Burlesque and Birthdays!

Last week was a busy, tiring, exciting week, filled with shows, business meetings, unexpected detours and... my birthday!!

Past birthdays have proved that it *always* rains on the day, followed by a week of glorious weather, and with the rain pouring down in the days preceding, I wasn't holding out hope of anything different so I spent a few rainy days in London last weekend, exploring parks, browsing along Portobello Road, dodging raindrops and swooning over the Jubilee-themed décor of the Harrod's window displays:

Portobello Road Vintage Market  

Hyde Park in the rain 

  

Reproduction of the Coronation dress **  Crown made of hundreds&thousands!

The following week, before my birthday festivities, there were two more stops on The Burlesque Show tour...

The first was in Coventry at the Belgrade Theatre, and was hosted by the gorgeous Laurie Hagen - she has so much energy on stage, it's completely contagious and the show was bags of fun (even though we got caught in a massive traffic jam en-route, meaning that a 90 minute journey took us nearly five hours!!)

Backstage with Fancy Chance, Frankie Lynn and Laurie Hagen

The next show was at The Hexagon Theatre in Reading: one of my favourite places to perform as the stage is gorgeous, the tech team are fabulous and the audience are always receptive and appreciative.

Mirror Picture with Elan, Laurie Hagen, Jim Devereaux, Coco Malone, James Malach, Elle Amour, Glorian Gray and Fancy Chance

Lovely things that happened at this show: I got ID'd for wine! Taz arrived with a huuuge bunch of flowers for me. Elle, Glorian and I visited the worlds worst karaoke and cocktail bar, I got a birthday card signed by everyone in the cast and a host of lovely presents as well!!

Birthday Card!!

Presents from Glorian Gray, Taz and Kirsty

Gorgeous decorated REAL egg!! 

The following day - my ACTUAL BIRTHDAY!! Taz and I travelled back to London, thanks to four AA vans and several Starbucks stops (his car broke down, and they kept having to change tow-vans for various annoying reasons!) but at least it didn't rain!

Two of the four AA Trucks it took us to get back to London!

However, once we were safely back in the city, we went for a lovely meal and a stroll down the Thames.

Tower Bridge and HMS Belfast all lit up at night

And you know what? The weather was beautiful for the next few days! They were spent mainly drinking iced coffee in the park, wandering around shops in London and dozing in the garden! Bliss...

xx

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