Candor's Alexander Shurever on cabaret and putting on a show at Wynn Palace Macau
Jul 22, 2024
The famed theatre troupe from Shanghai’s cabaret lounge Candor are paying their first visit to Wynn Palace Macau this month for a special edition of their hit show, Babylon. Lead actor, choreographer, and key producer of the show, Alexander Shurever, speaks to Abby Li about the charm of cabaret and putting on the show
The best part about cabaret is you never know what could happen next. One moment you are watching a drama, a song performance, and a group dance… Then before you know it, the actors are drinking and chatting with you at your table. It’s more than just a show – it’s a sensory feast and social gathering that offers an escape from the bustling city life.
Cabaret has a long history dating back centuries. But perhaps, the best-known establishment that specialises in this performance art is the one and only Moulin Rouge in Paris. But this art form has transcended geographical barriers and continues to captivate audiences today.
Candor in Shanghai is positioning itself as the red windmill (as Moulin Rouge is known) of China. Making its debut in 2015, it has taken over Chinese social media effortlessly with its electrifying shows and warm hospitality. With an array of shows that has gone viral, the top-tier theatre is performing its hit show Babylon exclusively at Wynn Palace in Macau in the coming weeks.
The idea of merely ‘watching’ a cabaret show is almost flawed since the crowd is always part of the show. A successful cabaret show is one in which the audience lives through the performers, according to Alexander Shurever, the lead actor of Candor. Don’t be intimidated by the idea of interacting with the stars – check out what advice Shurever has for the first-timers to cabaret.
How would you describe cabaret, this unique genre to our readers and your new audiences?
Cabaret is a mix of everything. It’s not just actors engaging between themselves, it’s more like actors engaging with the audience to make them part of the show, to make them feel different emotions. There is sometimes no particular storyline in cabaret. But there is still a theme around which the whole show structure is going on and kind of delivers some message. You can fill in really with different genre songs like from the past, from the present in different styles. It depends on what kind of story or emotion you want to express and describe.
You mentioned a cabaret is a mix of everything. What is the most important factor that contributes to a good show?
I think the most important thing is to make the audience feel those kinds of emotions that actors want to express or deliver. The audience has to live through the actors and feel like they are part of the show, part of the scene. Because the whole action is sometimes happening around you, so you feel sadness or jealousy or anger or happiness… Sometimes if the audience is not really shy, you can even dance with an actor. So the most important thing is to make the audience be part of this experience – to have fun.
How do you balance the modern and traditional approach in cabaret?
Actually, in cabaret, it really depends on the show, because we also have some different types of shows. In another show, we use more jazzy music, like maybe old style and stuff. This show, Babylon, is more like a modern plus old mix. If you watch the costumes of the show and the whole style, I wouldn’t say it’s completely modern. We try to do a mix in order to express each character to show a little bit more different sides. Some may be more like a fright, others represent lust, anger or jealousy, and some representing royalty. You know, it’s Babylon where the scenes live.
Can you run me through the behind-the-scenes of the show? When did you guys prepare for it? What’s the timeline like? What’s the inspiration?
Every show is different. Sometimes the process goes faster, sometimes slower. For this show, surprisingly, it was kind of fast. We came up with the idea with the creation team. I’m also a part of this creation team. We wanted to create this Babylon, a place where these people live and experience all these mixed feelings. It was kind of quick in the making but it became one of the hit shows at Candor in Shanghai. This show was the people’s favourite from the beginning.
When you say fast, how long was the production?
Around one month.
What’s special about the Wynn Palace version of Babylon?
We updated some costumes and also a little bit of new choreography for the place because this venue is bigger than our venue in Shanghai. It is also a little bit different time-wise. Because in Shanghai we have like three sets and here is a whole one-hour show with Wynn’s team helping us during this for changing costumes.
How was your collaboration with Wynn Palace when it came to designing the venue exactly how you wanted?
It’s good! Because for cabaret it’s more like people have to be able to eat and drink and at the same time experience the show – so it’s more about a relaxing atmosphere and having fun. They adjusted the decorations, the stage, and the ring because Candor Space in Shanghai has the same circle on the stage. And we had some requests for backstage like for makeup and stuff, so it was a collaboration.
What’s your pre-show routine like?
Before the show, I take time to do makeup first. I do all my makeup myself. And you know, warming up. This show we’ve been working on already for a while, so our team is already connected. But in the beginning, we would take some time to interact with each other and try to figure out how to act. Now we feel like we own the place totally so it’s not like we came as a guest, we are not here to entertain – we’re just here to have fun together.
What is your favourite character that you performed?
Actually, I kind of enjoy this character. It’s fun, it’s a little bit sensual and stuff, but I feel like inside of each person you have these small demons that want to come out. I enjoy flirting around with my audiences and sometimes maybe they’re shy at the beginning, but then they kind of start to relax and engage more, and they feel it – it’s not that scary.
For the audiences watching the show for the first time, what message do you have for them?
Don’t be shy and don’t be shy to react. If you want to clap, you clap. If you want to scream, you scream. Because for us, it helps when people react, when they support, and when they show their emotions. If they want to dance, they can dance. So just don’t be shy and really enjoy the show.
What is next for you and Candor?
We have Macau for three weekends. Later, we are going back to Shanghai because that’s our home. Yeah, so we still like doing shows there. Maybe we’ll go global around the world. One day!
What: Babylon cabaret show
Where: Wynn Palace Entertainment Event Marquee
When: July 19-20, 26-27, August 2-3