Cabarets and Kathoys!
|
The saying that “Life is a Cabaret” from the famous Broadway show is alive and well on the stages of Thailand. The Cabarets are performed by “Kathoys” the Thai name for “Ladyboys” or the less polite term “Drag Queens.” The Thai Kathoys with their small frames, natural beauty, silky hair, long, thin arms and legs, small feet, hands and shoulders look so feminine few would consider, “Is she a he or isn’t she!” They love to dress up and perform in the Cabaret shows that abound in Thailand. Unlike the West, most Thai female impersonators live as women.
Kathoys perform in various stages of femininity; some take female hormones to enlarge their breasts, some have breast implants, and some have a complete sex change and live as a female full time. Kathoys are well known and accepted (or well tolerated) in Thai society. You will see them on Thai TV, among the Hi-So circles and working in the malls as staff in the retail stores.
All five major gay destinations in Thailand offer exceptional Cabaret shows with many of these most glamorous Kathoys performing in daily shows for many to enjoy. The most famous and well known of these productions in all of Thailand (maybe even in the world) are the two spectacular shows in theatres dedicated to these productions are located in Pattaya and are known as Tiffany’s Cabaret and Alcazar shows. Both theatres are located in the heart of central Pattaya on Second Road.
Their large theatres with state-of the-art production, light-and-sound extravaganza, elaborate sets and large crews of stagehands and technical support accommodate large tour groups and thousands of individuals who enjoy lavish productions. They feature the transvestite performers lip syncing and dancing in exotic costumes in well-choreographed musical and comedic productions. The audiences are mostly straight who see these amazing productions.
Tiffanys’ Cabaret show (www.tiffany-show.co.th) started in 1974 in Pattaya and has grown in international fame and stature as the biggest Original Transvestite Cabaret Show in Asia. The other spectacular show in Pattaya is known as Alcazar Show (www.alcazarpattaya.com) and both are very entertaining.
Smaller productions and variations of this type of show can be found in the gay areas and for the price of a drink (no cover charge as with the big productions) such as the shows at the Copa Showbar and at Boyz Boyz Boyz Go Go Club in Boyztown and the new, beautiful showplace the Venue in Pattaya’s Jomtien Complex (which also offers great accommodations).
The best professional cabaret in Bangkok is the Calypso Cabaret (www.calypsocabaret.com) in the theater at the large tourist class Asia Hotel connecting right to the BTS station. This has a smaller, more intimate night club feel to it with about 350 seats and offers more of a quality Las Vegas style production.
There are various shows in the gay clubs in the Silom area such as at Nine Night Club on Silom Soi 4 and at places like DJ Station club on Silom Soi 2 has a show in the evening around 11:30.
Other Cabaret shows can be seen around Thailand at different clubs on special nights and at the late night Man clubs (see SPICE! Maps & Venues or www.spicemag.net for more information).
In Phuket, the best professional show of the same style as Tiffany’s and Alcazar’s is at Simon’s Cabaret (www.simonscabaretphuket.com). This is a slick, fast-paced production in a beautiful theatre with excellent sound and light accompanying this great show. The gay area in Paradise Complex has nice Cabaret shows two or three times a night. The best and oldest production is at the My Way Club. Tangmo Club and Mamasan Club have shows, also. The Discos of Boat Bar & Kiss Club have their shorter versions of Cabaret acts during the late evenings.
In Koh Samui, the newest and best production is at Starz Cabaret (www.starzsamui.com) at its theatre in the back of the Chaweng Shopping Center off the main Chaweng Beach Road. Other cabarets are Star Club, and two smaller clubs, Christies Cabaret in Chaweng and Tina’s in Lamai.
If you want to see a Cabaret show in Chiang Mai, then go to the New My Way Club and Circle Bar as their productions are similar to the more plentiful gay bars in Pattaya, Bangkok and Phuket. The newly opened Lavender Lanna Hotel and a new Adam’s Apple are to re-open above the Metro Club (across from Lotus Hotel) and are scheduled to have Cabaret productions in place by this coming high season.
So if you are a fervent aficionado of Cabaret shows, a casual viewer or just plain curious, when in Thailand you must “Come to the Cab-ba-ret old chum!” to see the most amazing female impersonators on Earth perform live.
All five major gay destinations in Thailand offer exceptional Cabaret shows with many of these most glamorous Kathoys performing in daily shows for many to enjoy. The most famous and well known of these productions in all of Thailand (maybe even in the world) are the two spectacular shows in theatres dedicated to these productions are located in Pattaya and are known as Tiffany’s Cabaret and Alcazar shows. Both theatres are located in the heart of central Pattaya on Second Road.
Their large theatres with state-of the-art production, light-and-sound extravaganza, elaborate sets and large crews of stagehands and technical support accommodate large tour groups and thousands of individuals who enjoy lavish productions. They feature the transvestite performers lip syncing and dancing in exotic costumes in well-choreographed musical and comedic productions. The audiences are mostly straight who see these amazing productions.
Tiffanys’ Cabaret show (www.tiffany-show.co.th) started in 1974 in Pattaya and has grown in international fame and stature as the biggest Original Transvestite Cabaret Show in Asia. The other spectacular show in Pattaya is known as Alcazar Show (www.alcazarpattaya.com) and both are very entertaining.
Smaller productions and variations of this type of show can be found in the gay areas and for the price of a drink (no cover charge as with the big productions) such as the shows at the Copa Showbar and at Boyz Boyz Boyz Go Go Club in Boyztown and the new, beautiful showplace the Venue in Pattaya’s Jomtien Complex (which also offers great accommodations).
The best professional cabaret in Bangkok is the Calypso Cabaret (www.calypsocabaret.com) in the theater at the large tourist class Asia Hotel connecting right to the BTS station. This has a smaller, more intimate night club feel to it with about 350 seats and offers more of a quality Las Vegas style production.
There are various shows in the gay clubs in the Silom area such as at Nine Night Club on Silom Soi 4 and at places like DJ Station club on Silom Soi 2 has a show in the evening around 11:30.
Other Cabaret shows can be seen around Thailand at different clubs on special nights and at the late night Man clubs (see SPICE! Maps & Venues or www.spicemag.net for more information).
In Phuket, the best professional show of the same style as Tiffany’s and Alcazar’s is at Simon’s Cabaret (www.simonscabaretphuket.com). This is a slick, fast-paced production in a beautiful theatre with excellent sound and light accompanying this great show. The gay area in Paradise Complex has nice Cabaret shows two or three times a night. The best and oldest production is at the My Way Club. Tangmo Club and Mamasan Club have shows, also. The Discos of Boat Bar & Kiss Club have their shorter versions of Cabaret acts during the late evenings.
In Koh Samui, the newest and best production is at Starz Cabaret (www.starzsamui.com) at its theatre in the back of the Chaweng Shopping Center off the main Chaweng Beach Road. Other cabarets are Star Club, and two smaller clubs, Christies Cabaret in Chaweng and Tina’s in Lamai.
If you want to see a Cabaret show in Chiang Mai, then go to the New My Way Club and Circle Bar as their productions are similar to the more plentiful gay bars in Pattaya, Bangkok and Phuket. The newly opened Lavender Lanna Hotel and a new Adam’s Apple are to re-open above the Metro Club (across from Lotus Hotel) and are scheduled to have Cabaret productions in place by this coming high season.
So if you are a fervent aficionado of Cabaret shows, a casual viewer or just plain curious, when in Thailand you must “Come to the Cab-ba-ret old chum!” to see the most amazing female impersonators on Earth perform live.