Having last performed in London in 2007, the long-awaited return of Kiki & Herb marks a major moment in the city’s cultural calendar…
Soho Theatre Walthamstow is set to host an unmissable run of cabaret royalty this July as the inimitable Justin Vivian Bond and long-time collaborator Kenny Mellman return to the capital as Kiki & Herb with their electrifying, genre-defying show Kiki & Herb are Trying! from 3–5 July.
The storied cabaret creation of Bond and Mellman, Kiki & Herb are a cult phenomenon: a cocktail-soaked, piano-pounding hurricane of heartbreak, hilarity, and punk cabaret brilliance. For over two decades, this duo has redefined the boundaries of performance art and live music, appearing everywhere from the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Swan Theatre to New York’s legendary Carnegie Hall, not to mention unforgettable appearances on the Thames aboard the HMS President.
Kiki & Herb have a long history with Soho Theatre, they performed at Soho Theatre, Dean Street in 2002, the first of many engagements presented and produced with Soho, the shows lead to them becoming bona-fide homosensual legends in London, attracting a huge, devoted following and celebrity adoration. These performances promise an intoxicating blend of biting wit, raw emotion, and musical virtuosity—offering London audiences a rare opportunity to witness two icons of performance art at the height of their powers.
Steve Lock, Head of Comedy, Soho Theatre:
“I first saw Kiki & Herb over 20 years ago, my first opportunity to work on our comedy and cabaret programme at Soho Theatre. They are, without doubt, one of the acts who have helped define, shape and influence everything we want to be at Soho Theatre, putting us on the map for boundary breaking artists. We genuinely couldn’t be more honoured to be hosting them at Soho Theatre Walthamstow, introducing them to another generation who get to see them for the first time.”
Well, they tried. Kiki and Herb were all ready to just wait around for their respective dirt naps, coasting through the end of their lives on their meagre entitlements from the US government, so very thankful to be taken care of and to never have to return to the business called show again. Kiki had returned to her birthplace of Nutley, New Jersey, content to play bingo at the local library while dating the neighbourhood postman. Herb found himself in Tennessee living with a Venezuelan gentleman in the US on a student visa. All seemed fine and the duo made sure to talk on the phone every Sunday during cocktail hour (noon) drinking their Canadian Club and sodas and catching up.
Then it all came crashing down. The government cheques stopped arriving, the Nutley library was shut down, the postman was fired, Herb’s apartment flooded, and his gentleman friend was deported to an undisclosed location. The final indignity? Tariffs made Canadian Club too expensive for them to drink. So, having no other option, they have decided to return to show business and since no one in the ‘US of A’ can now afford to see an act of Kiki and Herb’s calibre, the US’s loss is London’s gain.
Are Kiki and Herb trying to heal the centuries old conflict between the US and the UK? Maybe. Are Kiki and Herb trying to just make it through a whole show at this point? Definitely. You can say a lot of things about them, and a lot of things have been said, but the one truth out there is – Kiki and Herb Are Trying. It will be a “tarrific” time. Lean in.
Kiki & Herb is the creation of Justin Vivian Bond and Kenny Mellman. Kiki is a washed-up, boozed-up chanteuse, with a voice that is a mixture of Tom Waits and Ethel Merman with a dash of Judy, whose middle age passed her by some time ago.
Herb, her piano-battering, lifelong accompanist provides support both musically and emotionally.
Tim Whitehead, Associate Producer, Soho Theatre:
“I was relatively new at Soho Theatre when a VHS video tape of Kiki & Herb live in New York landed on my desk. I’d never seen anything like them (who had)? The level of artistry and sheer talent filled my weird queer heart with joy and I was smitten. I was fortunate to work with Vivian and Kenny on many engagements at Soho in Dean Street to the Sydney Opera House. After all these years it’s a privilege to be back, working with two performers who had an immeasurable impact on my career, I owe them a great debt of gratitude, there is nobody like them.”
Justin Vivian Bond will also perform at Soho Walthamstow, with a full band, in ‘Justin Vivian Bond – Sex with Strangers’ an extraordinarily lyrical tribute to Marianne Faithfull, on the 11th and 12th July.
Listings Information
Show: Kiki & Herb Are Trying
Dates: 3–5 July 2025
Time: 7:30pm (120 mins incl. interval)
Venue: Soho Theatre Walthamstow
Address: 186 Hoe Street, Walthamstow, London, E17 4QH
Price: 39 – £53 incl fees
Tickets: www.sohotheatre.com
Show: Justin Vivian Bond – Sex With Strangers
Dates: 11–12 July 2025
Time: 7:30pm (120 mins incl. interval
Address: 186 Hoe Street, Walthamstow, London, E17 4QH
Price: 39 – £53 incl fees
Tickets: www.sohotheatre.com
