They are taking you on a journey through their psyche or a specific historical moment.
Why Cabaret Still Matters in 2026
We live in an age of screens. We watch everything through a glass rectangle.
Cabaret is the antidote to that. You can't "filter" a cabaret performance in real-time. If the singer cracks a note or starts crying because the lyrics hit too hard, you’re right there with them. It’s one of the few remaining places where "unpolished" is actually a virtue.
It’s also still a vital space for marginalized voices. Because the overhead for a cabaret show is lower than a multi-million dollar Broadway musical, it’s often where the most radical, experimental, and diverse stories get told first.
Finding the Right Show for You
If you’re a beginner, don't just walk into a random bar that says "cabaret" on the door. Do a little homework.
For the "Classic" Vibe: Look for venues that mention the Great American Songbook. You’ll get high-quality vocals, beautiful gowns, and sophisticated storytelling. It’s very "Old Hollywood" meets "Manhattan Penthouse."
For the "Experimental" Vibe: Look for "alt-cabaret" or "performance art." This is where you’ll see the spirit of 1920s Berlin. It might be loud, it might be uncomfortable, and it will definitely be memorable.
For the "Political" Vibe: Search for "Spoken Word Cabaret." These shows lean heavily into the MC role, focusing on social commentary, satire, and current events.
Real-World Examples to Explore
To truly understand cabaret: what is it, you should look at the people who defined it and those who are reinventing it now.
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- Edith Piaf: The quintessential French cabaret singer. Her performances weren't about vocal perfection; they were about raw, bleeding emotion.
- Ute Lemper: Probably the greatest living interpreter of Weimar-era cabaret. If you want to hear what Berlin sounded like in 1928, listen to her.
- Alan Cumming: His "Club Cumming" and his legendary run as the Emcee in Cabaret (the musical) show the power of the host who is both welcoming and slightly dangerous.
- Justin Vivian Bond: A legend of the New York scene who proved that cabaret could be a powerful tool for trans visibility and radical queer joy.
Actionable Steps for the Aspiring Cabaret Goer
If you want to experience this world, don't just read about it.
1. Check the "Cabaret Scenes" in Major Cities
Most major cities have a dedicated cabaret scene. In London, it’s Soho. In New York, it’s Midtown and the Village. Look for listings in local arts papers rather than just TripAdvisor.
2. Follow the Artists, Not Just the Venues
The best cabaret performers are nomads. They might play a tiny room one week and a massive festival the next. If you find a performer whose style you like, follow them on social media to see where they’re popping up.
3. Understand the Etiquette
It’s not a movie theater. You can laugh, you can clap, and you can drink. But don't talk during the songs. The intimacy that makes cabaret great also makes it very fragile. If you’re chatting with your friend, the performer can hear every word, and so can everyone else in the 50-seat room.
4. Look Beyond the "Musical"
The Kander and Ebb musical Cabaret is a masterpiece, but it’s a fictionalized version of the genre. Don't go to a cabaret show expecting every performer to be Sally Bowles. Some of the best cabaret in the world involves no fishnets or sequins at all.
5. Support the "Open Mic" Nights
Many cabaret venues have "piano bar" or "open mic" nights (like Marie’s Crisis in NYC). This is the grassroots level. It’s where you see the raw connection between a person, a piano, and an audience. It’s the purest form of the art.
Cabaret is a conversation. It’s a mirror. It’s a way of looking at the world that refuses to be boring. Whether it’s a political satire that makes you think or a ballad that makes you weep, the goal is always the same: to make you feel something real in a room full of strangers.