Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club: They Cover Your Phone Cameras

They cover up the cameras on your phone. Not ask you to put it away. Cover the lenses, on arrival, before you go in.

“Upon arrival, you will be asked to cover up the cameras on your phone. Photography and videos inside the club is strictly prohibited at all times. This is an experience for your eyes only. Keep it in the Kit Kat Club.”

No other West End venue does this. Dennis Severs’ House bans photography and trusts you; the Kit Kat Club physically disables the camera. It is the clearest signal of what the evening is: a room that works only if nobody is filming it.

The dress code is four sentences long

And it is the best answer to the question any London venue gives.

“Is there a dress code? This is Berlin. Relax. Loosen up. Be yourself.”

That is the whole policy. No bans, no “smart casual”, no judgement at the door. Plenty of the audience dress for 1930s Berlin, and plenty turn up in jeans. Both are correct.

Set that against Carbone, ten minutes away, which bans shorts, open-toed shoes and tank tops and may refuse anyone insufficiently well-presented.

Eighty-five steps to the Upper Circle

The Playhouse Theatre publishes its step counts, and they are the steepest we have found in London.

Foyer to Upper Circle: 85 steps.

Foyer to Dress Circle Bar: 59 steps.

Foyer to Dress Circle Front: 32 steps.

Stage Door to Basement Bar: 28 steps.

Foyer to Basement Bar: 25 steps.

“All staircases do have a hand rail.”

Eighty-five steps beats the London Palladium’s 72 to its Grand Circle, and these are the cheap seats at both houses. If stairs are a problem, the Upper Circle here is a five-storey climb.

The step-free position is blunt: “The only step free level is the Stalls which can be accessed via the side door.”

So the Stalls, by the side door, or stairs. There are 6 wheelchair positions, with numerous seats suitable for transferring. The accessible toilet is in the main foyer, with step-free access from the stalls auditorium only.

Of the three bars, in the Foyer, Dress Circle and Basement, only the Gold Bar in the Foyer has step-free access, and at-seat service is available on request.

Every seat is exactly 45cm

Unusually, there is no variation at all.

“Every seat in the theatre is 45cm wide and has arm rests. The seats are flip-up style.”

One width throughout, armrests on all of them. That makes it simpler than the Coliseum, where widths run from 40cm to 50cm depending on level, and it means paying more here buys a better view rather than a bigger seat.

Six £25 seats a day, by lottery

The cheapest legitimate way in, and the timings are tight.

“At every performance, six exceptional seats priced at just £25, including tickets at a cabaret table, are distributed via a daily mobile lottery in partnership with TodayTix.”

Note what is in the pool: seats at a cabaret table, which are among the most sought-after in the building, not restricted-view seats in the roof.

How it runs:

Entries open at 00.01am for that day’s performances.

Entries close four hours before the performance time.

Winners are notified by email or push notification and have 30 minutes to accept.

So enter overnight or first thing, and watch your phone in the afternoon. A win you do not accept within half an hour goes back.

Arrive early, and the time depends on your ticket

There is pre-show entertainment, and two different recommended arrival times.

With a stage-side dining package, or an Entrée or Willkommen Experience reservation: 6.15pm for evenings, 12.45pm for matinees.

With standard tickets: 6.30pm for evenings, 1pm for matinees.

In both cases the point is the same: the club opens well before the show and the pre-show performance is part of what you paid for. Arriving at five to curtain-up means missing a substantial chunk of the experience.

Running time is approximately 2 hours 45 minutes including one interval, so evening performances normally end at 10.15pm and matinees at 4.45pm.

Once it starts, you may not get back in for half an hour

Honest about the consequence rather than just the rule.

“Once the main show begins, we cannot guarantee readmission to the auditorium. This is for both your safety and the safety of the cast. It may be up to a 30-minute wait before being allowed back to your seat.”

Up to thirty minutes, in a show that runs 165 minutes. Their advice is sensible: “If you have any requirements which mean you are likely to need to leave the auditorium for whatever reason, please speak to a member of staff before the show begins.”

Related, and rarely published anywhere: “We recommend customers with claustrophobia contact the Access Champion prior to their visit as some areas of the building may not be suitable.”

