Oops!

Goodness me, it's been almost a month since my last blog! 

In my defence, I've moved house this month and didn't have internet access for some time - added to that I've been a little under the weather so I've not really had the motivation to do much more than curl up on the sofa with the cats and Disney movies!

However, despite this, I have had a lovely month - it began with a charity show at Proud Cabaret organised by the wonderful Hayley Coppinger at Clear Cut Events, with a marvellous cast!

 

"And All That... Cabaret!" ** Joe Morose on piano 

Mirror Picture! With Abi Collins, Tempest Rose, Jonathan Finch and Ben Brown

I had several more shows at Proud Cabaret and the beautiful Volupte Lounge during March - here's a selection of pictures from a few of them...

Electra warming up backstage ** Leah Debrincat onstage

Mirror Picture! With Taz, Coco DuBois, Joe Morose, Electra, Mat Ricardo, Sophia St. Villier, Betsy Rose and Frieda Rose! 

 

Carmen looking gorgeous! ** Coat and Hat artwork?

Mirror Picture! With Tempest Rose and Kitty Devine at Volupte!

Alongside shows, I also participated in a fun photoshoot for the band 'The Noise Next Door' - I spent a fun afternoon dressing up as a saloon/show girl with a group of lovely ladies and gentlemen and the results promise to be wonderful!

Sneaky Peek! With Twin and Tonic, Scarlett Belle and Liberty Sweet!

I also visited my hometown, Chester, to teach a Burlesque Workshop to an over-excitable hen party as part of the Vintage Pamper Box. They are a lovely group of ladies and I always enjoy working with them. The best part about visiting Chester is getting to see my friends and family; although the journey was a little fraught as I don't think Mother Nature has received the memo about Spring!

Snow covered garden in Chester

 

Hen Party at Telfords Warehouse ** Girls Night In with the besties

So, that's about it for March - it was a relatively quiet month, show-wise, which fortunately left me plenty of time and space to move house without lots of distractions. And obviously, being unwell, I actually preferred *not* performing as I wasn't feeling my best at all!

However, the next few months are looking promising and will hopefully be bringing some good things and exciting times, which I will, of course, share with you here - I promise not to leave it so long next time!

Ooh, and I got my hair cut!

Blast From The Past

This weekend has mostly been about strolling down memory lane, and my new talons... 

Fierce...

On Saturday I performed at Proud Cabaret for a bonkers audience that was at least 90% hen parties! Around 200 screaming women! I seriously worried for Jonathan Finch's life, especially after he received several requests for his underpants!

Mirror Picture! With Jolie Papillon, Aurora Starr, Chrys Columbine, Kai Hoffman, Jonathan Finch and Hayley Coppinger

It was a fabulous evening, with a wonderful cast - it was great to see Aurora Starr again after many years, and I got to hang out with the gorgeous Chrys Columbine too!

With the gorgeous Chrys Columbine

On Sunday I journeyed up to Chester for Dr. Sketchy's - I love shows in Chester as it's my home town so it's a fabulous excuse to stay with family and be spoiled for a while!

Alexander's Jazz Bar ** Chester Town Hall ** Godstall Lane

I had a lovely Sunday dinner at home with my family, and had a blast from the past as I got myself ready for my night out at my teenage dressing table:

Getting ready for a night out

I then popped into town with my two besties for a lovely evening meal, a catch-up and a good old fashioned gossip.

With Hayley and Jade - besties!

I love Dr. Sketchy's shows - they're always chilled out and have a really nice atmosphere. I especially loved that this one was held at Alexander's Jazz Theatre: I worked at this venue for four years while I was in college, and it was the place I first watched a Burlesque Show!

 

With the fabulously named Titsalina Bumsquash!

With Titsalina Bumsquash and Madame X

The night was lots of fun, and the art on display was fabulous too:

Some of the pictures of Titsalina

 

These were my favourites of the evening

On Monday I travelled across to Liverpool to see Pamela, my housemate from college, and her gorgeous baby Alex, my godson.

Baby Alex!

In the spirit of 'blast from the past' we hopped into a taxi and went across to Aigburth, where we lived together for three years, and even popped into college to say hi!

Liverpool Theatre School ** Palladium Studio Theatre ** College Year Portrait

It was so lovely to visit, and chat with the few teachers who are still there from when I was training. Adam, the head of Musical Theatre, showed Pam and I around the college and it felt like I'd hardly been away, even though it's been almost six years! Where does the time go?!

xx

La Belle and BurlyQ

Another weekend, another jaunt half way around the country!

On Thursday I was back down in London, on a beautiful Spring day for the penultimate 'Bete Noire' show at Madame Jojo's in Soho.

