Singing In The Key of Drunk

Boom! A brilliantly busy week nailed! Photoshoots, shows, hoop... the works. And I still found time to chill out (briefly) with the cats and the boy!

Count the cats! One, Two, Three, Four! Definitely pinned... I am a crazy cabaret cat lady...

So on Tuesday I shot with Zebrowski Photography for Vanity B Corsetry alongside the gorgeous Ruby Deshabille. We were working on some promo images for Antonia's new corset and tassels range and supplemented her glorious creations with some fabulous costume items from Angels on Shaftesbury Avenue. Ruby and I had a fan afternoon dressing up and playing around, and Antonia made us cupcakes!! So good.

 

Ready for my close-up ** Showgirl detritus...

Sneaky shot of Ruby and I

One of my favourite images from the shoot

Ruby and I with Antonia - the genius behind Vanity B Corsetry!

On Wednesday I was back with the House of Magic family for more magical shenanigans - the crowd were a little reserved but soon warmed up for the show, especially since it was rounded off by the incomparable Lolo Brow blowing everyone away with an incredible striptease act.

 

Backstage fun-times with Stevie Smallwood and Abby Drake!

On Friday I was fortunate enough to be given a ticket to the London Coliseum to watch the Monte-Carlo Ballet's performance of 'Lac' - the ballet was a re-imagining of Swan Lake and fused classical ballet with modern and contemporary dance. The cast danced their hearts out on stage, completely committing to the unusual but brilliantly realised choreography, and it was captivating! The only thing that could have made it better would have been a live orchestra.

Waiting for the show to start - my favourite moment is when the lights begin to dim and the curtain rises...

Poster for the ballet 

Then it was back to Proud Cabaret on Saturday for another fantastic show with my glorious cabaret reprobates and some of my favourite people: backstage is as fun as the performance! Although I have to say I had one of the greatest moments during 'Shake It Doll' ever... it involved a stag party and a toy cat being thrown onto the stage... filth :P

 

Mirror Pictures! With Jolie Papillon, Joe Morose, Chrys Columbine, Taz Zebrowski and Helen Orford!

 

 

Snaps of 'Shake It Doll' and 'Lust' by Zebrowski Photography

On Sunday I joined Joe Morose and Chastity Belt to watch "Enter Micky Jeronimo", Matthew Floyd Jones' show at the Riverside Studios. Alongside performing his own material he had assembled a fabulous line-up including Kiki Lovechild, The Original Street Dancers, and his partner-in-crime Felicity Fitz-Frisky, among others. It was also lovely to finally meet the gorgeous Vivacity Bliss at long last, and I adored her bonkers Canada act!

Waiting for the show to start...

 

Pre-show selfie ** In the bar with Kiki and Vivacity!

 

It all got a little bit hazy... I remember McDonalds and Disney songs...

I also had a couple of hoop classes this week and Zebrowski Photography popped along to have a giggle at my expense and take some pictures - both of which happened.

 

With the lovely Amanda - putting up with my faffing on the hoop!

 

 

Striking some poses!

 

 

And some more!

It wouldn't be a hoop class without some injuries!!

And now I'm tired and a little bit hungover, and planning to spend the entire day in my PJ's - well deserved I think!

xx

Showgirl Magic

Is this my first proper 'What I've Been Up To' blog of 2014? I think it might be... I mean I wrote about New Years Eve but that was half in last year and doesn't really count, and the Resolutions post was more about what I *intend* to be up to... can you tell I'm tired?

So, hello! Welcome to 2014 - how's it been for you so far? I'm exhausted already!

This week has been lovely, if a little hectic: on Sunday I worked with Zebrowski Photography to create a sexy little teaser video for 'Psyche'... (more on that later) and take some promo shots.

Teaser video for Psyche...

 

My favourite images from the shoot

On Monday I was in skating rehearsals, getting back to grips with the ice after the Christmas break! It was great fun to be back with the Burlesque On Ice girlies and we all went for a coffee and lunch mid-skate which was lovely.

Tuesday was a day of meetings and running errands before heading to Simon Drake's House of Magic for a late Christmas show. It was great to meet the fabulous Lolo Brow properly at last as she joined the family for the night, and the show was as wonderful as ever! It's brilliantly bonkers to be part of such a fantastic show and I love it!

Mirror Picture! With Lolo Brow, Stevie and Beulah Bell!

On Wednesday I was back in 'real life' work, and had a bit of a brain-frying day, but it was followed up by a few cheeky, apres-work drinkies with Emma, my manager, which made me feel much more normal before I had to dash off to meet Antonia Lynch, the insanely talented costume designer for Burlesque On Ice, to discuss my costumes for the show. I'm very over-excited about them and can't wait!

