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An Evening Without Kate Bush cabaret review: Capturing the spirit of the enigmatic performer

Sarah-Louise Young packs her tribute show with glorious moments

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An Evening Without Kate Bush cabaret review: Capturing the spirit of the enigmatic performer

This is a tribute show for people who don’t like tribute shows. While Kate Bush’s voice is undoubtedly present and correct in Sarah-Louise Young’s excellent portrayal, it never feels like Young is reaching for an exact impersonation. Rather, she captures the spirit and sensibilities of a performer who has been relentlessly, often cruelly, parodied since she first burst onto our collective consciousness back in the 70s.

Young tells us that the things that draw Bush’s fans together (collective noun: the fish people) are values of kindness and respect. She sets this up perfectly as she welcomes her audience, wandering among them to ask their favourite song. As the hits follow, the audience are encouraged to join in. ‘Yes, this show is interactive,’ says Young up top, but it’s always done gently. The show is, apparently, not about her or even Kate Bush; it’s about us, the audience, the fans. Young’s ‘just another perimenopausal lady in a leotard with two giant eyeballs’, as the vessel for our shared enjoyment.

Packed full of glorious moments (which change every night, depending on the audience), you don’t even have to be a Bush fan to enjoy the show; there’s enough humour and irreverence that it stands alone. Needless to say though, if you are a fan this will add another layer of richness, because Young knows her stuff, sings her stuff, dances her stuff and ultimately wants to share her stuff with you.

An Evening Without Kate Bush, The Garden Of Unearthly Delights, until 2 March (not 26 February), 6.55pm.

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