Now that the LISPA rollercoaster has slowed to a standstill....Where were we? I last wrote in April, at the halfway point of the course, and while I was having a little break from performing burlesque. I have never been more busy than in those last few weeks in July, finishing my Amelia Earhart Act for Sci-Fi July at Bawdsville, and rounding off the course with a devised group piece based on cemeteries. The second term at LISPA was more concrete in terms of performance, the first terms subject matter being very abstract and heavily movement based, and the second term working on characters, farce, storytelling, and eventually solo work which resembled clowning. The last few weeks looked like this;
Week 10: Acrobatics presentation: Acrobalance group piece, using iconic buildings in London as a basis. Stage-combat piece (Ours was set at Wimbledon!) and solo Korean martial arts form.
Week 11: 20 movements presentation, all manner of mime.
Week 12: Personal Project presentation, very personal, and I even sang!
Week 13: Research Project Presentation, based on London Cemeteries, the funeral business, the decaying process and grief. And there was a song!
I've learned so much from the experience, and I feel very lucky to have the financial means (just about) to return in January for the advanced course.
Week 10: Acrobatics presentation: Acrobalance group piece, using iconic buildings in London as a basis. Stage-combat piece (Ours was set at Wimbledon!) and solo Korean martial arts form.
Week 11: 20 movements presentation, all manner of mime.
Week 12: Personal Project presentation, very personal, and I even sang!
Week 13: Research Project Presentation, based on London Cemeteries, the funeral business, the decaying process and grief. And there was a song!
I've learned so much from the experience, and I feel very lucky to have the financial means (just about) to return in January for the advanced course.
I had decided to take a break from burlesque during March, and with my gigs for April cancelled, that left two very important performances in May; Bawsville's 'The Lady is a Tramp' in which I performed Lolly Poppins, The WAG and in two sketches, and the London Burlesque Festival's 'Hollywood Revue' for which Lolly Poppins came out again. I really enjoyed both shows. For Bawdsville I got to fulfill an ambition; I played the sexy dame in a film noir poem. At the Hollywood Revue there was a male performer - Lord Ritz - who did a fire act as Dick van Dyke. Mary was reunited with her dick!!
With Eljai Morais as Bobby Word on the Street. Courtesy of Bawdsville and Richard Edwards
With the cast of Hollywood Revue for LBF @Madame Jojo's. Courtesy of Chaz Royal and John-Paul Birchard
During June, as well as rehearsing acrobalances, brawl scenes and the 20 movements, I performed my Allo Allo act for a French themed night at the Vibe Gallery in Bermondsey, which was a lovely space, and I returned to Miss Odelia's Opium Den, where the WAG had another outing. All the while I was plugging away at my Amelia Earhart act, which was debuted at Bawdsville on July 7th. I'd had no sleep, having travelled back from Manchester overnight to see Robert Wilson's production of 'The Old Woman' by Danil Kharms, the day was hot, and some of the act remained only vaguely choreographed! It was a shaky performance, but there are some photos on the way which don't look too bad.
When LISPA ended LISPA_FEST began! A few of us from the course went up to Yorkshire to stay on a farm. Which was tremendous, and rather wild! The week ended with my performing at The Wet Spot in Leeds - always a favourite - and this one was particularly special as both Leggy Pee and myself were performing acts with puppets, and all of the regulars who sit at the front every month had brought in minature versions of themselves! I was very nervous while performing the Amelia act, but the Crossroads act went down a storm, I don't think I've ever had such a big reaction to it. It took a while to get rid of the glitter, and I still find the odd speck!
When LISPA ended LISPA_FEST began! A few of us from the course went up to Yorkshire to stay on a farm. Which was tremendous, and rather wild! The week ended with my performing at The Wet Spot in Leeds - always a favourite - and this one was particularly special as both Leggy Pee and myself were performing acts with puppets, and all of the regulars who sit at the front every month had brought in minature versions of themselves! I was very nervous while performing the Amelia act, but the Crossroads act went down a storm, I don't think I've ever had such a big reaction to it. It took a while to get rid of the glitter, and I still find the odd speck!
Finally The Mist are working together again after a 6 month hiatus. We had a gig for The Den of Iniquity in Nottingham on August 3rd, and were so happy with the photos from Martyn Boston. Our next gig is on Battersea Barge, October 3rd, and then for Bawdsville's Dark Carnival on October 20th.
My next burlesque gig is for The Queen of Arts Cabaret, it is a cross-dressing themed event, so I'm bringing the A-Team Act.
https://www.facebook.com/events/550596508330650/
I'm trying to get the Amelia act out as much as possible, so as to overcome my nerves! So I've got Cheese and Crackers on September 5th, and Miss Odelia's Opium Den on September 21st.
That's all for now, I promise not to leave it so long next time!
https://www.facebook.com/events/550596508330650/
I'm trying to get the Amelia act out as much as possible, so as to overcome my nerves! So I've got Cheese and Crackers on September 5th, and Miss Odelia's Opium Den on September 21st.
That's all for now, I promise not to leave it so long next time!
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