Back to Life

Back to life... back to (what passes for) reality!

This week began with some much needed relaxation time and I had a lovely couple of days not really doing a hell of a lot, just relaxing on the sofa, watching movies and catching up on missed sleep. I've been on a mission to reclaim my flexibility and I've been stretching every night for the last couple of weeks - I've already just about got my right leg splits back, and I'm working on the left. I've never been able to do box splits because of my stupid hips, but I'm glad to see that the flexibility I had in college hasn't gone too far!

On Wednesday evening I joined the fabulous Miss Danni Dee at Freedom in Soho as the guest of the The Danni Dee show. It was great fun, with a hugely enthusiastic audience, and Taz came along with Jess from Burlesque on Ice to cheer me along, which was lovely!

Montage from Jess!

Mirror Picture! With Miss Danni Dee!

At the weekend I was back with the House of Magic family for a Bloody Valentines themed show - I was singing before the main show and covered myself in blood from a heart I pulled out of my chest!

My Bloody Valentine!

I love working at the House of Magic - it's a glorious, bonkers, lovely place to be and it's so far from anything I've ever done that I can't help but adore every moment!

Selfie! With Beulah Bell!

And that's about all for this week - I have a couple of exciting plans coming up for the week ahead, and hoping that shortly some plans I put in motion a few weeks ago will finally reap rewards, but that's all in the future, and for now I'm going to curl up and attempt to fight off this imminent cold with lashings of Beechams and ibuprofen!

x

New Experiences

Back in January, I promised myself this would be a year of new experiences... and I certainly lived up to that this week!

Earlier in the week I met up with one of my best Burlesque friends, Glorian Gray, and headed across to Queensway Ice Rink... Having not been ice skating for around fifteen years I wasn't even expecting to be able to stay upright but I amazed myself by the end of the session by learning how to (briefly) skate on one leg, go round in a spiral, and (sort of) skate backwards!

Off Ice Skating with Glorian Gray

A couple of days later I achieved a New Years Resolution I had made myself in 2012 - I hosted a show! I have wanted to host for a long time but it's a difficult thing to get into: a host is the most important part of a show as they hold everything together, get the audience on side, make sure everyone is prepared for each act and be an entertainer themselves. While there are newcomer nights for performers, there are no such nights for hosts, so it's very much a 'sink or swim' situation.

While I have no problem singing on stage, I've always been reluctant to speak as I hate the sound of my own voice - I feel like I sound like a posh twelve-year old! However I am never one to shy away from a challenge so when I was offered the opportunity to host a Friday night at the gorgeous Privee Knightsbridge, I grabbed at it with both hands!

Mirror Picture! With Victoria at Privee

I'm not going to say I was perfect, because obviously I wasn't, but you know what - I did okay! I had a few stomach churning moments; being told by a table of women to 'F**k off' halfway through a song, and no one standing up for the planned audience participation - and I will admit that those moments really threw me. However for the most part everyone seemed to enjoy the show - my songs went well, I remembered everything I'd planned to say and surprised myself by actually being a little bit funny! I even had a couple of people after the show ask for my business card with regard to booking me for their company corporate parties!!

And that's about it for this week - I'll leave you with a couple of my favourite pictures from a recent shoot with Taz Zebrowski Photography.

xx

 

  

 

Month of May

Oh it's been ages since I last posted: I'm getting really rubbish at this blog malarkey aren't I? And I used to be so good!

Well this month I have performed at a private party for a lovely lady - I got to sing in a gorgeous venue with a stellar cast and a free champagne and cocktail bar (perfect!)

The Cabaret Marquee

Singing: I think this was 'Son of a Preacher Man'... maybe...

It was such an honour to perform alongside a completely wonderful cast, and we all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves!

Our backstage barn! With Missy Malone, Carrie Ann, Kittie Klaw, Dusty Limits, Vicky Butterfly and Mat Ricardo

The following week I was back with The Burlesque Show in Weston-Super-Mare: I didn't get many pictures, but the show was fantastic and the audience were wonderful and welcoming.

