Privilege
Fridays [2nd year]
Website: manumission.com
myspace.com/manumission
This is the Ibiza biggie. Manumission's the one that everyone thinks of when they talk about the excesses of the party island, and the only club that's routinely able to fill the 'World's Largest Club'.
The shows are still legendary, but promoters Mike and Claire no longer shag on stage (I'm presuming they still shag when at home). Instead, for your money you get a constant stream of highly professional dancers, acrobats, and street entertainers, with the show running throughout the course of the evening, but without any interruption to the pumping music.
Manumission has been criticised in the past for the quality of its music, but from personal experience, it appears to be more than holding its own. Legendary resident Alfredo always keeps the colossal main room throbbing, and Smokin' Jo and Matinée Group's Colin Peters keep the club packed until well past sunrise!
If you fancy a change in pace, cross into the back room, previously occupied by Trade, but since 2002 the home of Cabaret, busy putting the fun back into funk.
2001 saw the 'launch' of the "Good Ship Manumission", which had to be the campest thing to hit Spain since the "Are You Being Served" movie! The backroom was renamed the 'Boiler Room' (with the Trade soldiers becoming Trade sailors for the night), and Mike and Claire battled pirates and sharks in the guise of Popeye and Olive Oyl. Despite all this, it was the Busby Berkeley (ask your grandparents) routine from the high-stepping chorus girls, which brought the biggest smile to my face! You go, girls!!
Once again, in 2002, the show was more burlesque than b-movie, with the Cuban boys doing fantsatic things with rope, some amazing aerialists, fire-breathers, and more great music.
Worth going at least once, but try and get hold of discount tickets, which are sometimes available. Like most of the best clubs, sometimes the best atmosphere and music is generated during the closing hours, when numbers have thinned out and only the dancers remain. Don't worry about dashing down to "Carry-On at Space" too soon (except to take advantage of any discounted tickets), as it takes a while for this to get kicking in the mornings.
The closing party at Manumission is incredibly good fun, unless like Simon you're so partied out that you can't manage to do more than sit down from the moment you get there until moments later when he left! In 2001 the party finished at 12.30pm, in 2002 about an hour earlier, but in both cases this was just the start before the final Carry On of the season at Space. Manumission promoters, Mike and Andy, have worked hard for their success, and if you're not too fussed about going to a club that's predominantly straight, you should more than get your money's worth from this night out.
Martin
x
12 June 2007
MANUMISSION
