Rendez-Vous dance launches their Spring 2026 tour at ARC Stockton Arts Centre with the critically acclaimed dance-music homage to the legendary Paris nightclub, ‘THE MONOCLE’
‘The Monocle’ – named in honour of Le Monocle, one of the best kept secrets in the glamorous underworld of Paris in the 1930s – is a contemporary dance and music production created by award-winning choreographer Mathieu Geffré, founder and Artistic Director of Rendez-Vous dance. The 2026 tour follows public demand after sell-out tours in 2023 and 2024.
‘The Monocle’ celebrates the all-but forgotten history of the notorious club where glamorous lesbians could dine, dance, sing and socialise without fear of persecution.
Within its decadent but stylish walls, secrecy was paramount, affairs were commonplace, lifelong friendships were cemented, stories were told…and the band played on. Although war was on the horizon, it was an era of glamour, jazz, dressing up, dressing down, secret passions, sex and cocktails.
Rendez-Vous’s seven-strong cast tell stories of the Monocle’s community through a mix of sensual choreography, passionate drama and the live singing of the early-jazz singer, Imogen Banks.
Welcome to The Monocle, where nothing is impossible!
Says Mathieu Geffré: “This will be our first visit to ARC, and we’re thrilled to premiere our 2026 national tour in the North East. The company toured the Tees Valley in 2022 as part of The Monocle’s original regional tour in Darlington, Middlesbrough, and Hartlepool, and we’re so happy to return and build new connections with Stockton audiences. Launching the tour in this super-modern, vibrant arts centre feels like the perfect way to start this next chapter.
“The beauty of The Monocle is how effortlessly it has welcomed a broad and diverse audience. While the show offers a strong sense of entertainment, it also carries an educational and quietly political weight, particularly in drawing attention to the disappearance of safe spaces within our community.
“One of the most moving parts of the tour has been meeting members of the lesbian community who shared how deeply the work resonated with them.
“Audiences come to The Monocle for many reasons: some are drawn to the highly physical, virtuosic dance; others are enticed by the cabaret influences; and many are simply curious about the world and the history the work explores. Ultimately, this is a show for everyone. It’s entertaining, informative, political…and a joyful celebration of identity.”
The Monocle launches from ARC Stockton Arts Centre on Sat 31 Jan, the show is Pay What You Decide – please click here to book now!