Clowns, cake, lions, tigers and bare flesh - Oh my! When Club AntiChrist took a trip to the circus on June 24th for its 7th birthday, an eclectic set of clubbers bowled down to the big top the celebrate. SinZine roamed from the dancefloors to the dungeon, to meet fetishists, fashionistas, first-timers and chain mail-makers, and capture the most fabulously dressed amongst them on film.
Writers : Sexy Dave, Alison B, Dan YHD
Photography :Nikki Q
“People are really open minded and dressing in such an inspirational way - as a fashion designer I just can’t stop watching” - Tara
What have you been enjoying about tonight so far?
I just moved to London last October from Paris, so I’m just discovering the London Goth scene and it’s my first AntiChrist. I love that the people are really nice and open minded, and dressing in such an inspirational way. Because as a fashion designer I just can’t stop watching - so many ideas come to my mind.
Tell about how you’ve come dressed tonight.
When I saw there was circus theme tonight I needed to go for the Ringmaster thing. So I’m wearing a headpiece of my own design from my label, Tarabyakko, and actually the jacket is by me too - is a custom made I did for myself, and the skirt is by me. The corset is orthapedic corset, and finally my Bordello shoes - can’t go wrong with Bordello!
How will you be spending the rest of your night?
I’m just gonna stay here and watch how people dress and just enjoy! So far I’ve done Torture Garden and AntiChrist since moving to London and I love it here - people are much more open minded here.
**
“For us, this is just back of the wardrobe stuff” - Frisky Clown and Karen
So would we be right to take it you put a fair bit of planning into your outfits for tonight’s circus theme?
Frisky: Nah, actually I always dress like that this! I’ve been Frisky Clown now for about 10 years, so come a big night out, out comes my clown outfit of the night! It’s actually a complete coincidence that I fit the theme tonight, but a good one. For us, this is just at back of the wardrobe stuff; we can actually say it’s just something we pulled out of the drawer.
Will we find you getting frisky at most AC events?
Frisky: This is the second one we’ve been to. We first came last year we haven’t had the chance again until now. We’ve just come down on the train from Coventry, and actually run a small version of this back home - a night called Twisted
Are you in the business of scoping out the competition tonight, then? Or down on a pleasure trip?
Frisky: Purely for pleasure! When we’re at our own club we’re obviously kept quite busy, so it’s nice to come and play somewhere else. It’s purely leisure tonight - we’ve not got no flyers, we’re not promoting anything, we’re just here for the laugh. It’s a good atmosphere here, there’s people that we know, it’s our kinda thing, it’s what we like doing.
**
“It’s sort of like gladiator meets samurai-fetish” - Max Kane
How’s your night been so far?
It’s been nice so far. The atmosphere is building up quite quickly, which is good. It’s always fun here, I like it.
You’re an AntiChrist regular then?
I try to come as often as I can, yeah. It’s only every quarter, so it’s an easy gig. And I’m from over in Islington, so it’s not too far.
And inspiration behind the outfit?
It’s all my own stuff, I’m a costume maker by trade so this is all my own gear, Tonight, it’s sort of like gladiator meets samurai-fetish, you know?
**
“A lot of dancing, a lot of cupcakes”.
How’s your night going so far?
He says: It’s our first time and so far, so good. We’re really enjoying it.
She says: A lot of dancing, a lot of cupcakes.
He says: The cake is good.
First time - is it living up to expectations?
H: Loving it! We’re coming again!
Tell us a little about the thought behind your outfits tonight…
S: It’s another party, my regular clothes!
H: These are my regular clothes too, I even wear a lot of all alternative clothes to work. I’m trying to work the Steampunk feeling tonight. The top is the start of it and it’s all going to go from there.
Where are you going to spend the rest of your night?
H: Dancing, wandering.
S: Maybe more cupcakes?
H: Industrial room!
**
“Dressed as an inferior demented clown”
How’s your AntiChrist birthday been so far?
Good! I’ve come down from Leeds and it’s good to see friends I’ve not seen for quite a while, this is the first big event for us since Torture Garden’s Halloween party. I’ll be recovering the whole of Sunday and Monday!
You think it’s worth the long journey down here, then?
Yeah, I like coming down for this because up North you don’t have that many sort of events. There a few but it’s not like here where I find it very anonymous - you can go out and not everybody knows everything about you, but you can start meeting up with people you know from previous events.
Tell us a little bit about your look today - what are you wearing?
