There’s something about grown men clad in spandex-leotards and masks like characters from an 80s ‘Slasher’ B-Movie, that gets me all hot and tingly inside. Synonymous as one of Camden’s top music venues, The Roundhouse is now opening its doors to a whole new level of entertainment; it’s going all Mexican, and we’re not talking handlebar moustaches, ponchos and sombreros – a rendition of the Okay Kerole on a little guitar like the ones you get from Argos. Nope, we’re talking the Lucha Libre London, or Mexican free (style) Wrestling as it’s commonly known.
The Lucha Libre has grown quite a cult following, due less in part to the Jack Black comedy ‘Nacho Libre’, and more to do with the acrobatic skills of the fighters. Unlike the likes of Giant Haystacks and Big Daddy, the Luchadores (free style wrestlers) can run a metre without getting heart-palpitations and a yearning desire for a "pint of stout and a packet of pig-snacks". Put simply: To see the Luchadores is to believe... Corny; but true.
The Luchadores are split into two groups; kind of like the wrestling of yore, you’ve got your good guys and your damn-right bad. The good chaps, or ‘tecnico’ Luchadores, are the far more technical (surprise, surprise) of the two; they’re the ones that leave you gawping at their high-flying skills as opposed to tree-trunk thighs and arms like pork-joints. The bad guys look like they could tear you apart with a pinch of their fingers, and are a far less cultured, villainous and aggressive beast… There are even women fighters and dwarves and stuff, so it’s a pretty eclectic affair; not to mention jolly good fun.
The Roundhouse will be going full-throttle, with ringside and balcony seats for spectators, standing areas and VIP sections. In a nut-shell, the venue will be turned into a live Luchadore arena, with four different events taking place over a three-day period. As if that wasn’t authentic enough, there’s also going to be Mexican drinks and food (think Old el Paso) to chug down and tuck into. Oh, and with it being The Roundhouse, there’s also going to be a Mexican DJ playing authentic tunes; this on top of the live-show relay and animations introducing the combatants…
And what a fine and dandy bunch they are. El Hijo del Santo, donned the “greatest living Luchadore” and the son of the greatest Luchadore in living history, El Santo, will be performing. Imaginatively nicknamed ‘The Man in the Silver Mask’, El Hijo’s signature moves include a flying head-butt; so famous is El Hijo in his homeland that they paid homage to him on a postal stamp. Star of Cartoon Network's Lucha Libre cartoon 'Mucha Lucha', Blue Demon Jr. will also be showcasing death-defying acrobatic skills. Nicknames are clearly the Mexicans’ weak point, as the Blue Demon is known as ‘The Son of the Blue Legend’; which is a bit like David Bowie being referred to as ‘The Son of Hayton Stenton Jones’.
But perhaps the most exciting of the Luchadores descending on The Roundhouse is the man-mountain: Ramses. Sure, he had his arse-kicked by Jack Black in the 'Nacho Libre' film, but he’s actually a much-feared and much-revered opponent. There’s also going to be a camp Luchadore called Cassandro, whose signature move is a kiss, which apparently leaves his opponents incapacitated; and yes, he does look like a woman… And if that doesn't sound like your cup of tea, you should probably hop on down for a Mocha and a Croissant and a little Biscotti like the pansy you are! GRRRRR!
Lucha Libre London
The Roundhouse
Chalk Farm Road
Camden, London
NW1 8EH
Friday July 4th: 7pm
Saturday July 5th: 2pm and 7pm
Sunday July 6th: 7pm