Signed performer photos adorning the walls of the Green Room

This weekend I performed for the first time at the gorgeous Privee in Knightsbridge, where I entertained the audience with a couple of cheeky songs. It is a beautiful venue and I was made to feel so welcome - hopefully my first visit of many!

Then on Saturday I headed up to Birmingham for one of my favourite little shows, Dr. Sketchy's: I went prepared this time with paper and drawing materials to do some sketching (as the name implies!) and had a lovely time, especially since Frankie Lynn was both performing and exhibiting wares from her Emporium, and I haven't seen this beautiful lady for far too long!

With Frankie Lynn

The Victoria in Birmingham is filled with weird and wonderful pieces of art like this

My doodles of the day: Frankie Lynn and Mysti Vine

In other news: several months ago I had a photoshoot for The Noise Next Door, and this is the finished result!

The Noise Next Door poster

The poster is for their Edinburgh Fringe show and it promises to be a fabulous one, so if you are planning on popping up to the Fringe this year, make time to go and see it!

And finally: this happened:

 

Back to Brunette

I've back to my natural brunette! This was for a variety of reasons: the upkeep on blonde was a nightmare - I'd only ever get about a week of it looking lush before prickles of roots began to come through and I'd have to endure several weeks of looking like a badger before I could redo them. Also, the bleach was ruining my hair - when I began dying it blonde my hair was around shoulder length and over the last year I've had to go shorter and shorter as the dye made my hair brittle and breakable.

I will admit I do miss being blonde - it took me so long to get it to the colour I wanted it, and I had planned to keep it that way for as long as possible, but this way, hopefully, I'll be able to let it grow and get healthy again.

And here's what I was up to this time last year: fun fun!

xx

Back on Tour

Last Wednesday saw the first performance of the group 'The Absolute Bankers' for a new night at Proud Cabaret called 'The Bank Vault'

The Bank Vault at Proud Cabaret

We have been rehearsing for a couple of weeks and performed a lovely mix of songs, from standards such as 'Summertime' and 'At Last', a few standards with a twist, like 'Mack The Knife' (with a Jaws-style intro), and 'Bad Bad Leroy Brown' (mixed with 'Bad' by Michael Jackson), and some modern, unexpected songs, like 'Toxic' and 'Price Tag'!

Emma performing on stage

It was great fun, and although the audience was small they thoroughly enjoyed themselves, singing along and dancing to the upbeat songs. It's a shame that it doesn't look like the night will be repeated after all the work we put in, but it may lead to other opportunities in the future.

'The Absolute Bankers'! With Joe Morose, Emma 'Captain' Hook, James and Chris

Over the weekend I was excited to be back on tour with 'The Burlesque Show' as we headed up to bonnie Scotland for two shows.

Massive banner overlooking Dunfermeline

They were great fun, and the audiences were both fantastic - it was so lovely to be back with a fantastic group of performers and the shows went wonderfully. We even had a celebrity-style signing after the show in Motherwell!

 

Squishing into the lift! ** Mat Ricardo rehearsing on stage

 

Mirror Pictures!! With Rod, Elliot Mason, Alex and Kittie Klaw ** with Kittie, Alex, Glorian Gray, Elliot, Mat and James

Celebrity-style signing!

 Despite being unwell for most of the weekend I enjoyed myself immensely and it was fabulous to catch up with people I hadn't seen for months - though I was grateful to be home in my own bed to sleep off this lingering cold!

Snoozing in the car on the way back from Scotland!

Interview - Coco DuBois

Coco Dubois is an internationally acclaimed Compere, Singer, Actress & Burlesque Performer hailing from London. She has been performing as Coco for just over two years and has performed for National and International theatre tours, the West End and countless cabaret clubs and private events. She can currently be seen at the Menier Chocolate Factory in Stephen Sondheim's 'Merrily We Roll Along'

Coco DuBois at Proud Cabaret: Tigz Rice Studios

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

I always knew about ‘Cabaret’. I used to sing on my landing at home as if I was on a balcony singing to a crowd of people in a big theatre. As for Burlesque, my first real live experience was only a couple of years ago when I went to Proud Cabaret for my cousin Sarah’s hen do. We went to a class first and everyone was giggling and messing around and I remember thinking to myself “I find it really hard not to take this seriously” because I loved it so much and wanted to do it properly. In the evening we headed off to Proud Cabaret. It was a Tassel Club show and I remember that Banbury Cross was performing (still my favourite performer to this day). I was pretty tipsy and as the night went on (and egged on by my Mother) I went marching up to the hostess and told her that I would like to sing in her show. She gave me once over and told me to come back next week and audition in the show. It all went swimmingly and after time I grew in confidence and was approached by Proud Cabaret to host.

