Focusing away from theatre to events going on in the capital, the five-star luxury hotel The Mandrake has teamed up with House of Vixens to offer a unique series of sexy educational events in a “sensual refuge from the streets of London”.
To celebrate the launch of this project with Spanking & Beyond on the 6 Mar, we caught up with House of Vixens artistic director Sophie Cohen who tells us about this new safe space for anyone to explore, regardless of gender, orientation, race or religion.
Details at https://www.themandrake.com/mandrake-salon
It’s good to see House of Vixens back on the scene. What’s been happening up until now?
Thank you! While I stepped away from creating public immersive events post Covid, I have been busy producing an array of other creative endeavours (all sexy of course!) from the cult hit podcast Strippers in the Attic through to film direction and production.
My first film ‘La Petite Mort’ was a one-off immersive cinematic experience co-created with my directing partner Michael Lindsay.
We have just released our short film The Red Room, which is currently hitting the festival circuit, and we are in pre-production on a new film project at the moment.
Do you think erotic spaces and opportunities have dwindled in recent years? I’m thinking of the clubs and websites of the late 90s and early 00s which have all but disappeared.
Yes and no. I personally came to London in 2001 and there was a wealth of kink-friendly club nights at the time which have faded out.
But I think it’s only natural that club nights have their heyday, and then create space for new generations to make their mark.
While we lack actual bricks & mortar erotic spaces in London, there are a fair few pop-up club nights happening every week!
What is this new project at the Mandrake all about? It’s billed as a safe space for all genders and sexualities, from beginners to committed kinksters. How do you cater to all?
Well first off it’s about people having better and more connected sex lives. Even if you are someone who thinks impact play is not for you, just the experience of going into a new space – with your partner or solo – is going to expand your sexual connection to each other and/or yourself.
Anyone who came to the events I produced pre-2020 will know that House of Vixens is always about creating unique erotic experiences within beautiful surroundings so this is really just an extension of that.
I have worked within different areas of sex work, as well as teaching for the last 20+ years, alongside being in the creative industries.
In that time I have taught and worked with such a diverse selection of people from every corner of the world with different sexual or gender identities, relationship dynamics, and experience.
So for me, it’s completely natural to run an event for everybody. If you’re new to the world of kink, you’ll get a lot out of us covering the basics, but if you’re an old hand, I find there’s always a new trick you can learn!
Do you think there’s still a place for public kink and exploration? Is the internet a hindrance or an opportunity here?
I think both have positives and negatives depending on your learning style and what you are wanting to achieve.
I personally always lean into in-person environments, online is great with regards to access of information but I don’t think you are able to get the full benefits or subtle nuances of human connection, especially in something as intimate as eroticism, through an app or social media platform.
And because what we will be teaching in Spanking & Beyond and our future salons are very practical skills, it really does lend itself to an in-person experience to be able to get the full benefits.
Also I love the excitement of public events, theatres, and cinemas. If you’re sat at home viewing the world through a screen you miss all the adventure life has to offer.
What would you say to the kink curious beginning wanting to try out something like spanking (which is your focus for March’s event), but who are maybe worried about consent, privacy, and personal safety?
Well consent is a key element when I work with people so an enthusiastic yes will need to be the state of play to participate.
Safety wise, I will instruct how to use safe words as well as how to properly handle all implements.
This is not an opportunity to push anyone to their max, rather a way to learn skills to enhance your erotic experiences outside of the Mandrake Salon.
For privacy concerns, we will have a strict no filming or photography policy.
What’s coming up in the rest of the events at the Mandrake, and what else are House of Vixens up to this year?
Here is a sneak-peak into our future upcoming salons with more to come;
Self-Pleasure & Beyond – discover the secrets of solo pleasure with guidance on selecting the perfect toys for your solo adventures, dating yourself, seamlessly integrating solo play into partnered experiences, harnessing the power of your fantasies, finding stimulating erotica, and embracing relaxation and enjoyment through expert tips and tricks.
Kinks & Beyond – an intro into some popular kinks, how to introduce them into the bedroom, why people are into them, and how to work out if any of them are for you.
Striptease & Beyond – unleash Your Inner Femme Fatale – Join me for a practical, in-person session on discovering your inner fem/femme fatale. Learn how to set the perfect scene, choose the right music, select your outfit, set the stage for your partner’s enjoyment, gracefully strip without self-consciousness, and master the art of a basic lap dance.
For House of Vixens, we continue to curate bespoke performance events for private clients and have an exciting slate of projects in film for 2024 and beyond!