“The Curious Cabaret” – The Berliner (Beeston) December Show

“The Curious Cabaret” is famed for hosting regular magic and entertainment since 2021 at a number of ever increasing venues in the midlands. I finally made it to “The Berliner” venue in Beeston, which hosts one of the monthly “The Curious Cabaret” magic shows. The December 2025 lineup featured the amazing Billy Kidd, the magical Mr West and, of course, host and MC Chris Wilder who also organises and runs the show.

Each show is unique and intimate with around 50 tickets on sale per performance. Each month, different artists walk the stage which helps attract repeat custom and opportunities to see world class magic. I understand the venue has about 50 artists who are on the books to perform. All the performers are well known names in the industry.

The venue was conveniently located with a car park opposite in Beeston. Upon arrival, guests are warmly greeted by a host who seats you and introduces you to where the bar is, which also serves food and drinks. While I did not eat, I could be tempted next time and I could see pizza and other food items being ordered.

The venue also serves up cocktails and is an ideal location for a night out with friends and family for a drink. The doors opened at 7pm and the show began at 8pm, which ran until 10pm with a couple of intermissions.

The intimate setup of the venue ensures that you should get a great view. The cabaret-style table setting with small tables encourages socialising. I was seated with a couple intrigued by live magic, as one had a keen interest in the art and the other wanted to see magic live. The audience was a mix of magic enthusiasts, magicians and many simply seeking a magical evening of entertainment. The friendly crowd eagerly participated in the interactive elements and many attend regularly.

With the Magical Mr West and amazing Billy Kidd

The raised stage is quite a decent size for a small venue with lighting, effects and suitable Curious Cabaret branding. A very professional and suitable setting.

Chris Wilder introduced the show and performed interactive comedy magic to set the tone for the evening’s entertainment. He used spoons hoops and cubes to entertain the audience.

Organising regular magical entertainment like “The Curious Cabaret” is no easy feat and it was incredible to witness Chris’s dedication pay off with a sold-out venue. Keep an eye out for future shows and visit the Curious Cabaret website for more information (link at end).

The Magical Mr West wowed the audience with his hilarious card and rope magic. Many were simply astounded by the rope effect, probably believing they understood the trick until they witnessed the impossible and gasped in amazement. His performance even explored science and physics subtely, maintaining the show’s uniqueness while staying true to Mr West’s tradition of blending magic and science.

Although I’d seen Mr West perform a few times before, I finally got to see Billy Kidd perform live who is another renowned magician.

Billy’s interactive and comedic routine is truly unique. It combines sleight of hand, card magic, silks and a fully acted-out story. Another performance that was perfectly suited to the venue and made the most of the situation. Very funny.

My reviews intentionally avoid revealing too much about performances to keep the element of surprise. To learn more about any of the artists, please visit their websites at the end of this piece.

This small venue is perfect for magic enthusiasts. The artists mingle with the audience after each performance and I managed to grab the selfie above.

It was a very positive and enjoyable evening. If you’re planning to eat there, it’s worth arriving early. There are two intermissions, but you can visit the bar whenever you like.

As well as “The Berliner” in Beeston, you can also catch “The Curious Cabaret” at:

Cosy Club – Nottingham

The Blue Room – Lincoln

For the latest details and additional advertised shows, do visit the website below.