The Playhouse has been reconfigured in the round and the space is deliberately close. That warning is worth taking at face value.

No e-bikes, and bag checks will slow you down

The cloakroom is in the basement, by the Red Bar, next to the toilets and near the stairway, with a charge per item.

Two restrictions: “We are unfortunately unable to store e-bikes or e-scooters inside the venue”, and a warning about luggage: “it will result in a delay to you entering the space due to the baggage checks in place.”

So travel light, and if you must bring a bag, build in queue time.

Exchanges cost £3 and need 48 hours

Five conditions, all published.

“Exchanges must be for the same run of the show and at the same venue.”

“Exchanges must be for tickets of the same value or higher.”

“The exchange must take place 48 hours before the start of the performance.”

“Discounts are only honoured if they are also valid for the replacement performance.”

“Exchanges are subject to a per ticket administrative charge of £3.”

Same value or higher is the one to note: you cannot move down to a cheaper seat and pocket the difference. And if your original was discounted, the discount only carries if it applies to the new date too.

If a performance is cancelled, they offer a full credit voucher or an exchange rather than cash.

Booking is encouraged online, but the box office takes calls on 0333 009 6690.

Access booking, in detail

The Playhouse publishes more than most, and the numbers are worth keeping.

Access Booking Line: 0333 009 5399. Typetalk: 1800 1 0333 009 5399. Both open daily 9am to 6pm. The box office takes in-person bookings 10am to 8pm, Monday to Saturday.

Joining the ATG Access Scheme enables online booking of accessible seats, registration for access concessions and, for some customers, reserving Personal Assistant tickets. There is a dedicated Access Host on site.

For audio described performances: sit in the Stalls only, and for a closer view of the stage the theatre recommends Stalls Row M. Touch Tours are sometimes offered alongside, advertised when available.

Assistance dogs are welcome, and theatre staff will look after your dog during the performance if requested in advance or on arrival. If you would rather keep the dog with you, contact them so your seats have space.

Nearest accessible parking is Q-Park, Cockspur Street, SW1A 2TS. The venue is listed on Euan’s Guide with independent reviews.

What it is, and where

Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club, Playhouse Theatre, Northumberland Avenue, London.

Rebecca Frecknall’s Olivier Award-winning production, now in its fifth year in the West End, staged in a Playhouse Theatre reconfigured in the round so the audience sit as patrons of the club itself.

The roles have passed through a long line of names: Eddie Redmayne and Jessie Buckley, who both won Oliviers, then Rebecca Lucy Taylor and Jake Shears, Billy Porter and Marisha Wallace, and more recently Eva Noblezada and Reeve Carney as Sally Bowles and the Emcee.

One thing to check before booking if a particular performer is the reason you are going: the production does not guarantee any individual appearance, and there is a published FAQ on whether leads appear at every performance.

Age guidance: “We recommend that children younger than 13 do not attend the Kit Kat Club.”

Getting there: Charing Cross and Embankment are both less than a 5 minute walk. Buses 3, 6, 9, 11, 12, 23, 24, 87, 88, 91, 139 and 453 all stop within a 10 minute walk.

How to plan it

Your phone cameras get covered on arrival. No photos or video at any point.

Dress however you like. There is no dress code.

Cheapest way in: the TodayTix lottery, six seats at £25, entries from 00.01am closing four hours before, 30 minutes to accept a win.

Arrive 6.30pm for an evening, 1pm for a matinee with standard tickets, earlier with a dining package. The pre-show is part of it.

Ends about 10.15pm in the evening, 4.45pm for matinees.

Do not plan to step out. Readmission is not guaranteed and may take 30 minutes.

Claustrophobic: contact the Access Champion first.

Upper Circle is 85 steps. Only the Stalls are step-free, via the side door.

Every seat is 45cm wide, so paying more buys the view, not the space.

Exchange: £3 a ticket, 48 hours ahead, same value or higher.

Travel light. Bag checks delay entry, and no e-bikes or e-scooters.

Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club

Address

Playhouse Theatre, Northumberland Avenue, London

Nearest

Charing Cross and Embankment, both less than a 5 minute walk. Buses 3, 6, 9, 11, 12, 23, 24, 87, 88, 91, 139 and 453 within a 10 minute walk

Hours

Running time approximately 2 hours 45 minutes including one interval, so evenings normally end at 10.15pm and matinees at 4.45pm. Doors open well before the show for pre-show entertainment, with recommended arrival of 6.30pm for evenings and 1pm for matinees on standard tickets, or 6.15pm and 12.45pm with a dining package. Access Booking Line 0333 009 5399 daily 9am to 6pm, box office in person 10am to 8pm Monday to Saturday

Booking

Online is encouraged, with the box office on 0333 009 6690. Exchanges must be for the same run and venue, for tickets of the same value or higher, at least 48 hours before the performance

Price

By performance. A daily TodayTix lottery releases six seats at 25 pounds for every performance, including seats at a cabaret table. Exchanges carry a 3 pound per ticket administrative charge

Standing

Rebecca Frecknall’s Olivier Award-winning production of Cabaret, in its fifth year in the West End, staged in the Playhouse Theatre reconfigured in the round as the Kit Kat Club

How to get in

Phone cameras are covered up on arrival and photography and video are prohibited throughout. There is no dress code at all: the venue’s answer is This is Berlin, relax, loosen up, be yourself. Pre-show entertainment runs before the main performance, so arrival is recommended well ahead. Readmission is not guaranteed once the show begins and may take up to 30 minutes. The Upper Circle is 85 steps up from the foyer and only the Stalls are step-free, via the side door, with 6 wheelchair positions. Every seat in the theatre is 45cm wide with armrests. Customers with claustrophobia are advised to contact the Access Champion first, as some areas may be unsuitable. E-bikes and e-scooters cannot be stored.

Where to go next

Cheap theatre tickets covers the lotteries and day seats, and the West End shows page covers what else is on.

The London Coliseum and the Palladium publish their own access detail, and pre-theatre dinner covers eating near Charing Cross.

Questions we get asked

Can you take photos at Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club?

No, and the venue goes further than most: on arrival you are asked to cover up the cameras on your phone. Photography and video inside the club are strictly prohibited at all times. As the venue puts it, this is an experience for your eyes only.

Is there a dress code for Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club?

No. The venue's published answer in full is: This is Berlin. Relax. Loosen up. Be yourself. Some of the audience dress for 1930s Berlin and some arrive in jeans, and both are fine.

How can you get cheap tickets for Cabaret in London?

Through the daily lottery. Six seats priced at £25, including seats at a cabaret table, are released for every performance via TodayTix. Entries open at 00.01am for that day's performances and close four hours before the performance time, and winners are notified by email or push notification with 30 minutes to accept their tickets.

How long is Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club?

Approximately 2 hours 45 minutes including one interval, so evening performances normally end around 10.15pm and matinees around 4.45pm. Pre-show entertainment runs before that, and the venue recommends arriving at 6.30pm for evenings or 1pm for matinees on a standard ticket, earlier with a dining package.

Can you leave your seat during Cabaret?

You can leave, but you may not get straight back. The venue states that once the main show begins it cannot guarantee readmission, and that it may be up to a 30 minute wait before you are allowed back to your seat. If you think you may need to leave, they ask you to speak to staff before the show starts.

Is the Kit Kat Club wheelchair accessible?

Partly. The Stalls are the only step-free level, reached via the side door, and there are 6 wheelchair positions with numerous seats suitable for transferring. The accessible toilet is in the main foyer with step-free access from the stalls only, and of the three bars only the Gold Bar in the Foyer is step-free, though at-seat service is available on request. The Upper Circle is 85 steps up from the foyer. The Access Booking Line is 0333 009 5399, open daily 9am to 6pm.

How wide are the seats at the Playhouse Theatre?

Every seat in the theatre is 45cm wide, has armrests and is flip-up style. There is no variation by level, so unlike most West End houses paying more buys a better view rather than a larger seat.

Is Cabaret suitable for children?

The venue recommends that children younger than 13 do not attend the Kit Kat Club. It also advises customers with claustrophobia to contact the Access Champion before visiting, as some areas of the reconfigured in-the-round building may not be suitable.