01/04/13: An assemblage of biblical proportions besieged Vauxhall as the magnificently multi-faceted Jonathan Hellyer, aka RVT institution, the D. E. Experience, brought the curtain down on 14 thrill-packed years entertaining the masses with a sensational swan song of a show.
Governments have collapsed, disasters have wreaked havoc across the globe and the world economy has gone into meltdown since one of the most colourful and outrageous characters on the London gay scene made his RVT debut in 1999 – and whilst it might have been the end of an era, a two-hour greatest hits spectacular made sure we won’t forget this stalwart of the stage in a hurry.
Featuring a riotous rundown of roof-raising anthems, pop smashes, raucous repartee and weepy torch songs that had us blubbing into our beer, highlights included no end of crowd-pleasing standards, stripped-bare confessionals and a devastatingly fraught performance of ‘Don’t Cry for Me Argentina’, as an emotional audience gave the dayglo diva a send off worthy of any superstar.
Then, come Easter Monday, Vauxhall went bonkers as house music superstar Peyton marked a decade in the biz. A spectacular soiree of bumpin’ beats and sassy shenanigans, both on and off the stage, saw drag diva Myra Dubois getting the crowd in the party mood before the club king wowed his fans with a rocket-fuelled retrospective taking in his biggest dancefloor hits.
Peyton is one singing sensation with a back catalogue to be proud of. As if that wasn’t enough to keep us satisfied, there was even more excitement to come with DJ posse Simon Le Vans, Steve B and Sean Sirrs slamming down massive dance beats and commercial grooves through ‘til late. S.L.A.G.S/Chill-Out is back at the RVT this Sunday as the all-new Charlie Hides TV takes up onstage residency!
RVT, 372 Kennington Lane, Vauxhall, SE11 5HY
Words by Chris John
Photos by Chris Jepson and Mike Kear