After a quick coffee and a chat I had to dash off once again to meet the gorgeous Bruise Violet who has made me the most amazing chiffon boa for 'Psyche' - it's like a candy-floss explosion! Simply gorgeous!

We only had time for a quick hug and for me to pick up the boa before I had to jet back across London as one of my favourite people, Lili La Scala, had invited me to watch Black Cat Cabaret at the opulent Grill Room - the show was incredible; the cast was phenomenal, including Lili herself, Dusty Limits, Vicky Butterfly and the sensational Lady Rizo. I felt like I had been whisked to Paris during the Belle Epoque in such beautiful surroundings and it was a perfect way to end a busy day.

The ceiling of the Grill Room

At the weekend I was excited and nervous: finally debuting my new act, 'Psyche' at Proud Cabaret, City. It's been in development for over a year, since I first had the idea to finally getting my act together (excuse the pun) and performing the damn thing so lots of nerves as a year or so's worth of work came together...

Psyche

The act was inspired, in part, by the legendary Gypsy Rose Lee's signature routine 'Psychology of a Striptease Artist', in which she spoke to the audience about what was on her mind. I wanted to lift the lid on the glamour and seduction of burlesque and reveal what we actually think about while we're performing; contrasting the biggest cliches (over-the-top sparkly costume, the most obvious piece of music) with the mundane mind-wanderings of a performer who has done a routine so many times they can think about what to have for tea while seducing an audience...

Fortunately for my nerves, I performed alongside some wonderful people who were all very lovely about the fact that I lurched between petrified silence and verbal diarrhoea!

Mirror Picture! With Taz Zebrowski, Michael Standen, Betsy Rose and Joe Morose!

So that's that! The next few weeks are a whirlwind as we go into intensive rehearsals for Burlesque On Ice; and I can't wait!
xx

Round Up!

Last year I wrote a round-up of 2012, and since we're at the end of 2013, I've been looking back at this year which has gone far too quickly for my liking!

I've kept up this blog for another whole year, and want to say thank you to everyone who has posed for mirror pictures, selfies and candid shots and let me put them up here! Without random backstage shenanigans this whole thing would be pretty boring!

January

 

One of the highlights of the month was the Big Burlesque Tea Party that ended in piano-based carnage at The Coach and Horses in Soho. I saw out 2012 in style with House of Burlesque and greeted 2013 with plenty of lovely shows during what is usually a quiet, boring month!

February

 

This month I travelled back to my home-town for a show which gave me the chance to hang out with my besties, Jade and Hayley! I had a handful of lovely shows in London and went out for brunch... a lot...

March

 

March was pretty quiet but highlights included performing at a private birthday party with some lovely performer friends, and I achieved one of my New Years Resolutions to go horse-riding!

April

 

 

April was a packed and wonderful month! Highlights included 'The Absolute Bankers' performing at Proud Cabaret, The Burlesque Show tour to Scotland, performing at Kinky and Quirky, one of the best shows in the UK, and a Burlesque night out on a private tour of the Tower Of London!

May

 

My favourite show this month was a private party with Ministry of Burlesque in a glorious marquee with a stellar cast

And I went back to brunette!! Bye bye blondie!

June

*Obviously* the highlight of the month was my birthday, which included a trip to the gorgeous Carters Steam Fair, The Tower Of London and The Royal Albert Hall!

July

 

July saw the beginnings of the bonkers adventure that has become Burlesque On Ice! We also had a heat wave, I hosted a show for the first time and performed all over the country!

August

 

During August, the heat wave continued, skating lessons began in earnest, I travelled up and down the country again, and I opened an Etsy shop!

September

During this packed month the Cabaret community came together again for Cabariot 2, I continued to run around like a blue-bottomed fly, and welcomed the beginnings of Autumn with some slightly cooler weather!

October

 

A funny month of two insanely busy weeks and two completely dead weeks! However I performed in a gorgeous Speigeltent with Lili La Scala, and *finally* got the hang of ice-skating, after how many months!

November

 

 

An exceptionally busy month which apparently included a holiday to Italy, though I didn't particularly feel as though I had a break as I also modelled for Kiss Me Deadly, performed for the fabulous Chrystal Cabaret at the Hippodrome Casino and joined Burlesque On Ice for the opening of Westfield Ice Rink! I  was also honoured to join the cast of the amazing Simon Drake's House of Magic as a magicians assistant! Phew....

December

Yes, December's been busy. Yes, there have been lots of shows, shoots, promo activities and various shenanigans. But you know what? The highlight of December is, and always will be, putting the Christmas tree up.

It's been a year of ups and downs, as so many of our years are. But I'm honoured to be doing a job I love, living in a city I love and having amazing friends around me all the time. So thank you to everyone who has made this year, and every year, so wonderful; and here's to a spectacular 2014!
xx