Tag: Pig-Faced Girl

Posted on

The March-ing of Time

Erk – another long update hiatus. As ever, stuff’s been going down despite the radio silence.

First up, I had some marvellous new headshots taken at the end of October by Ceri Ashcroft.  They are waiting in the electronic pile of bits to upload to my website when I manage to squeeze a long overdue website updating session in.  Soon I hope!  Soon…  Here is one of ’em for now:

There are more on my Spotlight CV if yer interested.

The beady eyed of you will also notice on said CV that I have an agent!  I’m now represented by Sharon Foster Management 🙂

Over a couple of Sundays in October I also got round to recording my little song with my bruv.  It’s called ‘Really and True’ and it’s been uploaded to the site for a while now so you can listen to it here. ( For those with a more offend-able disposition than my own, there is mild ‘language’ from the start…)  It’s me on guitar, kazoo and vocal and my bro on thigh slapping, faux glockenspiel and faux accordion.  Very pleased with how it’s turned out.  There’ll be a proper link to it added during my next update session and, at some point, there’ll be a video for it too.  Raaaah!

In December, the Gawkagogo Freakshow descended upon The Lowry:

Much freakiness abounded and I got enjoy being part of the inaugural outing of the all new, literally all singing, all dancing Siamese Twin act, as well as the premier of the new Beatnik Piggy act and various other freaky gubbins.  More Freakshow news at some point in the near future…

As for Lois of the Lane, she performed at the Comedy Cabin at the end of October and has had her a private gig so far this year at the RVT, with another private gig booked for elsewhere in May.  On the Super Situation front, plans are still afoot for the next stage of the show.  STILL VERY EXCITED!

Coming up, I’m going to be involved in a film production of The Bacchae in April.  Amongst other things, it’ll be a great chance to learn a good chunk of lines again.  (So much silent performing over the past few years – which I LOVE, but speech based things do also most definitely float the boat.)  Until then though, there must be a veritable cracking on with the stuff that needs to be done.  Let me at ’em…

Posted on

Headshots and Hayfever

Yes it’s that time again.

Making it for the Spotlight deadline, almost by the skin of my teeth, I’ve had some glorious new headshots taken by Kirill Kozlov.  I’ve uploaded my favourites to the gallery page.  Sarah Costley has taken some more great pictures of me too and they have also made their way to the gallery.  I took this opportunity to do a bit of code spring cleaning so the whole page should work more smoothly.  Along with this there are some more photos in the Production Shots section.  (So many pictures of me…)

On Wednesday of this week, May the 14th, we have the last Gawkagogo Freakshow in this round of shows, in which I’ll be Pig-Faced Girl-ing and clowning around.  Here’s the latest flyer:

It’s at Vibe Live, above the Vibe Bar on Brick Lane. It’ll be a superbly wrong evening’s entertainment.  (Go on. You know you want to.)

Almost lastly – there’s a podcast on Youtube about the Wooden Swordsman test I was involved in in March.  Here it is:

More information about the project can be found here.

Definitely lastly, and by no means least-ly – I’m going to be starting work on a new show imminently.  I have no idea what it’ll be, but I’m rather excited nonetheless.  Throw some money at me!!  Updates when I have ’em.

Posted on

Freaks and Swordsman

Two more dates are lined up for the extended version of the Gawkagogo Freakshow.

Here’s the flyer:

Last month’s show was a freakish success!

Aside from pigging, I’ve had an afternoon puppeteering a Wooden Swordsman during rehearsals for a pilot scene of The Dark Side of the Earth, a fantastic fantasy film.  This is the puppeteering team, and indeed the Swordsman himself, in action:

More soon, undoubtedly.

Posted on

I laugh in the face of tonsillitis. Ha!

So, the latest round of Glitch performances went down a storm. Thank you to all of you who made it along and to all who helped out.  Another sell-out!!  I had a great time and managed to get a few photographs taken – a couple of which you can see below.  I look ever so serious…

When I’ve got all of the pictures on my computer I’ll upload ’em properly.  Hopefully there’ll be more dates for Glitch, so watch this space.  Want to start developing a new project too…

I’ve got two Lois of the Lane gigs this week.  The first at Velvet‘s 9th Cabaret and Burlesque meetup at Madame Jojo’s on Thursday the 28th and the second at The Red Velvet Curtain Club‘s Lunacy evening at The Whitechapel Art Gallery on Friday the 29th.  Both should be very different and very entertaining evenings!

