one4review | On 20, Aug 2025

Copla: A Spanish Cabaret is a captivating blend of cabaret, lecture, musical history, and heartfelt storytelling. Created and performed by Alejandro Postigo, it introduces audiences to the rich but often overlooked Spanish art form of Copla—mixing history, personal narrative, and striking musical performance.

The stage is styled as a theatre dressing room, with a screen showing vintage Spanish musicals. From the outset, Postigo puts the audience at ease, even humorously displaying his certificates of expertise—just like at a dentist’s office. His charisma and deep knowledge leave no doubt that he’s the perfect guide to this story.

So, what exactly is Copla? Postigo reveals it as a tradition that gives voice to society’s outsiders—prostitutes, sailors, gypsies—while confronting taboos like illegitimacy and relationships outside conventional marriage. Along the way he mixes in playful anecdotes, including the confession that he once believed Julie Andrews was Spanish, before leading the crowd in a hilarious Spanish rendition of Do-Re-Mi. There’s also a fascinating exploration of “folklore divas,” tracing how generations of singers have reinterpreted the torch song My Man.

The show doesn’t shy away from darker history either. Under Franco, Copla lyrics were censored to suit the regime, a moment brought to life when audience volunteers are invited to play fascist police officers, altering lyrics projected on screen—an especially funny and immersive segment. A touching interview with Postigo’s 101-year-old grandmother shown on screen provides a lived perspective on the period, while also highlighting how those values shaped Postigo’s own life. Growing up gay in Spain, he often felt like “the other one,” and eventually chose voluntary exile—a personal echo of Copla’s themes of repression and survival.

But this is no story of defeat. In recent years, Copla has been reclaimed by queer artists, giving voice to communities once silenced. Postigo embraces this spirit with joy, leading to a triumphant finale where the audience eagerly joins in.

Warm, witty, and passionate, Postigo makes Copla: A Spanish Cabaret not only educational but deeply entertaining. A richly original performance that deserves its four shining stars.

****

Reviewed by Lynn

Assembly George Sq (Underground)

31st – 24th

18:40 (1 hr)