Give up your vows, your prayers and your last shreds of innocence. Halloween is nigh, and London has no shortage of variety shows to spend the holiday according to the true custom of its Celtic roots: in drunken debauchery. Choose your poison from This Is Cabaret’s selection of events for the unholiest time of the year and give in to sin.

 

Death Row Diva, Crimson Skye performs with no other support on stage than the severed head of his ex boyfriend

Burlesque artist Crimson Skye returns with a new one-off London date of Death Row Diva this Halloween

 

Terror 2012
October 16th-20th, 23rd-28th, 30th-31st; November 1st-3rd; 19:30. Soho Theatre (London W1D 3NE). £10-15 (£12.50-13.50 concessions)
Soho Theatre’s annual horror season returns with the world premiere of four short plays, interspersed with cabaret performances curated by Desmond O’Connor and Sarah-Louise Young. Guest acts at different dates include Holly Penfield, Dusty Limits, Jonny Woo and EastEnd Cabaret.
www.terrorseason.com

 

Real Horror Show
October 24th-25th, 19:00. Leicester Square Theatre (London WC2H 7BX). £9
Short plays written and performed by character comic Colin Hoult, with a cast including fellow comedians Anna Crilly, Tom Palmer, Humphrey Kerr and cabaret duo Frisky and Mannish.
www.leicestersquaretheatre.com

 

The Horror! The Horror!
October 24th-November 7th, 19:30 and 21:30. Wilton’s Music Hall (London E1 8JB). £17.50
Interactive site-specific, Victorian-themed performance by acclaimed company Theatre of the Damned.
www.wiltons.org.uk

 

Die Freche Muse Presents Halloween: Stars of the Silver Screen
Saturday, October 27th, 22:00. Secret Hackney location (London). £20 (£15 advance)
The party collective looks to Hollywood’s past for a macabre celebration of glamour. With burlesque from Banbury Cross, Billie Rae and Lalla Morte, plus live music from The Pricillas.
www.diefrechemuse.co.uk

 

Nathan Dean Williams Gives You the Willies
Saturday, October 27th, 21:00. Leicester Square Theatre (London WC2H 7BX). £10
Twisted tales from the character comic and performance storyteller, with special guest comedy duo Toby.
www.leicestersquaretheatre.com

 

White Mischief: Phantasmagoria
Saturday, October 27th, 21:00. Scala (London N1 9NL). £35 (£19.99 advance)
The London party’s traditional Halloween function, hosted by Dorian Black (AKA Dusty Limits). With juggler Mat Ricardo, burlesque duo Cherry and Ruby and hula hoop artist Emily Rose, as well as live music from Jarmean and Oompah Brass and interactive walkabout performance.
www.whitemischief.info

 

Hallowe’en
Wednesday, October 31st, 19:00 and 22:00. Volupté (London EC4A 1EJ ). £20
Apple-bobbing, prizes for the best costume and burlesque from Ooh La Lou (of The Folly Mixtures), Raven Six, Red Sarah and Sukki Singapora. Hosted by mind-reader Peter Antoniou.
www.volupte-lounge.com

 

Death Row Diva
Sunday, November 4th, 15:00. Leicester Square Theatre (London WC2H 7BX). £10
Acclaimed one-woman show by burlesque perfomer Crimson Skye (review).
www.crimsonskye.co.uk

 

Photo credits: Gui O’Connor, exclusively for This Is Cabaret