Just off Tottenham Court road, between theatre venues and the busy Soho shopping hub, lies a basement hidden gem. I got in touch with Colin Savage to ask more about the history and ethos of the Phoenix Arts Club, home to international burlesque artists and LGBTQ+ circus stars alike.

What’s the history behind the Phoenix?

The Phoenix Arts Club was founded in 1988 as a hidden gem beneath the Phoenix Theatre, a place where West End performers could gather, experiment and keep the spirit of cabaret and variety alive after hours; over time it became a much-loved home for artists and audiences alike, shaped in no small part by the late Maurice Huggett, who ultimately left the club to Colin Savage and Ken Wright in his will, entrusting them with its future. When Colin and Ken first took it on, they often joke that they barely knew what half the light switches did, let alone how to run a venue of this character and complexity, but what they did have was a deep love of performance and a determination to protect and grow what Maurice had created. Over the past 15 years that passion has transformed the Phoenix into one of London’s most active and distinctive entertainment venues, now producing and hosting around 400 cabaret and variety shows a year, supporting thousands of performers, and maintaining its unique role as both a professional stage and a creative home at the heart of the West End.

What kinds of shows do you host?

The Phoenix Arts Club presents a vibrant, ever-changing programme that reflects the full spectrum of cabaret and live performance in the West End, from classic cabaret, variety and circus through to burlesque and proudly queer work, underpinned by a long-standing commitment to LGBTQ+ artists and audiences, recognised through our award-winning status within the community. Across the year we curate and produce our own in-house shows, working with over 300 cabaret, circus and variety performers to create polished, high-quality entertainment, while also opening our doors to “fringe”-style work led by external producers, giving space to new musical theatre, comedy and bold new writing to be developed and seen. The result is a unique ecosystem where established stars and emerging talent share the same stage, keeping the programme fresh, inclusive and creatively ambitious all year round.

What makes your venue different?

What sets the Phoenix Arts Club apart is that we remain one of the last truly independent venues of our kind in the West End, at a time when so many others have closed or been absorbed into larger groups, and when much of the surrounding LGBTQ+ nightlife has consolidated under single national operators such as Stonegate Group. In contrast, the Phoenix continues to operate as an authentic, artist-led space with its own distinct voice, championing the bold, the unexpected and the unapologetically different. We are a home for the full spectrum of alternative performance, from queer and experimental cabaret to circus, drag, neo-variety and boundary-pushing live work, creating a space where risk, individuality and creative freedom are not only welcomed but actively celebrated, and where audiences know they will experience something genuinely unique rather than something replicated or formulaic.

How do shows apply to your venue?

If you are a new artist looking to perform at the Phoenix Arts Club, we’d love to hear from you. We programme a wide range of work, from our in-house cabaret and variety shows to externally produced “fringe”-style performances. Artists interested in joining our in-house programme can apply through our programmer, Meghan Reign, while those looking to bring in their own show or production should contact our events and external shows producer, Katie Twist. The best way to get in touch in the first instance is by emailing marketing@phoenixartsclub.com with details of your act or proposal, along with any supporting material, and a member of the team will guide your enquiry to the right place.

How do audience members buy tickets?

Tickets for all Phoenix Arts Club shows can be booked online via our main booking page at https://phoenixartsclub.com/book-a-show/, where you’ll find our full programme of upcoming performances. If you’re a regular visitor, you can also become a member at https://phoenixartsclub.com/membership/, which includes four free tickets each month to our in-house shows, offering great value and a chance to experience even more of what we do.

Anything else?

For more updates, behind-the-scenes content and show announcements, you can follow us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok at @phoenixartsclub. We’d also love your support for our West End Gala Fundraiser on April 20th, a special night to help secure the future of the club.