So Coco was born. And Sarah (our hen) went on to create Burlesque Bible (international Burlesque magazine).

Photographer Credit: Tigz Rice Studios

How did you choose your stage name?

I had to pick very quickly because it all started up very quickly. Dubois is the surname of one of my favorite characters in a play – Blanche Dubois in Tennessee Williams’ ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’. I also later realized it meant ‘Wood’ which matches my real surname (Woodward) – a happy coincidence. As for Coco, it just kind of fitted. When it was suggested, it felt right. Helped of course by my utter love for Coco Chanel perfume!

Photographer Credit: Tigz Rice Studios

You have recently moved from hosting shows into performing Burlesque acts – what brought about this move?

It’s something I’ve always wanted to do, for myself more than anyone else. I’ve only created one act so far and I hope to do more in the future but want to seriously take my time in creating them.

One of the main reasons I created a burlesque strip tease is for my own confidence. I adore how burlesque holds high the curvaceous woman, burlesque should be a celebration of whatever body you are blessed with.

I grew up wanting to be a popstar or a famous actress and everyday came face to face with the washboard abs of the Britneys and the Christinas and I used to give myself a hard time believing that I could never be like them. I struggled with eating disorders and a warped view on health. I like to think that my stepping into burlesque was a final ‘BOG OFF’ to all those feelings, that I can be ME onstage and I can look HOT, whether it’s the day after Christmas lunch or the day after a month of exercise.

I don’t think the striptease side of things is necessarily a career change of path for me, I’m just dipping my toes in everything to see what I like. And how blessed am I to be able to do that?!

Photographer Credit: Tigz Rice Studios

Who are your biggest influences/inspirations?

Oh zillions. Of course, Marilyn Monroe, she helped me believe I could be sexy and she’s so FUNNY. People never remember that. She has me in stitches in every film. That girl knew what she was doing in front of a camera. When she sings ‘My Heart Belongs to Daddy’ in an oversized sweatshirt – PHWOAR!.

Liza Minelli is a HUGE inspiration to me, particularly for her acting/storytelling through song. Within a 3 minute piece of music she takes you on a complete journey. And her vulnerability is divine. Even at her age now. I saw her at the Albert Hall last year (on my own, I’m very sad) and she was incredible. And happy to take the mickey out of herself too.

Non-performer wise I worked with a great man who has now unfortunately passed away, Professor Bruce Kirle. He was a musical director from New York who used to play for the likes of Chita Rivera in LaMamas back in the day. He taught me all about the intricacies of acting through song, telling a story, making your audience feel something and that everything leads back to either sex or food. That’s what we humans live for!

 

Marilyn Monroe ** Liza Minelli

Professor Bruce Kirle

Tell us a little about your favourite experiences so far

Oh there are lots. An unbelievable one was when I hosted to 2000 people in Milan in Italian. And no, I don’t speak Italian. I got my script translated and off I went. I broke up with my fella the night before and had had no sleep. It was all a crazy blur. I remember the words coming out of my mouth and the Italians laughing at my jokes and I couldn’t believe it. I also remember looking to the wings and seeing a gaggle of British burlesque performers with their mouths wide in disbelief that I was actually pulling it off!!!

Another favourite time was hosting The Hurly Burly show in the West End this summer. I had an excellent time with some fabulous ladies including the divine Miss Polly Rae. I loved being her little fire cracker, getting them all pumped up for her entry and performing skits and comedy songs with the girlies.

Sometimes though, the best nights happen when you least expect them to. Sometimes a random Thursday night in the basement of a club in the city can result in the best show ever. It all depends on whatever line up you have that night, and most importantly, the eagerness of the audience.

