Highlights of the festival include the masters of cabaret, The Double R Club, creators of dark and edgy burlesque-inspired performances, Piff The Magic Dragon, renowned juggler Matt Ricardo – half comedian, half circus performer and all showman, and the (literally) unbelievable Cluen Family Dynasty – a completely fictional family of circus performers brought to life by London based artist Flora Bradwell.

However, this isn’t a festival that’s all about big names. Jackson Lane keeps true to its passion for supporting emerging artists, with Postcards including up-and-coming artists such as contemporary circus acts Inverted and Bike & Rabbits, whose double-billed performances will shatter your conceptions of what ‘circus’ truly means.

This year’s Postcards Festival is a more condensed version of its predecessors. But while the programme may be shorter, there is by no means any shortage of talent on display. As artistic director Adrian Berry says, the festival matches the name ‘Postcards’, “short, international, summery, colourful… even a little bit saucy.”

Whether or not circus and cabaret is “your thing”, I challenge anyone to say that the Postcards Festival is anything less than a luminous display of the surreal, innovative and completely unique. (Words: Conori Bell-Bhuiyan)

For more info visit: www.jacksonslane.org.uk/whats-on/festival/postcards-2013

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First and foremost, the food was other worldly which each course looking and tasting like a top class dish. Even though I was horizontal on a white bed with booming music I could quite easily have closed my eyes and been in a Michelin-starred restaurant. It consisted of Tom Kha coconut soups, “smoking sushi”,  soy marinated sea bass. But Supperclub isn’t just about the food. There is themed entertainment while you chow down, and this time with the  Japanese Maids Café of Akihabara, Tokyo. Having experienced the real McCoy in Tokyo, I had high expectations. Although the lack of interaction with the audience let them down a bit (there was no in you face screaming and extreme cuteness), they still managed to create something of the surreal and funny experiences that I remember. An aerial acrobatic performance caught the audience’s attention and seemed more like the extreme Supperclub you would expect.

The night was a great opportunity to let my hair down. It may not be the Amsterdam style debauchery and underground vibe it was of  yesteryear but considering the amount of people dancing, laughing and oohing over the food, it was still pretty special. (Words: Laura Thornley)

For more info about Supperclub visit www.supperclub.com/html/london

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Neither bridges nor bunting your thing? Well head out East, to the double whammy that is Field Day and Apple Cart festivals, which are both happening this weekend in Victoria Park. Now in its sixth year (and thus celebrating a Jubilee of its own, albeit the less glitzy version), Field Day is all about the music – it’s the hip electronica one, with an ear-poppingly good line up – Com Truise, The Vaccines, Metronomy (pictured), Afrocubism, Jessie Ware – and these are just the tip of a very cool iceberg. Get lost in the crowds, have a sweaty dance off in a packed tent and glory in the fact that all of East London will be there.

Apple Cart is an altogether more rounded day which goes beyond the music, one for those who like their tunes but who want to feel free to just wander, not pressured to race from tent to tent in the hope of catching Jamie XX. Noah and the Whale are headlining, current songstress of the moment Lianne La Havas will be on stage and everybody’s favourite world music DJ, Gilles Peterson will be on the decks. Beyond the music, be sure to check out the comedy stage featuring the likes of Miles Jupp, Sean Lock and Josie Long. Once you’ve recovered from laughing so much you’ve almost peed yourself, make your way to the cabaret stage for some good ol’ fashioned entertainment, having made sure to stop by the Art Car Boot Fair stalls (pictured)  to learn “The Art of Flirting and delivering Compliments and Flattery in abundance” from the Pretty Boys. That should stand you in good stead for the rest of the night.

So go to one or both, if you’re feeling extravagant, heck, it’s not like you haven’t got two days to recover. (Words: Jane Duru)

Field Day festival runs on Saturday, June 2 at Victoria Park, E3 5SN. Tickets are £45 plus booking fee. www.fielddayfestivals.com 

Apple Cart festival runs on Sunday,  June 3 at Victoria Park, E3 5SN. Tickets are £35 plus booking fee. www.theapplecartfestival.com

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Postcards Festival runs until  20th July 2011 at Jacksons Lane Theatre. Visit jacksonslane.org.uk

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The first two stylish courses are kinda “ooh la la” – and not just because the lady who serves us looks like Lady Gaga, either. There’s a creamy risotto for starters, followed by a tender loin of beef served with a potato cake, and a decoration of mushy peas and greens. In between courses, we’re given performances from the legendary Crazy Horse Paris dancers – and if you look beyond the frequent of display of T&A, these women are remarkable. The avant-garde collective have celebrity fans in Kanye West, Beyonce and Sting, and such is their appeal, the 3rd course – an okay-ish frozen-cream something – is practically ignored by everyone in the house. The contortionist is something else (wow); the upside-down leg display, clever. And although my inner-conservative wants to start hissing at the excited men who’ve suddenly crowded my perfect-view table once things border on erotic, it’s hard to deny this is creative cabaret – and they’ll be at the Club until June 26th. Otherwise, expect a wild array of events and fine dining, determined to whip you out of your comfort zone (!) (Words: Matilda Egere-Cooper)

Dinner is usually £45, but £69.50 for a three-course meal and The Crazy Horse cabaret. For more info visit www.supperclub.com.

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