Going Cabaret

As you may, or may not know at the moment, I am currently one of the judges for the London Cabaret Awards. Now in their 9th year, the awards have been set up by that doyenne of the cabaret scene Paul L Martin, in order to celebrate the vast array of cabaret on offer in the capital. It's a hefty task to undertake but fortunately I am not alone and my fellow judges and I welcome all applicants for consideration. If you are performing in London and one of us can make it, we'll do our utmost to get there.

As if Paul L Martin wasn't busy enough, he is also organising The Cabaret Convention - a massive 'get-together' of cabaret folk, which takes place in London every year. For those new to the business, it offers so many possibilities in terms of networking and gives you a chance to chat with people who are actually making a living as performers. Classes, panel discussions, cabaret films and choirs - I am currently in the process of persuading Sean to do a feather demonstration, which will be a must for any designer!

Put simply, if you want to take your cabaret career seriously, this is the perfect place to start!

To book tickets or to find out more about the convention then check out their website after the link.

The Stage New Year Party 2014

The Stage annual New Year Party is an event I look forward to, not least because it allows me to catch up with so many friends and acquaintances from the London theatre community, who I usually only get to chat to 'in the interval'. Now tied into The Stage 100 Awards, the event remains a social highlight of the theatre calendar but now sees the presentation of awards for Best Regional Theatre, Best London Theatre, Best Fringe Theatre, Best Producer, Best School and the Unsung Hero Award, which was this year given posthumously to theatre consultant Andy Collier.

Listening to the acceptance speeches I couldn't help but be impressed by the Michael Grandage Company, who graciously listed the phenomenal accomplishments of its fellow nominees - Sonia Friedman Productions and Headlong - ahead of accepting The Stage for the award. That's how to do an acceptance speech! 

Among the people I was able to catch up with included Roger Foss, Stephanie Methven, Penny Horner, La familie Plews, Lisa Martland, David Burns, Danielle Tarento, Rosie Barltett and of course, some of The Stage staff who I no longer see on a daily basis.

The rest of the event was a flurry of introductions and happy reunions before retiring to The Globe for the less formal part of the afternoon. As ever this allowed me to catch up with Alan Myatt, who has been MC of the event for about ten years now and also Anna Papakyriacou and Sarah Rogers, who had dropped by to say hi. Sean popped by eventually and we wandered over to Piccadilly for dinner at the Brasserie Zedel, with time just before for a daiquiri at the Crazy Coqs - there was a massive queue at the American Bar.

Not all Fridays are like this - but it's just as well, I suppose. The morning had seen me file a student showcase review, spend an hour in the gym and swim 1500 metres before squeezing myself into a suit and catching a train to the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. It was all compounded by the fact that I hadn't had a drink since December 31st in an attempt to bolster a New Year health kick. Well that's over now, at least until Lent! 

My 2013

I take New Year - as I'm sure many people do - as a time of both reflection and anticipation. For me personally 2013 has been a year of great changes both personally and professionally. Sean asked me what the highlights to my year had been and aside from a few personal successes, each of my highlights have been theatrical ventures. With The Stage 100 List being published this week and The Offies hot on their tail celebrating theatre work Off-West End, I thought it might be an idea to fashion my own, purely personal list of theatre highlights this year.

I have seen a fair few new musicals this year but little compared to the ground-breaking Streets, which opened at the Cockpit in April. Like most musicals on the fringe Streetswas not perfect but writers Finn Anderson, Tori Allen-Martin, Sarah Henley and James Eyres-Kenward have created a fascinating amalgam of song, dance and touching drama that throws up a challenge to conventional musical theatre. Look out for further productions this year.

For my best musical theatre performance of 2013, nothing will beat John Barr’s turn as Ed Kleban in A Class Act at the Landor. Barr’s portrayal of the tortured, insecure, depressive lyricist, famous for his work on A Chorus Line, was a tour de force, the like of which is rarely seen on the Fringe and the show certainly deserved as further life.

When it comes to a best new play, then Gutted is an easy winner. Opening in May at the Theatre Royal Stratford East, Rikki Beadle-Blair’s play may have divided the critics but nobody could doubt the power of the performances or the passion of Beadle-Blair’s writing.

Broadway chansonnier KarenMason was a notable cabaret highlight, along with Stefan Bednarczyk reinventing Noel Coward and the indomitable Miss Hope Springs all of whom appeared at my favourite cabaret venue, the Crazy Coqs.

When it comes to revivals, Merrily We Roll Along has – thankfully – been preserved digitally and I consider myself very fortunate to have seen Maria Friedman’s revival on stage and on screen. I had never heard of Bare but the transfer from the Union to the Greenwich was a notable piece of rock musical theatre with a stunningly good set design.

Think Of A Number

Found this picture online and I thought I'd share. It was taken whilst filming Judi Dench's Moulin Rouge number from the movie Nine. Stood amidst the dancers is director Rob Marshall, who is currently directing Into The Woods. Sean made all the head-dresses and tails for this scene. God knows how they fitted in his workshop?