An audience of more than a thousand, 70 minutes of song and dance, loud applause and cheering, and a frenzy of photo-ops at the end of the show. This is the daily routine at Alcazar — a theatre in Pattaya, Thailand, that has become synonymous with cabaret shows. The standout feature of these shows are the dancers, who are all transvestites, or ‘ladyboys’ in local parlance. The Alcazar Cabaret — there are four shows every evening — is popular among both domestic and foreign tourists. Bookings are made in advance.
Though not of the same vintage as Moulin Rouge (1889) or Lido (1946) in Paris, the Alcazar, founded in 1981, features an equally dazzling display. Opulent sets and splendid stage-effects help heighten the drama, but the showstoppers surely are the dancers. In its early days, though, the Alcazar Cabaret was branded a drag queen show and sidelined. Over the years, the shows, which today also boast cutting-edge technology, have carved a unique niche in the world of entertainment.
Clickbait: After the show, the ‘ladyboys’ are often seen outside urging spectators to click pictures with them
Quick buck: By welcoming spectators to take photographs with them, the artistes manage to supplement their income
Colour of money: Each Alcazar Cabaret show is extravagantly put together and millions of Thai baht are spent on creating and presenting them
Brand name: In its early days, the cabaret was considered just another drag queen show, but is now one of the best transvestite shows in Thailand
Small beginnings: The Alcazar Cabaret made its debut over three decades ago with about 100 performers at a theatre that could seat 300
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