On The Road Again

This weekend has been a wonderful whirlwind of shows and adventures! On Thursday afternoon I met with the the gorgeous Chrys Columbine for a late Christmas lunch on Portobello Road and we whiled away several hours at my favourite bistro 'Goode and Wright', with wine, champagne and lovely food. 

That evening I went to the Royal Vauxhall Tavern to watch Tricity Vogues new musical 'Heels of Glory' and it was great fun: a witty script, catchy songs and so many of the London Cabarati turned up, it was truly wonderful. It was also Tricitys birthday, so what better excuse for a bit of a party?!

After the show, on a whim, I headed over the the glorious Hippodrome Casino with Millie Dollar, for 'Boom and Bang Circus' and was completely blown away by the amazing line-up! I especially loved seeing Laurie Hagens incredible reverse striptease live, and watching one of my favourite performers, Johan Lipovich, live for the first time as I am a huge fan, and watching the world premier of Dott Cottons new act which was a fabulously executed tribute to the music-hall star 'Little Titch'. I also met the legendary Klare 'Ya Ya' Wilkinson for the first time; it's so nice meeting people that I've heard so much about and seen so much of their work, then they are just as lovely as you hope they will be (and she has the *best* laugh ever!)

Friday I was back on tour for the New Year with 'The Burlesque Show'! It's back, and bigger and more spectacular than ever before!

The Burlesque Show

We began at the beautiful Buxton Opera House; an absolutely stunning venue! 

Buxton Opera House

The show was hosted by Kiki Kaboom, and, alongside Elliot Mason and Elan Kosuk, also featured a variety of amazing performers including the Mazeppa Cossaks, Ed Muir and the gorgeous Carrie-Ann. One of the highlights of the night for me was watching Glorian Grays 'Trampoline Striptease' which was joyfully inspirational and hysterically funny!

 

Mirror Pictures! Sharing a dressing room with Carrie-Ann ** With Ed Muir, James Malach and Glorian Gray

After the show we headed to our hotel for the evening, and I can honestly say it is one of the most bonkers places I've ever stayed: magazine covers and articles covered the walls, mingling with framed portraits of silver-screen actors and matinee idols; glass cases held displays of stuffed toys, kinder-egg prizes and lego models; marionette puppet dioramas lined the shelves and the bar was playing Michael Jacksons Greatest Hits, projected onto a giant screen above the patio chairs and tables that served as furniture! Glorian Gray and I were staying in the 'Johnny Depp Room' - win!

 

Johnny Depp pictures lining the walls of our room ** The door key...

 

Glorian with the magazines and puppet shows ** A 'decorative' sink

The next morning we packed the cars up and headed to Northampton for the next show: this is the third time 'The Burlesque Show' has been to the Royal and Derngate Theatre, and we found out that on one of our previous visits, the show had won 'Show of the Year' for the Northampton area! So it was a sold-out, excitable crowd that awaited us that evening!

Royal and Derngate brochure

Instead of Elan, for this show we were joined by Rod Laver and Alexandra Hofgartner, which was wonderful as, not only is their double act one of my favourite routines ever, Alex is also one of my favourite people ever!

With Alexandra Hofgartner

After a hectic weekend I was happy to be heading back to London that night, and looking forward to spending a couple of relaxing days... erm... catching up on admin, filing my tax return, working on two new acts and updating two old costumes... never mind...
xx

Interview - Glorian Gray

A connoisseur of good old-fashioned British humour, Glorian brings the laughter and spectacle of the old Music Hall back to the stage. Always the quirky comic; her acts are filled with iconic song, gender-bending sauce, novelty and physical farce.  Inspired by such legends as Morecambe and Wise, Buster Keaton, Marie Lloyd and Benny Hill, Glorian is on a mission to see a return of the burlesque and variety heydays.

Glorian is on a mission to see the return of the burlesque and variety heydays

What was your first experience of Burlesque or Cabaret, and what convinced you to start yourself?

I was at a point in my life where I was very unhappy with the way things were going. I was very much needing to get some magic back in my life, so when I saw an ad for "ladies of all shapes and sizes wanted for burlesque troupe", I thought I would give it a go. As it was I chickened out of being in this troupe, but a few months later I watched 'Faking It' when burlesque was the theme, and realised I still fancied it. I then saw an ad for burlesque classes and decided that this time I would go for it!

Glorian brings the laughter, song and spectacle of the old music hall back to the stage

How did you choose your stage name?

Glorian Gray is not my first stage name. I've had a couple of incarnations but I chose Glorian Gray because of the link with Oscar Wilde, who I love, and also because I am an avid writer so it felt really 'me'

"I chose Glorian Gray because of the link with Oscar Wilde, who I love..."

Your style of burlesque is pretty unique. How did it come about?

I've always done things a little bit different in some ways - firstly because I didn't really want to show pasties. There was no real reason for this, the ideas I had just didn't lead to it. My nana was a piano singer in the old WWII pubs and my great-granddad was a song and dance man so I was brought up with the old songs and good old British comedy. The more I read about proper old Music Hall, the more I loved it, and eventually decided I needed to start putting it in my acts. This meant daring to sing, in front of people and everything, which I haven't done since I was a wee bairn! Scary!

"I've always done things a little bit different"

Who are your biggest influences/inspirations?

I am really inspired by the humour of Carry On films, Benny Hill, Morecambe and Wise, Norman Wisdom and the old music hall stars like Marie Lloyd and Ella Shields.  I really love old rudey seaside style humour, like the postcards of Donald McGill. Oooh, Matron!

 

"Oooh, Matron!" Carry On Films ** Benny Hill

 

Morecambe and Wise ** Norman Wisdom

 

Marie Lloyd ** Ella Shields 

Donald McGill Postcards

Tell me something no one would suspect about you...

Errrm... I used to be a cyber goth with a 3/4 undercut and UV stacked boots?!

"Do your best to develop the best act you can"

Finally: any words of advice for newcomers to the scene?

Do your best to develop the best act you can: both for the audience and for the love of it. Don't get embroiled in, or scared off by politics; or get disheartened when things aren't going well. RESEARCH! Not just current acts but find out about the history of the art form you are practising; it will enhance what you do.  And be honest/realistic about your experience and ability: even if you are a PR genius - there is no shame in being inexperienced or mediocre or in making mistakes, almost everybody is at some point - just work at getting better!

"Don't get disheartened when things aren't going well."

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