Archive
Soho Theatre Walthamstow In Association With John Mackay and Tim Whitehead

Justin Vivian Bond

Sex with Strangers Fri 11 – Sat 12 Jul 25 120 minutes
An evening of song and poetry for, by, and about the outrageously gorgeous and mythical icon of dissolute glamour, Marianne Faithfull.

Last year as part of the fabled NYC cabaret venue Joe’s Pub’s 25th anniversary season, multi-disciplinary artist and downtown darling  Mx Justin Vivian Bond presented an evening of song and poetry for, by, and about the outrageously gorgeous, mythical icon of dissolute glamour: singer/ songwriter Marianne Faithfull who rose to fame in the 1960s and went on to become an eternal muse to countless artists in the music, literary, and fashion worlds.

On the eve of the premiere Marianne wrote: “Sending luck and love to dear Justin Vivian Bond who is about to embark on something extraordinary- a musical evening dedicated to little old me! How wonderful. Fly high like the divine songbird you are; I’ll be sending blessings across the water. Lots of love Marianne. Xxx”

Sharing the inspiration behind Sex with Strangers, V wrote: “When I was 16 years old on my way to work at the Dairy Queen in Hagerstown, MD I heard Marianne Faithfull’s, ‘Broken English’ on my parent’s car radio, and my world changed. She had impeccable taste in music and her brilliant songwriting reflected the hard-earned wisdom, magic, honesty, and sensuousness that bore witness to a lifetime of journeying toward self-knowledge. The title of my show ‘Sex With Strangers‘ is from a song on her 2002 studio album, ‘Kissin’ Time‘ which she co-wrote with Beck.  She was and remains a template for survival, and for me, she has provided a lifetime of inspiration. My band and I will perform stripped-down versions of her songs focusing mostly on songs from the latter part of her career in order to highlight their power and emphasize the poetry of their lyrics.  As a song interpreter who is in their 60s it is especially meaningful to me to sing words that were written from the perspective of an adult woman, to feel and express the depth and hard earned wisdom of a mature and enlightened person.’

Photos; Biographies in Light; Courtesy of Apparatus Studios – Matthew Pacek

Please note: running time includes an interval

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This show has now passed, but we have a full festival programme of comedy, theatre and cabaret throughout the year. Check out what's on now to find more great shows coming up.

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Reviews

'The greatest cabaret artist of their generation'
New Yorker
'Justin Vivian Bond is a transatlantic cabaret messiah'
Time Out

Justin Vivian Bond

Soho Theatre Walthamstow

186 Hoe Street, Walthamstow, London, E17 4QH

We are a 5 minute walk from Walthamstow Central tube station, which is only 20 minutes from central London on the Victoria Line, and 15 minutes from Liverpool Street station on the Overground.

There are numerous buses that stop nearby and outside the venue.

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KIKI & HERB are TRYING!

Justin Vivian Bond and Kenny Mellman bring their acclaimed act, Kiki and Herb back to London for the first time since 2007.
Featuring their trademark mix of hilariously dark stories and fabulously offbeat covers and medleys. The New York cabaret legends descend upon Soho Theatre, Walthamstow for three nights only.

Find out more