Then there’s another happening for the Gawkagogo Freakshow at The Vibe Lounge above the Vibe Bar on Brick Lane on March the 12th.  Here’s the back of the flyer:

So if you missed the Barden’s show, now’s yer chance to see a revamped re-run!

Off to the kitchen now to go douse myself in some more honey and hot water.  I shall be triumphant.

Posted on

Ooh, it’s got a bit nippy ain’t it?

Brrr…

Again, lots of stuff since the last post.  The Gawkagogo Freakshow tent went down a storm in the Pleasance Courtyard at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe and subsequently we’ve done a one off, massively extended version of the show, with special guests, at the infamous Barden’s Boudoir…

…which also went down mightily well!

There will inevitably be more Freakshow news soon…

November beckons, and with it comes a series of private screenings of ‘Small Talk‘, the multi-award winning short film I starred in last year.  It’s being screened alongside 2 other short films – ‘The Trousseau’ and ‘Crossed Lines’ which feature friends as the lead in each.  Here are the dates, times and places:

Tuesday November 13th – Riverside Studios, Hammersmith
1:30pm / 2:30pm / 3:30pm – THE TROUSSEAU
1:45pm / 2:45pm / 3:45pm – SMALL TALK
2:00pm / 3:00pm / 4:00pm – CROSSED LINES

Wednesday November 14th – Curzon, Soho
6:00pm – THE TROUSSEAU
6:15pm – SMALL TALK
6:30pm – CROSSED LINES

Thursday November 15th – The Pleasance Theatre, Islington
1:30pm / 2:30pm – THE TROUSSEAU
1:45pm / 2:45pm – SMALL TALK
2:00pm / 3:00pm – CROSSED LINES

and here are the blurbs:

————————————————————
THE TROUSSEAU – 17min – Starring Maria Thomas
When the young British Ama learns of her mother’s death she decides to return to her birthplace in Ghana.  The women of her clan question her suitability in taking her grandmother’s place in the funeral preparations, but Ama breaks with tradition and proves them wrong, finding a means to express her sorrow.

Nominated for ‘Best Actress’ and ‘Best Short Film’ at the BFM 8th International Film Festival 2006.

Screened as part of Africa in the Picture season at the Amsterdam Film Festival 2007.
————————————————————
SMALL TALK – 13min – Starring me
A short Black Comedy.  Madeline is an introverted telephone operator who amuses herself by making prank calls to unsuspecting Londoners passing by the phone box outside her flat.  One day she’s caught off guard when someone she calls decides to make small talk back…

1st Prize for the ‘Best Digital Film’ at the 13th International Short Film Festival in Drama (Greece) 2007.

‘Best Non-Italian Short Film’ at Kaleidoshorts 2007, organised by the Italian Embassy.

‘Best Student Drama’ at the Southern Royal Television Society Awards 2006/2007.

Digital Video Practice Award for ‘Best Student Short’ at the End of the Pier Film Festival 2007.
————————————————————
CROSSED LINES – 14min – starring Keith Eyles
Do actions really equal consequences or is life just a lottery and can something as random as a number actually change everything?  In just a few hours Jonathan Shepherd’s life is about to change drastically in this dark tale about infidelity, hypocrisy, mixed communication, bad timing and how far someone will go to protect what they have…

Premier screening of this new film, written, directed and produced by Keith Eyles.
————————————————————

You can find my finely crafted e-flyer for the screenings here. If you’re interested in attending one of them, please let me know. Tickets are limited.

Before November we have ourselves Halloween.  This year I’m going to be working with Gawkagogo on their Voodoo Witchdoctor Automaton installation.  We’ll be at Torture Garden‘s Halloween Ball on the 27th and Opal Nera’s Halloween Ball at T Bar on the 31st.  Come get your diagnosis!

