What'z Zédel about [Alfie]
Zédel co-owner (with Chris Corbin) Jeremy King says in his introduction “we felt it was now time to broaden our horizons to encompass the entire building and showcase a wider range of talent”, and Live at Zédel is certainly aiming to be something strikingly different.
This Corbyn and King-United Agents partnership dubs itself "Soho’s new entertainment concept". A big claim, but in fairness it has a point.
Aiming to attract an audience with a wide-ranging demographic, Live at Zédel is about a no-limits, multi-disciplinary programme of events at accessible prices in the heart of notoriously expensive central London.
It's an idea that sits comfortably with the Brasserie's mixture of grandeur and affordability—the prix fixe menus start at around £10 for two courses, and there is a music programme in this space also.
From Grayson Perry to Grace Dent, from Maria Friedman to Jay Rayner, the Live at Zédel opening season crosses genres with abandon.
Bringing about this manifestation of unrestraint is programme director Alex Fane, artistic director in residence Scott Alan and theatre programmer Hannah Hauer–King.
Alex Fane is an agent at United Agents, one of the largest literary and talent agencies with clients counted in their many hundreds, but he is no stranger to the Crazy Coqs having managed the venue for a while in the past.
Several of United Agents' big name clients—Anne Reid, Maria Freidman, Matt Cardle, Barb Jungr—(as well as some of the smaller ones) feature in the programme, though I am assured being a client is not a prerequisite to getting booked for Live at Zédel.
American songwriter Scott Alan (and client of Fane) has the artistic directorship for the season which includes theatre polymath, associate editor of The Stage, and pal Mark Shenton interviewing stars of stage, screen and television in Coqtails and Conversations.
This early evening slot will have Shenton in conversation with the likes of Natasha Barnes and Ria Jones and aims to attract a pre–theatre or pre–dinner audience with the entertainment continuing until late in different forms.
On other evenings the fun starts at 7 o'clock—Spanish performer Joan Vázquez making his London début at Crazy Coqs with Something’s Coming—a Sondheim tribute, Coronation Street star turned singer Catherine Tyldesley and Reggae Reggae Sauce man Levi Roots being just three of the diverse line-up.
The later slots are filled by musical theatre stars Julie Atherton and Simon Lipkin hosting an open-mic night with a difference for West End Coqs; After Hours offers live bands and dancing.