Master of the macabre, Martyn Jacques returns to Soho Theatre with his cult cabaret act The Tiger Lillies for their new show Love for Sale. Specially commissioned by Opera North, this new venture transports viewers on an unforgettable ride through the darker songs of American singer-songwriter Cole Porter. The experience is a sensory treat as the three-piece band reveal their unique style of opera, expertly tailored vintage costumes, unusual instruments and devilish sense of black humour. Grimy and insightful, it's a definite tonic to the usual glitz and glamour that adorns the Soho cabaret scene.

Olivier-award winning and Grammy nominated Martyn Jacques and Adrian Stout are the key faces behind the show and I caught up with Martyn to find out a little more about the intriguing voice he gives to the loners and outsiders of an often superficial world.

Your new show, Love for Sale, takes a look at the darker side of American singer-songwriter Cole Porter's music. Does modern music, in all its superficiality, make you want to despair?
I don't listen to it so I wouldn't know. I bet a lot of people thought Cole Porter was superficial in his day. He could be very dark but he wrote pop.
In the 80s you lived above a Soho brothel as you began your career. For all its changes, is Soho better or worse?
It's changed a lot. It was a bad place to live. There were prostitutes, drug dealers, rent boys, Chinese waiters using flats as dorms. But it was fun. Soho is still a great place, just different.

You're now performing in venues ranging from the Royal Opera House to Sydney Opera House. Do you miss the intimacy of smaller venues, like Soho Theatre (good to have you back)?
They're not much bigger, really, just more people. If you perform to 1000 or 100 people, it's pretty much the same.

America, Britain and Australia - three very divergent cultures and types of people you've played to. What differences do the three bring to your show?
Again they're not much different. When English isn't the first language they're different. They listen to the music more. I like that.

The current political climate is bleaker and more sinister than ever in both Europe and the US; it seems like it would be rife with material for an analysis of 'the dark side'. Have you considered using these challenging times as material for a new show?
I could do it. Let me know if you know any producers.

Why do you think that it is so important to acknowledge the more macabre side of human nature? Do you think that people, as a whole, are too reluctant to embrace this part of themselves?
No, they just don't like to admit it in public. None of us are freaks, are we.

We hear that you can count Matt Groening among your celebrity fans. Ever felt like a penning a tune for The Simpsons?
Well, his sense of humour is a bit like The Tiger Lillies. He might have been doing something a bit like us if he hadn't had such a great success.

What can we expect from you once you finish the current run of 'Love for Sale'?
We're doing a lot of new stuff and new shows. People should look at our website!

'Love for Sale' runs from 14-30 July 2016 at Soho Theatre. Tickets available here