Pure 'brel'-liance (headline courtesy of Claire Hartnett!)

Having never been to Liverpool, despite it only being a quick hop across the Irish Sea, I decided that this year would be the best year to do it. The city is currently basking in prestigious glory under the title of European Capital of Culture.

With only a month and a half left before the end of 2008, I realised that time was certainly of the essence and so I set myself a specific goal.

One night in Liverpool. One night to experience something unique and interesting. One night to find out what this little city had to offer. An all night drinking session in a bar or club was ruled out, considering that Dublin has an extensive range of this kind of culture anyway. So what could I do?

The options seemed plentiful – an architecture exhibition, an LGBT festival, a dance show at one of the universities. Certainly I had a wide range of choices but then I found the event that seemed a little more interesting to me - ‘The Potting Shed Cabaret celebrates the Nouveau Beaujolais (sic)’.

In itself, it didn’t sound particularly spectacular. When in France, I had celebrated the
Beaujolais Nouveau– a somewhat pointless celebration that simply involved drinking a glass of unexciting red wine.

However, the venue for the evening was to be a brightly coloured ship moored in Canning Dock, just footsteps away from its more famous neightbour, Albert Dock – home of the Tate Liverpool and the Beatles Story museum.

Arriving in Liverpool felt anti-climatic – the outskirts look grey in the rain – unsurprising, of course, being that this is north England at the end of November. The centre of the city is much more pleasant. It feels busy and lively even in the drizzle and narrow down-hill streets lead the way to the cabaret destination.

Walk the Plank is the theatre company that uses the ship as a base. Once used for touring productions around the UK and Ireland, the boat has found its home in front of the Liver building and is unlikely to take to the sea again.

However this 200 capacity venue, which can sleep sixteen crew, plays host to a variety of performers and artists with seasonal shows, theatrical pieces and the monthly cabaret.

The Beaujolais Nouveau celebration is being curated by Nuala Dorrity and Tony Cairns. Nuala is a Northern Irish born actress and musician for whom tonight is one in a series of collaborations with the venue:

“I met a couple of people working on this touring threatre ship and thought it sounded amazing. The director auditioned me for Noah’s Ark and I travelled round the British Isles with them. It was a very physical, sweaty show. The company is so versatile and I really got into that. I’ve performed in most of the cabarets since 2006.”

Hosting a cabaret on a boat is a fantastic idea in practice although for those who have decided to follow the French theme, clambering onboard in heels and swishing feather boas is a little more difficult.

Downstairs in the hold, groups of besuitted men and their elegantly dressed female friends sit around candlelight tables - it feels like a world away from the brash Liverpool outside.

The main focus of the evening is Dead Belgian – a four-piece group who perform the songs of Jacques Brel in both English and French. Nuala has been involved with the band for a number of years:

“Andy, our drummer saw me in a play and liked my voice. Liverpool is a small city – people working in the arts get to know each other. He loved Jacques Brel’s music. It is amazing, so threatical with beautiful arrangements. I don’t speak any French, in fact I got an E at GCSE. I know what the translation means but I’m starting to perform it better.”

Nuala and the other performers in the group are an incredibly gifted group of musicians. From the moment the first strain of the accordion pierces through the boat, there is absolute silence and awed respect.

Despite Nuala’s claim not to have spoken French two years previously, it is impossible to tell as her voice soars and falls with the alternating joy and melancholy of Brel’s lyrics. The music commands attention but the group are keen to have the audience involved and participating rather than listening in hushed quiet.

A break between songs leads to a ‘Guess the cheese’ competition. Under every seat in the boat, a small piece of cheese has been packaged and attached. Everyone is invited to participate in tasting and guessing.

There are further competitions where a cheese is presented using shadow puppetry on a screen behind the performers on stage. Small french-themed gifts are given to the winners. It’s a completely frivilous game but one that has the audience laughing and eagerly joining in.

“Everyone is there to have a laugh,” explains Nuala. “It’s incredibly light-hearted. The evening was divided into sections so that people could drink and talk to their friends. It holds attention and keeps everyone revived.”

A clever ploy and one that works. As the group continue their performance, couples jump up to dance to the music as it becomes more raucous and vibrant. A fire eater shows off by the side of the stage and the shadow puppetry continues behind Dead Belgian. A group of can can dancers initiate an impromptu game of limbo dancing.

The evening quickly becomes organised madness – and instead of being on a rickety boat in Liverpool, I feel like I am in the freedom and celebration of 1950s Paris. It feels wonderfully decadent and confusing. As the night ends and I stumble back on dry land, I find myself wishing that I could stay on the boat – forever a part of this flamboyant french atmosphere.

“Theatre is a form of escapism,” says Nuala. “Everyone wants a little world for a couple of hours where they can do something they wouldn’t do in normal day to day life. Here, they come to a place where so many others are sharing in the same way. It gives the imagination a chance to explode.”