A 1950s Cabaret Kaleidoscope...
2009 began for bagg theatre with the germ of a brand new project: a devised, one-woman show to be created with actor and singer Lucy Thatcher.
Currently untitled, the piece is an experimental work inspired by the great female cabaret singers of the 1950s, among them, Peggy Lee, Keely Smith, Shirley Maclaine, Rosemary Clooney and Julie London.
In its present early stages, the show could perhaps best be described as a “cabaret kaleidoscope”, a collage of stories, images and songs from the 1950s, exploring the lives and talents of these extraordinary performers. Fusing physical theatre, musical theatre, burlesque and cabaret, we aim to create something a bit special, like the performers themselves:
"For every show had to be special – they expected no less of her, and she demanded no less of herself. An element of unpredictability could only add to the mystery. She wanted to seduce them all. She wanted them to hear each word, and feel every emotion that lay behind it. She wanted perfection, she needed perfection . . . . "
(from 'Fever' by Peter Richmond, about the life and music
of Peggy Lee)
Several development sessions throughout February 2009 will bring together a team of collaborators to experiment with songs and movement, to share research, pursue hunches, play, work and play some more . . . . To be followed by an intensive workshop to produce a short performance piece for a trial-run with an audience – watch this space!
The performer is Lucy Thatcher, an experienced actress who has been working in the West End for the past six years in shows such as The Rat Pack, and who recently appeared in Imagine This. She has also performed on the London cabaret circuit at venues such as Ronnie Scott’s and The London Theatre Museum. Other theatre work includes acting at venues including the Open Air Theatre, Regent’s Park, (where she first worked with director Laura Baggaley) the London Palladium and the Wiltshire Theatre Los Angeles.
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bagg theatre is an independent limited company that at present receives no public funding. We rely on box office income, sponsorship and donations to fund our work.
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