The Monocle

Wilton's Music Hall

Playing until 16th May 2026

Photo credit: Cave and Sky

{PR Gifted ticket}

Rather than focusing solely on techniques and expressive movements, The Monocle takes its time to set the scene and the characters that frequent Le Monocle club. This piece takes the audience through the night one step at a time, beginning with the unveiling of the bar and the entrance and all the way through to it closure when the light is finally switched off.

From a creative standpoint, choreographer Mathieu Geffré and costume and set designers Helen Hébert and Nate Gibson work their magic to create a narrative for the different characters of the club, including the customers, bartender and the bouncer. Performed by a group of talented dancers (Alyssa Lisle, Caroline Ryan, Coralie Calfond, Imogen Banks, Mutyat Anibaba, Natassa Argyropoulou, Ruth Howard, Zara Phillips), the ensemble complements each other’s movements to create an atmosphere unique to their own characters.

During the course of the show, we are shown a range of different characters, each unique in their own way. For a nightclub for lesbians, there is a whole range of persona and how experienced and comfortable they are to the venue. Some value discreetness, with identify masked by headscarf and sunglasses. This customer appears to be of a higher class and new to the establishment and might not have had prior exposure to this type of scene. She is treated with a level of respect and attention consistent with her status. On the other hand, we also see those that are more familiar with this setting and dive right into the club’s activities with ease.

The audience bear witness to the evolution of the club as the night progresses, including a bar fight, which in itself flips the more elegant and meticulously executed choreography as the brawl spirals into a more chaotic and comedic contest of strength and violence.

However, it is not simply all just entertainment and luxury. While Le Monocle acts as a safe haven for its clienteles, there are also danger lurking in the dark corners and attempts to penetrate the safety provided by the walls of the club. When the shadowy figures appear, the atmosphere becomes tense and disruptive, with the women retreat to hiding in any way they could, heightening the sense of danger and suspense immediately. However, it is questionable as to whether the show has taken the confines of the venue into consideration as during one of the scenes in which the dark shadowy figures perform their routine just off the stage closer to the audience members, this is barely visible from the middle and back of the stalls.

The different components of the show work together synergistically, elevating the experience of the audience members. The singer adds depth to the show’s background music, almost as if it is adding another layer of narrative and complexity to the show. The integration of a costumed BSL interpreter accompanying the singer is a welcomed addition, ensuring that this is part of the show without taking the experience away from the audience.

A phenomenally produced show that combines technical finesse and the ecstasy of freedom. Through the deliberate choices made to elevate the different types of characters, The Monocle succeeds in conveying a concept that evolves during the course of a performance, moving through the stages of discovery, delight, fear and finally closure.

Creatives

Choreographer: Mathieu Geffré

Associate Director / Dramaturg: Andrew Gardiner

Composer: James Keane

Set and Costume Design: Helen Hébert and Nate Gibson