Another amazing experience was filming the ‘Too Cabaret’ video with Frisky and Mannish and many other Cabaret greats. We have such a hard-working flourishing BLOODY LOVELY industry. When I’m older and rich I’m going to open an old peoples home for ex-cabaret performers. I want Mat Ricardo whipping off the table cloth under my porridge and Betsy Rose tassel twirling in the kitchen and the Incredible Hula Boy hula-ing while we watch Come Dine With Me.

Coco DuBois, Polly Rae, Rachel Muldoon and Peggy DeLune: Hurly Burly Press Night 2012

Have you ever had any stage nightmares?

Oh I’m sure there’s been a few. Some I can’t actually mention on here ;-P.

One of my favourite times was when I was singing ‘Stormy Weather’. I’d told the audience that I was single and this was my song of grief and longing. As the song reached the climax, my gorgeous sound guy pressed the wrong button and ‘Single Ladies’ by Beyonce came BLASTING through the speakers. Needless to say I was in stitches. I can’t even sing a song about my failed love life successfully!

Saying that, that’s what live cabaret is and that is the utter JOY of it. And us performers would be nothing without our incredible tech team and stage kittens. So THANK YOU.

Coco DuBois and Taz Zebrowski: London Cabaret Awards 2012

Tell me something no one would suspect about you

I am terrified of hosting! (I probably shouldn’t mention that on here!!!) I mean, I’ve been performing my entire life and it’s rare that I get nerves but MY GOD, hosting is a scary thing to do. At the moment I’m in quite a good place where I feel I can handle whatever is thrown at me, but it’s taken me a long time to find that ‘happy place’. It was never something I wanted to do! When I was just singing at the beginning of my 'Coco career' I had one gig a week and the rest of the time I was waitressing or balloon modelling while dressed as a mime on the streets outside Madame Tussauds. Yes. So when the email came along asking if I could host, what do you think the answer was!?

I’m a firm believer in ‘Do one thing every day that scares you’ so I guess I’m on the right track…

Photographer Credit: Tigz Rice Studios

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

Take your time, nurse your craft, find what it is to be you and what you want to present. Never rush an act, and storytelling is the best way, be it through song or movement. Saying that, don’t take TOO long, come on in! Welcome! The more the merrier, and the water’s lovely.

Photographer Credit: Garry Lake

More Coco

Coco's Website

Follow Coco on Twitter

Coco's Facebook Page

Merrily We Roll Along

Interview - Coco Malone

Ladies and Gentlemen; introducing Coco Malone - Jazz songbird and Cabaret darling. Based in the North West of England she can often be found travelling the length and breadth of the country gracing many a stage. She also performs with her fabulous band "Root and Groove Element"

Trained in song and dance from a young age and having had much experience performing for both intimate and large audiences she can soothe away your cares with classic jazz or knock you off your feet with a dazzling showtune. You'll certainly be left wanting more...

You'll certainly be left wanting more...

Photographer Credit: Kate Donovan

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

I've always been fascinated by years gone by and it probably stems, in part, from my love of old Hollywood musicals. From a musical point, my love of jazz goes right back to listening to my dad's vinyl when I was young. I can remember being about 5 years old and dancing round the living room to Ray Charles and Nat King Cole. Putting all of that together, I was one of those children who annoyed their parents by always wanting to put on 'shows', which they'd politely have to endure on a regular basis!

About 5 years ago, my interest lead me to burlesque and the first show I attended was Carnival Divine in Manchester - I LOVED it! Then followed a burlesque workshop with Bella Besame, which I also loved!I'd always planned on going to study dance and performing arts but my life took a very different turn and I ended up having my two children by the age of 19. After staying at home with them for their first few years, I trained to be then worked as a neonatal intensive care nurse but never really felt that was what I was 'supposed' to be doing. I was desperate to sing and dance again but I'd lost pretty much all of my confidence and self belief. To cut a long story short my dance teachers (I still attended lessons) showed faith in me, supported me and put me back on a stage to sing. One of the the most terrifying, yet liberating moments of my life. The rest, as the saying goes, is history!

"(My debut) was one of the most terrifying yet liberating moments of my life."

You are one of the premier Cabaret singer on the scene – how do you choose which songs to sing?

