The Divine Fringe Presents…
Split Bill: Heliotropic & Dr. Freuds Cabaret: Case Notes I
Haris Ackermann: Heliotropic
In this solo piece somewhere between a drag show and a ritual of remembrance, Haris Ackermann explores the themes of ch€ms€x and queer survival, drawing on flamenco and butoh aesthetics to offer an intimate experience of the dissolved temporalities of gri€f, between the failure of memory, the impossibility to forget and the necessity to keep 'facing sunward'. Blending together musical references from Chavela Vargas and Fairuz to Genesis P.Orridge and Diamanda Galas, they develop a poetic reflexion on gay culture, community-building and collective resilience.
First structured as a short act for Mad Jacks Theatre's 'Sex Sells' fundraiser (Riverside Studios, February 2026), and developed as an immersive 360° short film, this project is now being transposed into longer formats, both as a live and durational performance.
Haris Ackermann (@haris.ack) is a French-Algerian performer, director and facilitator based in London, trained in Applied Theatre at the Royal Central School of Speech & Drama. As a co-founder of The LabRats drag collective and creative collaborator of the London Butoh Dance Company, they have been developing their performance practice between drag, flamenco and butoh, exploring & mixing these different aesthetics between their three languages, French, Spanish and English.
They have performed in venues including Soho Theatre, Camden People's Theatre, The Divine, The Royal Vauxhall Tavern, Etcetera Theatre, The Glitch, COLAB Tower & Low Profile Studios. In parallel to that, their research practice has been focusing on the intersection between ritual, memory and identity in contemporary performance.
Duration: 30 minutes
Follow the Herd: Dr. Freuds Cabaret: Case Notes I
Dr Freud is bankrupt. To improve his finances, the visionary doctor prepares a travelling cabaret featuring his most famous patients. Tonight, two of these patients sing about their neuroses onstage for the first time in Dr Freud’s Cabaret: Case Notes I. However, all is not as it seems as Dr Freud becomes aware of his own demons…
This is the debut project undertaken by Follow The Herd, a proudly queer-led company based between London and Manchester. The show is an adaptation of the album, Dr Freud’s Cabaret by the late folk singer, Charlotte Greig. Greig was a singular talent: whether as folksinger, playwright or novelist. Her albums, recorded in her Welsh garden, revealed an 'astonishing musical versatility' according to The Guardian. She had a rare ability to immerse herself and her listeners in her own invented worlds, whether they were peopled with ghosts and false lovers of the ancient folk ballads, or the neurotics and madmen of Weimar Germany.
Dr Freud’s Cabaret was Greig's final project, and the album of songs from the show was completed shortly before her death in 2014. Greig’s songs, written in the voices of Freud and his patients, were performed by herself and a select crew of fellow Welsh musicians, including the likes of Euros Childs (Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci) and Jon Langford. The Cabaret was always supposed to be a live experience. Greig performed versions at venues such as Chapter Arts in Cardiff and London’s Freud Museum, but was still working on developing the full theatrical project before her untimely death.
Take your place in the analyst’s seat on 15th June to see this early performance of the great doctor’s show. But remember, don’t get too close! We all belong to Dr Freud’s Cabaret…
CAST:
George Aldridge
Calum Baillie
Alexia Mourao
Kathryn Whetter
Duration: 30 minutes
THIS SHOW IS IN THE BASEMENT
Accessibility:
Sadly both floors of the divine are not currently accessible as we do not have a lift.
The ground floor, main bar of the divine has level access.
There is an accessible toilet in the main bar.
The cabaret and club space are in the basement of the venue, there is no lift.
There are 17 wide steps down to the basement with handrails on either side, this is where the show will take place.
There are two sets of gender-neutral toilets downstairs, they are not wide enough for wheelchairs.
If you need any further information please refer to the divine ‘about’ page on the website.
www.thedivine.co.uk
or email them direct on info@thedivine.co.uk
The Divine Accessibility Info & FAQs
Please note The Divine is a queer venue run by queer people, for queer people and their allies. We operate a zero-tolerance policy towards homophobia, transphobia, racism, misogyny and discrimination of any kind. Be respectful or you will be asked to leave. Strictly no office, hen or stag parties allowed.