In Love with Berlin – Through the Night with Manuel Cortez and Esther Haase

Welcome! – our shoot with actor, entertainer, art director, comedian and last but not least, photographer Manuel Cortez, started early in the evening at burlesque group the Teaserettes’s general rehearsal at Roadrunner’s Club in Berlin. We felt so at home with the proprietor and burlesque group, that by the time we got to our next location, we were behind schedule.

The second club we visited that night was also set up by Fred Mullen, it is called Bassy and the similarities are uncanny. On this night a special event was taking place - Chantal House of Shame. It takes place every Thursday and we were about to find out just why it had been given its particular name. We were welcomed at the door in a relaxed atmosphere, the night was just about to start.

The party is run by the charming Chantal, a transvestite with the hips of an ice skater, shoulders of a wrestler and a facial expression edging on madness. She gives us an enthusiastic welcome – after all, we are officially announced guests. We quickly set up in the section that has been reserved for us, Esther goes on a discovery tour, the models’ make-up is freshened up, time to quiz Manuel.

What did you make of our fist shoot location, the Roadrunner’s Club?
Really great, reminds me of the film “From Dusk til Dawn”, very cosy and unusual. That’s why I love Berlin so much, you can live here for 12 years and still stumble upon these kinds of locations, where you end up thinking, how can this be real?

Would you go there in your own free time or are you more of a champagne-glass-in-hand gallery type?
I don’t wish to be pigeonholed in either, every now and again I enjoy going to a gallery and hold a glass of champagne in my hand, and I still permanently visit underground scene venues, and jump down from the bar. Everyone has an urge to dive into all the extremes that are out there.  

What do you think of burlesque? And everything you just experienced? Find out the detailed answer to this, and an array of other questions, as well as what mischievous Chantal got up to that night, all in the latest issue of BOOKLET.