One of the premier cabaret singers on the scene? Haha! That's nice! Oh, songs! There are so many of them! Plain and simply, the songs I sing are the songs I love. I feel very lucky in that I'm rarely asked to sing songs that I don't identify with. I suppose because I'm a jazz / soul singer, people expect me to sing jazz and soul. I've never, thankfully, been asked to sing any N-Dubz and I don't anticipate that happening any time soon!
Sometimes, people will ask for specific songs, but most of the time I'm left to compile my own set lists and that's sometimes down to the kind of venue / show / audience but mostly down to what I fancy doing on the night! My current favourite to sing is 'Teach Me Tonight'.

My current favourite song is 'Teach me Tonight'

Photographer Credit: InaGlo Photography

Not many people realise you also used to perform as a Burlesque Dancer. What brought about the move away from dancing to performing solely as a Singer?

Ah, you have a good memory. I did indeed do a short spell, performing as a burlesque dancer, right back at the beginning. It was probably only for about six months – one year. It felt like there was too much to focus on - choosing songs, singing, rehearsing, choreography, costuming, etc. Also, I wanted the audience (and myself) to be clear on who I was as a performer - I felt like I was spreading myself too thinly so decided to focus solely on singing. I did used to sing a lot of show tunes too but unless I'm specifically asked, I now just stick to jazz and soul. Even though all of this was a big reason for moving away from burlesque performing, there was another underlying reason - my propensity for being a perfectionist! In pretty much all areas of my life, I'm a person who will do something to a ridiculous degree and want to be the very best - or I won't do it at all. And burlesque performing was no different. I had a pretty solid background in dance, in the form of ballet and jazz, and I considered myself to be 'ok' when it came to burlesque but if I couldn't do it as well as the performers I loved (namely Anna Fur Laxis, Missy Malone and Vicky Butterfly) then I didn't want to do it at all. And that was that.

"I'm a person who will do something to a ridiculous degree and I want to be the very best."

Photographer Credit: InaGlo Photography

Who are your biggest influences and inspirations?

My biggest influences - they would be Billie Holliday, Sarah Vaughan, Ray Charles, Dinah Washington, Bessie Smith and Amy Winehouse. I love so many more but theirs are the songs I listen to the most. It's their music that frequently moves me to tears and makes me feel something that I couldn't and wouldn't want to put into words. And that's one of my biggest motivations for songwriting and performing - I want the audience to be able to share in that feeling. I hope they do.......

 

Billie Holliday ** Sarah Vaughan

 

Ray Charles ** Dinah Washington

 

Bessie Smith ** Amy Winehouse

Tell us a little about your favourite experiences so far

Wow, trying to find favourite experiences is hard! I love so much of it. Getting to perform in places like Paris and Rome has been amazing but I've had equally wonderful times here in the UK. Being able to walk into a dressing room anywhere and instantly being able to have a wonderful time with people - I've made so many good friends whose creativity is so inspiring. Although, Julien Macdonald was in the audience once and gave me some personal styling tips after my performance - that was pretty cool!

"Julien Macdonald...gave me personal styling tips!"
Photographer Credit: Scott Chalmers Photography

Tell me something no one would suspect about you

I can tell you a couple of things no one would suspect about me! I'm afraid of the dark and have slept with the landing light and the radio on and the covers right over my head ever since first watching ET when I was about 5 years old! Also, I am a MASSIVE Whitesnake fan. I think I just felt like I needed to confess that!

I'm afraid of the dark!

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

I always feel flattered and honoured when a new singer comes to me for advice. I give them as much support as I can - because of some negativity I experienced when starting out. It can be a daunting experience, moving into the performing world and I couldn't do anything else but try and make that a little easier for someone else. I would say, though, know your strengths and limitations and work with these. In my opinion, everyone has a talent, they just lie in different places. Keep working on your performance, watch the performers who inspire you, go to see lots of shows, ask lots of questions and be prepared to work hard - it's worth it!

"Know your strengths and limitations... be prepared to work hard - it's worth it!"

Photographer Credit: Darkstar Imaging

More Coco

Coco's Website
Follow Coco on Twitter
Like Coco on Facebook
Coco and her band on SoundCloud