The cabaret artist Sabrage reveals London's secret spots for the night.

According to The Sun: London offers a multitude of nightlife options: from secret bars to restaurants that stay open late.

Cirque performer Emma Phillips delights fans every day with her extravagant cabaret show Sabrage at the Lafayette Theatre.

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Emma, who was born in New Zealand, possesses the skill of foot juggling and acrobatics. Her performances take place in St Pancras.

Emma's Favorite Spots After Performances

She starts her day around 4 PM with rehearsals, so she often leaves the theatre late. Here are her favorite spots:

“I love dining at 11 PM, and one of my favorite places is 27 Old Compton Street. It’s a small Italian restaurant that prepares amazing homemade pasta.'

“Or Bubala — they serve delicious vegetarian dishes, and on certain evenings the restaurant stays open until midnight.'

“At Granary Square, there is a cool bar Spiritland. It’s a 70s-style venue with records on the walls, and the menu is full of different Negronis.'

“Recently, I was in Soho and found a speakeasy called Opium Bar, which is quite unique.'

“It’s a hidden bar in the heart of Chinatown, so most people don’t even realize it exists.'

“I adore cocktails, and some of them here are quite interesting, even with popcorn, and they offer late dining and delicious dumplings.'

Emma has always been a performer and found her path after a trip to China, where she studied acrobatics. As a master of foot juggling, she balanced umbrellas and tables on her feet while performing in various countries.

Johan Persson

Unique Characteristics of the London Audience

Emma noted that the London audience is very different from audiences in other countries:

“I’m used to different styles of audiences, and in the beginning, we noticed that the London audience is very conservative.'

“They don't enjoy the performances as loudly, so they don’t applaud or shout like audiences in America or Australia.”

“Sabrage is not traditional theatre; we strive for everything to be fun and actively engage with the audience.”

Emma shared her memories of the loudest audiences:

“I performed a lot in Australia, and there are similar places, like Darwin and Newcastle, where the audience makes noise and has fun.”

“Australian audiences are the most crazy crowd I’ve ever seen. In Europe, for example, the German audience is quite restrained, though not as much as in London.”

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Emma emphasizes that her performances require a lot of effort: during the day she engages in recovery and physical exercises:

“During the day, I focus on recovery, physiotherapy, or even sit in an ice bath. My body is overloaded, and due to my specialization, I have to wear specific shoes.”

However, Emma tries to explore London during the day: visiting theatres, museums, and galleries, including the Picasso exhibition at Tate.

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On stage, she uses a lot of cosmetics:

“I constantly run out of perfume, which is quite expensive.”

Emma also loves to travel during her vacations and has already visited 40 countries. After the show, she plans a vacation for relaxation and diving:

“In July, we had a break, and I flew to the Maldives, where I spent two weeks diving – it was amazing.”

Emma notes: “The problem with traveling is that the more you travel, the more incredible places you discover.”

Carolina McGuire on Sabrage

Head of Sun Travel (Digital) Carolina McGuire on Sabrage:

“When your cheeks hurt from laughing after the show, you know it was fun.”

“I felt a huge disappointment when the fun ended, and the curtain fell on the final performance of the new Sabrage at Lafayette in London, where I was.”

“The show features dance numbers, juggling, pillow fights, physical comedy, acrobatics, and two of the funniest hosts I’ve ever seen in the West End.”

“This show is not for the faint-hearted – only for 16+, and they mean it.”

“Those who want to add glamour to their visit can pay for access to 'Nola's bar,' a secret speakeasy-style room.”

Tickets for the Sabrage show are available from £30.

Performances are held from Tuesday to Thursday at 7:30 PM, on Friday at 6:15 PM and 9:15 PM, on Saturday at 5:00 PM and 8:30 PM, and on Sunday at 5:00 PM.

Tickets are already on sale, and the last show is scheduled for December 31, 2025.

Matt Crockett Emma Phillips, a talented performer from New Zealand, is actively working in London, where she develops her talents in the circus cabaret Sabrage. Her favorite restaurants and bars in nighttime London testify to the diversity of the capital's culture and its gastronomic possibilities. London, with its rich nightlife, has now become the place where Emma opens new horizons for her career and personal development while enjoying every moment of her creative journey.