Marvelling at the stained glass surrounds, the tented top and circular expanse of intimacy, I could feel the magic waiting to be released. I found myself forgetting about the zero degree existence outside. I stood inside a grand mirror tent, a ‘spiegelpaleis’, dwarfed only by its neighbouring London landmark of the Battersea Power Station. I felt like I had fallen into the rabbit hole, sliding deeper into Alice’s land of wonder. But tonight I was part of Madame Zingara’s world of wonder. Madame Zingara’s Theatre of Dreams to be exact. An experience shipped in from the fair shores of South Africa. While Madame Zingara doesn’t sound particularly African, it was in fact in Cape Town in 2002 where this fine concept first morphed into magnificent being. From the maze of multiple rooms of the original restaurant with an abundant array of hats to wear for the evening, Madame Zingara has always been about exquisite entertainment and playful fun, as well as excellent food, becoming renowned in Cape Town as the home of thee chili chocolate steak! But this delightful den of decadence was ended abruptly by a devastating fire in 2006. But even a burnt out shell would not keep the magic away, re-incarnating its mystical world into one of only 17 of these special Belgian tents in the world (and the first to reach African shores). With a shiny new shell, Madame Zingara’s ‘Theatre of Dreams’ blossomed into being with more fabulous performers and fantastical characters than before. Still in Cape Town, and still serving an incredible array of culinary delights, the show did go on.
 Put the show on the road As the myth of Madame Zingara goes, she was a gypsy maid who travelled from Europe to the Cape where she woo’ed and wow’ed with her charms and delights. In true gypsy style, it was not long until the Madame Zingara concept took to the roads of SA – traveling to Joburg and Durban. And now in its first trip abroad, Madame Zingara has come to London, tent and all, together with a 45 South African strong staff, for a three month run to wow with its dinner theatre experience of escapism 
and delight! Let the show begin “Surrender your senses and your disbeliefs... let us tempt you, tease you, please you... and feed you.” An amuse bouche of mushroom soup infused with herbs that hypnotise, followed by a creamy walnut and rocket smattering over ravioli – always just enough to tantalise before whisking you away to the next sensory experience. Deep mystical beats set to operatic chanting and hauntingly soothing sounds, costumes delicate in lace and bold in skin. An entire room of faces fixated towards the big top. Aerial acts, burlesque benders, twisters and twirlers all morphing into the music. A mythical stilted character that talks in riddle and flowing rhyme. Trapese artists, rope acts, contortionist creativity and body balancing brilliance where the human form flows so effortlessly, bends so beautifully, gyrates so gracefully. It’s glamorous and sexy, it’s reality and fantasy, its Madame Zingara’s Theatre of Dreams. Knowing only the moment, I am awed. I am mesmerised. And then the next course arrives, perfectly balanced in taste. Moments before are mere dreams, experiences fading into memory… Until you are transfixed, transformed and transported again to another magical moment of cabaret, song, cirque or acrobatics. Tons of Fun And then come the ‘Original Tons‘, clad in golden outfits accentuating their voluptuous bosoms and opening with “Get this party started...”, amongst many other sing-a-longs during the dinner set, even a SA medley and a Miriam Makeba favourite ‘Pata Pata’. (And if it’s your birthday, then do tell them that too... as a special surprise awaits you!) 
 One of the Tons, Lilian Khumalo, talks about the expressive costumes and make-up, “We love getting ready, doing our own make-up using vast amounts of Vaseline and glitter for our eyes every night, and then taking it all off with good old baby oil afterwards!” Dolled up with extravaganzas of eye glitter and lashes as eccentric as their affros, these glowing glamour beauties are SA’s longest standing female cabaret act. The four Tons have been Madame Zingara’s MoTown divas for two years now. “It’s like being part of a big wonderful family,” says Marguerita Freeks, another of the original Tons. 
And then the magic disperses into the darkness and the fabulous flavours return, 400 plates expertly co-ordinated by a team of chefs, delivered by a flow of costumed waiters, carrying the amazing main course, and later delicious desserts.
 For a four course meal this good you’d easily pay £50. And for all the entertainment which equates to a West End show, you’d be looking at £30-£80 a ticket, depending on whether you choose the stalls or the posh seats. Depending on proximity to the stage, and never more than 8 metres away, Madame Zingara ranges from £75 to £115 for this memory-embedding package of awakening and engaging all your senses.
 It’s like a palatial meal with a show fit for a queen, from the comfort of your cabaret dining table, with a show that gyrates around you, rotates above you and stirs something inside of you. And don’t forget to browse and buy a little something in the Bijoux Boutique beforehand... Grab yourself an accessory to add to the evening – feather boas, funky hats and much more. Enter the wardrobe, climb that beanstalk, slide into the rabbit hole… www.madamezingara.com