I’m dressed as an inferior demented clown, with obviously the pink top hat, pink ruffles, pink ruffle wristbands, black puffball dress, pink and black stockings. And really-not-going-with-the-outfit shoes, because I forgot my heels!
**
“Tonight I’ve got on a tail, ears, and naughty knickers under the tutu”- Sian and Dave
What brings you two to AntiChrist? What’s the main attraction?
Sian: I came here because it’s Club Antichrist’s birthday today and it’s my birthday on Monday [which, June babies may wish to note before next year, is entitlement to free entry!] . It’s my first time down here, and for me the main draw was the live acts, and getting to dress up. I love getting to dress up.
Dave: For me just to see what’s going on really. And the live acts were a real draw.
Talk us through what you’re wearing tonight.
Sian: Okay, I’ve come as a tiger tonight, so I painted my nails and face, and then I’ve got on a tail, ears, and naughty knickers under the tutu!
Dave: And I’ve come as a ringmaster. To keep her under control.
And were you to run off and join the circus, what would be your act? Will you stick with wild animal and tamer… or something else?
Sian: Juggling.
Dave: Poi or juggling.
**
“It’s a breath of fresh air to come to somewhere where everyone’s friendly” - Penny and Sakura Dahmer
You’ve not gone for the obvious circus theme tonight - want to talk us through the outfits you have chosen?
Sakura: When I heard ‘circus’ I thought ‘circus freakshow’. So I’ve come as a little dolly that looks like she’s been raped and been on smack.
Penny: I don’t really like to do themes because I like do my own thing
We’ve already ascertained you’re both AntiChrist regulars - what is it that keeps you coming back for more?
Sakura: The music and the fact you can just be yourself. Everyone is here for a good time, and people here are so friendly. Some places I’ve been have just been so cliquey, there so many places like that and it’s just a breath of fresh air to come to somewhere where everyone’s friendly. I’ve met a few friends here.
Penny: I always meet loads of friends when I come here. We actually met here…
Sakura: …when she just came out up to me shouting about happy hours
Penny: Happy hour makes me happy!
So aside from adding more happy hours, could anything improve AntiChrist?
Both: It’s good as it is.
Sakura: It doesn’t need improving, you get a good crowd here, the music is brilliant, every time,
Penny: You always get a good mix of people here - you know you get the clubbers, you get the Goths, the fetish people - everyone’s here to have a good time, and that’s why it works.
**
“I’m here for the people watching” - Yolanda
We love your outfit. Do you put much advance planning into AntiChrist ensembles?
Well, I’ve been planning this since I found out tonight was a circus theme! This is actually just my third time here.
So what’s kept you coming back to the club?
The diversity of people - I just love people watching! And everyone is so relaxed here. I see them as themselves, and I hope they see me as myself.
And where do you fall within that diverse crowd? Here for the dungeon or the dancefloor?
I’m literally just here for the people watching, just to meet people!
**
“If I take all my clothes off, then it’ll be fine!” - Paul and Jess
Talk us through your outfits.
Jess: Paul has just had his legs waxed and his chest, so we thought drag would be a good idea
Paul: Yeah I’ve just had my legs waxed and my chest, had my hair dyed and all that so it seemed like a good idea to pull on high heels, stockings, a nice corset and a very frou frou skirt. It’s a skirt that takes up a great deal of space, but is very, very short. I like it.
And where do you think you’ll be spending most of your night?
Jess: We’ve already been in the dungeon, and had a very nice time admiring people playing and that - it seems to be really high quality play, and it’s nice to see not just heterosexual couples as well, it seems to be quite queer friendly. And then we’ve been watching the shows in the theatre..
Paul: Quite a lot of fun, Missa’s hot wax show
Jess: I love hot wax!
Is it something you may want to go into the dungeon and recreate later?
Jess: Uhh, not while I’m wearing my rubber outfit! Rubber and hot wax don’t mix!
Paul: You’re welcome to get out of any of these clothes…
Jess: Yeah, if I take all my clothes off then it’ll be fine!
Finally, what would be your special skill in the big top?
Jess: I’d definitely be on the trapeze,
Paul: I don’t think it’s really a circus act but I would love to know how to throw knives, that’d be quite a lot of fun to do.
**
Club AntiChrist returns to Vauxhall’s Colosseum Club for a Vampire Ball themed night on September 2nd, when SinZine will also be back to snap the bloodsucking belles of the ball!
