Saturday, July 12, 2025

94114 to E17

 It's rare I get to go out in my locality, tucked as it is on the end of the Victoria line. The number of times I have had people ask, "Where's that?" 

The Times designation as the best place to live in London notwithstanding, Walthamstow is still an under-appreciated neighbourhood.  

So, last night was a rarity, a visit to the new Soho Theatre in Walthamstow. Formerly the EMD cinema and a hotly debated planning morass, the theatre has finally opened, offering live performance to Stowies and non-Stowies alike. On stage was Justin Vivian Bond performing Sex With Strangers, a tribute to the music of the late Marianne Faithfull. 

I confess I never got to see Ms Faithfull live, though I have seen DVDs of her live performance, and I found the ups and downs of her life fascinating. Joining Mx Bond onstage was a five-piece band, bringing the torch and roll of MF to life. 

The last time I saw JVB was way back in 2002 when the headliner of Ladyfest London had cancelled, necessitating a last minute replacement and Kiki and Herb graciously stepped in, doing fabulous covers of female rockers such as Peaches and Alanis. It was brilliant. 

But I go a bit further back with the performer as both of us lived in SF back in the early 90s and I well remember JVB holding court at A Different Light Books in the Castro, offering candid opinions on the written fare on offer. 

How odd it was to sit 10 feet away in the gloriously Baroque grotto of the SHW while Bond worked the stage and told rambling anecdotes about friends, family and Faithfull in amongst the Faithfull song book. I actually felt some of the songs did not suit Bond's voice. Broken English is one of my favourite songs but I didn't feel they did its bassy griminess justice. 

On the other hand, I loved what Bond did with "Why'd Ya Do It", coming toward the end of the 2-hour set. I think the whole band needed to warm up, as did the chanteuse. One person said at the intermission, "I don't know most of the songs, but I'm having the best time." 

The surroundings helped, as well, with many attendees craning their necks to look up at the vaulted ceiling. I recognised a few faces I usually see at Flare, but not in my neck of the woods. Everyone is welcome in E17. I hope they come back and see us some time. 

For Bond's part, they said there are plans to do a show at St Anne's church in September and they hope to use a Roger Waters song. Interesting bedfellows! Marianne would probably have a deep throaty filthy voiced chuckle. 

 Here is Marianne Faithfull's collaboration with Derek Jarman. 

Sex With Strangers continues at Soho Theatre Walthamstow on 12 July.  

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