Madame Jojo's, Soho

I was performing in the early show 'La Belle' alongside the wonderful Abi Collins, Javier the Card Ninja and Dee Riley (we did our 'All That Jazz' double act, which was great fun!) Both the early show and 'La Bete' the late show were hosted by Ophelia Bitz who I was excited to meet having heard so much about her! The show was stage-managed by The Late Night Shop Cabaret who also performed at the late show - and I actually got to stay and watch for once, which was fabulous!

Backstage with Apple Tart, British Heart, Dee Riley and Ophelia Bitz

Apple Tart and Allota Bounce of The Late Night Shop

On Friday I was back again at the beautiful Proud Cabaret in the City - the show was hosted by my High Tease partner-in-crime Dolores Delight, and since we hadn't seen each other since Christmas, we definitely had a lot to catch up on!

Dolores Delight backstage

Also performing on Friday night was another of my favourite cabaret performers, Mat Ricardo, along with the beautiful Missy Fatale and Ruby Luscious, visiting from Stockholm!  - I adore performing at Proud as the staff and management team all get into the spirit of the night so the whole night feels like a step back in time to a decadent Speakeasy or Weimar cabaret!

On Saturday I journeyed back North-wards for another of my favourite shows: BurlyQ in Sheffield:

BurlyQ cake!

The show always sells out, and the audience raised the roof! They were treated to a stunning line-up: including Red Sarah debuting her unique 'Betty Boob' act, and Fred Bear performing his signature 'Flashdance' which almost brought the house down! I was also excited to meet Dinah Might (who is so beautiful I couldn't speak for a while!) and the hysterical Kiki Lovechild, whose 'Jessica Blue' act had me in stitches! As if that wasn't enough, Mr. B was headlining the night, and he gave me a copy of his new CD 'The Tweed Album' !!

With Dinah Might, Mr. B and *so* much luggage!

After a hectic weekend, I took advantage of the beautiful weather to visit friends and family in Chester: the best way to revive is with an ice-cream and a stroll through Grosvenor Park and onto the River Dee... followed of course by a lovely meal and a couple of drinks as the sun sets!

Sunset over Chester meadows - Town Hall and Cathedral in the distance

Cabaret Family Freaks!

Several months ago, a dear friend of mine, the Alternative Magician Dee Riley, asked me to help with a new act he was working on - now one of my life ambitions is to be a magician's glamorous assistant so on Thursday I took myself off to London to fulfil this fantasy.

I had a glorious evening at the legendary Madame Jojo's in Soho; infiltrating the line-up of 'Bete Noire' and playing with some of my favourite ladies and gentlemen:

Madame Jojo's from the stage

Mirror Picture! With Audacity Chutzpah, Laurie Hagan and Missy Fatale

Chinatown - all decorated from Chinese New Year!

Saturday saw a road trip, much hampered by snow, to Reading for 'High Tease' at The Hexagon. I adore High Tease shows: it feels so much like family! Kittie Klaw, Vendetta Vain, James Malach and I piled into the car, made an urgent Starbucks run (honestly, we ought to have shares in Starbucks - no burlesque show road trip is complete without it! Or, in many cases, can even begin without it!)

The line-up for the show was typically amazing, and included Elan Koszuk, The Great Voltini, Joe Black and AJ James among others. I also love performing at The Hexagon: the staff and crew are wonderful, the stage is incredible, and there are so many changing rooms, we could have had one each!

During the show, we kept peeping out to check on the snow, and by the time we left we were hearing reports of several feet falling across most of the country! Fortunately we all made it back to our respective homes in one piece, driving back across the country through blinding snow and fog!

Snowy Stage Door

Mine and Vendetta's changing room

Flixx Demontrant rehearsing on the gorgeous stage

Mirror Picture! 

With Dusty Limits, Dolores Delight, James Malach, Elan Koszuk, Voltini, Joe Black, Electra and Vendetta Vain

Mirror Picture! With Joe Black and Vendetta Vain

The final stop on my busy weekend was my hometown, Chester, for Suzie Sequin's show 'The Looking Glass' at Alexander's Jazz Theatre. I have a soft spot in my heart for this bohemian venue, as it was where I saw my first ever Burlesque show, four years ago! Coming back here is wonderful, and as I have friends among the staff, it is always particularly fabulous!

I especially enjoyed this show because I was booked to sing! I adore singing and would love to do more of it this year (maybe that could be a new years resolution!)

I also managed to fit in time with my family and friends, who I don't get to see as often as I wish I could, so the whole day was especially wonderful!

Alexander's Courtyard

I'm looking forward to a few days of rest, relaxation and costume repair before heading back to London next weekend for another whirlwind of shows!
xx