Resplendent in double sets of false eyelashes, perhaps rocking pink lycra gimp suits (they describe their style as Addams Family-meets disco-meets Fanny Craddock), Bourgeois And Maurice are the odd couple at the heart of London’s burgeoning neo-cabaret scene.

The format of their act is thus: Maurice (glossy black beehive, deceptive smile) plays the piano, while Bourgeois sings their self-penned, self-help songs – acerbic little ditties with titles such as If You Don’t Know What To Do With Your Life, Just Die and Don’t Go To Art School (sample lyric: “You don’t need no plastic Nazis/Or the approval of Charles Saatchi/There’s nothing wrong with watercolours/Outside your 9 to 5”). There are film projections and – importantly – at least seven costume changes, ranging from deranged drag to 1980s club kid.

But who exactly are Bourgeois And Maurice? “Some call us an alt-cabaret duo, many know us as life gurus and some have even gone as far as to say we’re ‘pretty funny’ but underneath all that eyelash glue and hairspray, we’re just a pair of messed-up freaks on a mission to better everyone’s lives,” says Maurice. “Starting with our own.”

They apparently met during a self-help session some years ago, Maurice attracted to the sight of Bourgeois “laughing away to himself at somebody else’s misery. I thought, ‘That’s the man for me’.”

From these auspicious beginnings, they have gone on to hone their own brand of therapy. Encompassing topics from eroto-manic stalking to the fatal curse of nu-rave, it’s Feel The Fear And Sing About It Anyway.

“Neo-cabaret, alt-cabaret – even just cabaret – is, for me, the ability to comment without any sort of censorship and with a sense of humour,” says Bourgeois. “The show is essentially comedy, but I think cabaret’s strength is that it tends to be quite direct and generally quick to get from conception to the stage, making it feel very live.”

Maurice adds: “Our show covers a lot of different genres; theatre, music, comedy and performance art, so cabaret is something to lump them all together and ‘neo’ just avoids anyone thinking they’ll get feathers, nipple tassles or Sally Bowles.”

The pair are certainly of the opinion we need their help – especially here in Brighton.

“I would worry that perhaps all the sea, beaches and general sense of fun could lead to a little too much optimism, so I think that’s certainly something we should attempt to dissect,” muses Bourgeois.

As for the best piece of advice they’ve received themselves, Maurice is in no doubt: “You’re only as old as the wig you’re wearing,” she says sagely.

  • 7.30pm, £12.50, 0845 2938480