This is an evening of fun; more café cirque than café theatre, it amazes from the outset. Firstly it is held in the ruined wasteland of Battersea Power Station but in a marvellous heated mirror tent which you enter via a hear-shaped neon archway. You are greeted with welcome drinks of mint vodka before being seated by one of the costumed staff; the sheik of araby, a geishas - or if you are lucky, a tutu-clad transvestite ballet dancer on roller skates.

Once installed you have a chance to take in the magical space which glistenes with baubles and reflected candle light. Belgian mirror tents, of which there seem to be a revival lately ( Berlin, Edinburgh and New York all have them) date from the turn of the century when they housed bal musettes and popular entertainment on the continent. This one, complete with the performers, technicians and a full professional kitchen, originates from South Africa but travels the world.

Enjoying the glitz and glitter of it all you are served a high quality four-course meal: great antipasti, a tasty starter of mushroom ravioli in creamy cheese sauce and a main course of chilli chocolate beef ( or a choice of fish or lamb shanks ) followed by an indulgent desert medley of tiramisu toffee pudding and crème brûlée, coffee and petits fours.

The tables are disposed around a small circular stage on and above which, svelte acrobats, bearded ladies, masked girls in lacey cat suits and an assortment of sparkling and sequined trapeze performers swing and swirl between courses. At times they are replaced by The Three Tons of Fun, a trio of heavily curvaceous ladies who shimmer and shimmy as they harmonise timeless songs. Other times, Stella, a hip-wiggling lady of even more traditional build, sings risqué songs which even bring smiles to the faces of the most stressed-looking Londoners. The dress code is advertised as ‘ anything from jeans to ball gowns’ but being England few of the audience had made much effort – which is a pity, this event is an invitation to forget one’s ordinary life and the cold world outside and come on in and party.

Madame Zingara’s Theatre of Dreams
Battersea Power Station
118 Kirtling Street
London SW8 5BP

Performances Monday-Sat 7pm From 12th December for 3 months.
Tickets £75.00 - £115.00 to include welcome drink, a decadent 4-course dinner and the show - but drinks and gratuities are extra.
Box office 0844 338 88 88
www.madamezingara.com

Patricia Cleveland-Peck