Hersh Dagmarr, the immortal wandering ghost of a European yesteryear, will deconstruct the songs of The Pet Shop Boys and transport them to the Weimar Berlin era in his new show Indefinite Leave To Remain – The Songs of the Pet Shop Boys at London’s Crazy Coqs cabaret venue on Friday 28 June 2024.
This is not a tribute show, this is a love letter to London in the words and music of Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, and it is an ode to finding one’s home. Expect classic hits such as West End Girls, Heart, Rent, I’m Not Scared and I Wouldn’t Normally Do This Kind Of Thing.
The London-based singer/songwriter and visual artist will be joined by pianist and arranger extraordinaire Karen Newby to put a unique twist on the hits of the legendary synth-pop duo.
You’re bringing Indefinite Leave To Remain to Crazy Coqs, what can you tell us about the show?
“Indefinite Leave to Remain” is a cabaret show in the form of a love letter to London based on the words and music of the Pet Shop Boys.
As a French expat artist I always wanted to testify of my appreciation for this city which has been my home for more than 13 years and no other songbook was a better fit than the Pet Shop Boys one. In the show I endorse the alter ego character I have been using as a common thread in all my shows. He is a ghost or a vampire or just the memory of one of the nightlife creatures from the 1920s Weimar Berlin demi-Monde and cabaret scene and has travelled through present times to tell his stories.
But it’s not a tribute show is it, what makes this different?
It is not a tribute show per se because although I’m obviously a huge fan, I don’t directly pay homage to Neil and Chris in it. This is more of a monologue and the PSB songs are used to illustrate the premise and the themes evoked. It’s basically a lengthy discussion I have with London as if in a love relationship. And as every long term love relationship it’s layered, complex and can be quite fierce!
What inspired you to deconstruct the songs of the Pet Shop Boys?
Well I always thought their material had such potential for theatricality and drama in a very traditionally British stoic manner. Obviously it is pop music so it is quite produced on the records but when stripped bare to their minimal arrangements form with just a piano all that theatricality and dramatic quality is revealed. The melodies, the words, the overall wit, the irony and the longing melancholy. In a word the romanticism of it all. Perfect for cabaret.
But to be honest one of the things I like the most with my cabaret shows’ creative process in general is precisely the deconstruction work. And that’s what we have been doing with my brilliant pianist and arranger Karen Newby who is on stage with me, taking a material that was not written for that gender whatsoever and twisting it to the core. Taking it to a totally different place.
And why the Weimar Berlin Era, what is it about that era you find so interesting?
My cabaret act is and has always been naturally very much drenched in this influence. And I am aware I am not the only one. The Weimar Berlin Cabaret scene has always been fascinating to so many artists, painters, musicians, film makers. Personally, it’s a visceral attraction for this short parenthesis in time that had such a massive impact. Its aesthetics, its freedom and energy, its wits, its conjuring dark humour, its boldness, creativity and gender binding. An unprecedented and yet unequalled apex of progressiveness. Nothing is new, it all started in Weimar Berlin.
What are you looking forward to most about performing at Crazy Coqs?
I LOVE the Crazy Coqs so much. As a performer the conditions are ideal and the space is just so glamorous, elegant and beautiful it becomes part of the show!
Also I have to say the audience of the Crazy Coqs has always been a perfect mix of musical theatre, cabaret and chanson lovers which happens to be a perfect fit for my act.
What would you say to anyone thinking of booking to see Indefinite Leave To Remain?
I would tell them whether you are a PSB fan or not, come for a night of cabaret and passionate live performance but most and foremost a night of great music.
