Many people drunkenly crashed their way into 2020 via a 1920s-themed New Year's Eve party with plenty of fringed dresses, sparkle and fizz. Much as I'm drawn to the fancy dress side of things - especially if I can make a costumed nod to Marilyn Monroe in Some Like it Hot - I wasn't sure... Continue Reading →
I have to admit that one of the biggest joys of having my own blog is being able to use it to shout about people who I think are doing amazing things. Every year since 2011, I have shared a list of the people who have had positive impact on my life in the previous... Continue Reading →
Back in 2013, I celebrated a decade of blogging with an awards ceremony. One of the winners of those awards - voted for by this blog's readers and my social media followers - was the incomparable Lolo Brow. In the five years since then, Lolo has: produced Cabaret Derangium; terrified audiences with her toxic masculinity... Continue Reading →
I've had a fondness for burlesque for a decade now. The costumes, movements, and facial expressions all help to tell a story, and the best acts are often the ones that do something the audience doesn't expect. I've always preferred a little subversion to a lot of 'glitter tits', and thankfully there are plenty of... Continue Reading →
When the Sheffield musical Everybody's Talking About Jamie made the leap to London's West End in November last year, a television show from 2011 reappeared on BBC iPlayer. Jamie: Drag Queen at 16 was a surprisingly non-judgemental BBC Three documentary which followed a working class teenage boy from the north east of England who wanted... Continue Reading →
Every wanted to start the year with a new challenge? Ever fancied getting on stage to perform, but don't have much time to commit to rehearsals beforehand? Well, I know a bunch of people who have answered yes to both of those questions and are doing something about it. They'll be taking part in this...... Continue Reading →
Since 2011 I have been publishing an annual list of people who have had positive impact on me in the previous 12 months and therefore, in my opinion, deserve an award for their greatness. These are the super humans who have shaped my life and brought me joy and inspiration - I want to thank... Continue Reading →
Last Friday I was invited to the staging of a new show at the National Theatre. The musical, wonder.land, is a contemporary re-imagining of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland brought into the digital age. Along with my friend, Wonderland-enthusiast Becca, we went behind the scenes prior to the show to talk to costume propmaker Reuben Hart,... Continue Reading →
Around about this time last year, I was getting ready to appear in the Irreverent Dance Showcase. A glorious celebration of what our bodies can do and what a community can achieve, this annual performance gives people who never thought they could be dancers a chance to show off the fact that... yes... yes they... Continue Reading →
About eight years ago now, as a university graduate wet behind the years, I stumbled upon the burlesque scene in Scotland: a Ministry of Burlesque performance in Edinburgh, as it happened. From there, my long-term love of burlesque - and corsetry/costuming - was born. At the same time, I also found myself in the lucky... Continue Reading →