Lastly, but certainly not least, I’ve had several Lois of the Lane gigs and have another coming up at ‘You Little Minx’ at Tiger Tiger in Croydon on the 2nd of November.  I’ve had some wonderful promotional pictures taken of her which I’ll be uploading soon, along with lots of other information, so watch this space.

Off now to go and dig out me thermals…

Posted on

Lois of the Lane, Pig in the Mud, Firey Clowning and More!

Good grief, a whole heap of a lot of stuff has happened since I last posted on here.  Wearisome wi-fi woe has been holding me back on the update front, but now I am victorious (haha wireless router – I have tamed you!  Feel my power!) and ready to spill all sorts of beans and the like.

So, first up – Lois of the Lane, my cabaret creation.  She’s a smiley silent comedy girl with a penchant for a bit of ridiculousness.  The blurb so far:

Lois of the Lane – Nerd of few words.  Snazzy dresser.  Sharp mover.  Lover of fine music and fine unexpectedness.  Eater of cheese.  Wearer of eyebrow.  Purveyor of the most delicious bite-sized chunks of silent comedy this side of Vaudeville.  You have been warned!

Each of my acts, otherwise known as ‘Random Acts of Ridiculousness‘ are around 4-5 minutes long and comprise of much stupidity 🙂  I currently have 3, (very nearly 4) ready and raring to go, entitled ‘Opus One’, ‘The Box of 1,000 Dances’ and ‘Showdown’.

My first gig at the opening night of Red Dress‘ Supper Club: ‘You Little Minx’ on the 29th of June was a storming success.  This is me, mid ‘Box of 1,000 Dances’, photographed by Moira Lovell:

My next gigs will be at The Vaudeville Cabaret Club during the last 10 days of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.  When I have exact dates, I’ll post ’em.

I’m getting some ‘Lois of the Lane‘ promotional photos done, then there’ll be a whole re-vamp of my website to accommodate my new alter ego.  Lots and lots to do…

Next – The Gawkagogo Freakshow!

We had a fantastic time at the Glastonbury and Latitude festivals.  A constant stream of people, endless queues to get in and a bit of coverage on Channel 4 in the form of Carling’s Festival Postcards.   You can watch our bit in the show here:

Now it’s off to the Pleasance at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe with us and the micro carny tent.  Information and stuff here.  We’re on from the 18th – 27th of August, playing every 15 minutes from 7pm – 9pm and we are one of the 20 must-see acts at the Edinburgh Fringe.  You definitely must see us then.

While we’re up there, Paul‘s got another exhibition going at the Hula Juice Bar, Grassmarket.  Details here.

Lastly, Gawkagogo joined the Fire Tusk Pain Proof Circus at their spectacular gig at The Roundhouse on the 27th of July, as part of the ‘Circus Front’ season.  I had much fun clowning around as Hooters 🙂  Here be gallery:

 

(Actually, this is lastly – pictures from Glastonbury and Latitude:)

(Image above: courtesy of Sonny Malhotra – Reportage Photography.)


Muuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuud!!

Posted on

Loadsa stuff

Glitch proved to be a sellout success at the Etcetera on the 11th and 12th.  Thanks to all who came! I had some fantastic feedback and I’m planning on putting the show on again in London asap.  More on that soon hopefully…

Prior to my Glitch performances, in the midst of the preparations, I found myself prancing around on Gawkagogo‘s stage at Torture Garden‘s New Year’s Eve bash.  We started dancing at 9pm and went right through to 6am.  (Well, I was more ‘shuffling’ for a number of hours.)

During the evening I inhabited the bodies of a Pig Faced Child:

Bearded Lady:

and Hooters the Clown:

(You can really tell how tired we all were by this point!)

On another Hooters note – me and her (us) are heading up to Brum next month in Gawkagogo‘s extra large suitcase for the Candy Box Burlesque Valentine Spectacular at the Glee Club on the 11th.  There’s going to be a live band to accompany shenanigans and everything.  Looking forward to it!

After that I’m going to be involved in the 356 plays event at The Pleasance in Norf London.  Not entirely sure how yet, but all shall be made clear…

Ooh, and Paul Garner‘s Monster Art Exhibition is still going on at Tusk Tattoo in town.  The opening night was great fun!  Photos n stuff here.