Barbara Windsor, star of Carry On films and EastEnders, dies at 83 | Barbara Windsor | The Guardian
Dame Barbara Windsor, best known for her roles in EastEnders and the Carry On films, has died aged 83, her husband Scott Mitchell has said.Mitchell said in a statement: “It … Continue reading
Helen Reddy obituary | Music | The Guardian
Every social movement has its definitive song, and feminism got its anthem in 1972 when the Australian singer Helen Reddy released the single I Am Woman. In three elegant minutes, … Continue reading
Juliette Gréco, face of chic postwar Paris, dies aged 93 | World news | The Guardian
The legendary French actor and singer Juliette Gréco, whose career spanned more than half a century, has died aged 93, her family has said.“Juliette Gréco died this Wednesday surrounded by … Continue reading
Vera Lynn: the best of the wartime spirit, not its continuation by other means | Stephen Moss | Music | The Guardian
That Vera Lynn was 103 years old is of no consequence. She was, in our mind’s eye, forever in her 20s, belting out the string of songs that helped sustain … Continue reading
First Night Design | Joseph Grimaldi, Clown 1778–1837 | First Night Design
A story is told that in 1806 a man goes to visit a doctor who is acclaimed for his ability to treat melancholia. “I can’t eat, I can’t sleep,” says … Continue reading
Marie Lloyd – Queen of the Halls
2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of the legendary music hall performer Marie Lloyd and I think she would have appreciated the lecture about her colourful life and spectacular career that … Continue reading
Roy Hudd obituary
‘In 1958 Hudd’s agent, Morris Aza, suggested he audition for Launcelot Gobbo in The Merchant of Venice. As Hudd later explained: “Morris said, ‘In about three or four years variety … Continue reading
The History of Race, Performance, and Drag Intersect in a Rare Photo of Thomas Dilward
TODAY IN BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, the southwest corner of Court Street and Remsen Street is home to a vitamin store, a law office, and a pizzeria. But in September 1862, during … Continue reading
Langston Hughes’s Ardent Public Fan Letter to the Young Nina Simone
On February 8, 1949, a week after his forty-eighth birthday, the poet, novelist, activist, and playwright Langston Hughes (February 1, 1901–May 22, 1967) traveled to Asheville to speak at the Allen … Continue reading
Bud Flanagan’s Spitalfields
My Sabbatical is Over! I’m back. However, posts will not be as frequent as during the old days. Also, I’ve decided not to allow your beautiful comments partly because of … Continue reading
JULY 29, 1887: NAUGHTY NOMADS AND SINGING SOTS – Wretched Richard’s Almanac
Born in 1887, Sigmund Romberg moved to the United States in 1909 and, after a short resume builder in a pencil factory (as a sharpener?), found work as a pianist. … Continue reading
Barry Humphries on Trump, transgender ‘rat-baggery’ and causing maximum offence | The Spectator
‘I’m an amateur,’ Barry Humphries tells me. The Australian polymath uses the word in its older sense of ‘enthusiast’ rather than ‘bungler’ and he feels no need to point out … Continue reading
Shoeing for a New Play – Theatrical Footwear: 1901 | Mrs Daffodil Digresses
SHOEING FOR A NEW PLAY. Footwear a Big Item in a Stage Production—Cost from $1000 to $1600 Some Trials of a Theatrical Bootmaker. Through some oversight, the manager of a … Continue reading
O’Gorman Brothers
Joe O’Gorman the Irish Comedian was born in Dublin on May 24th, 1863. Attaining a local reputation as a dancer and singer he resolved to try his luck in England … Continue reading
Director and Choreographer Dame Gillian Lynne Passes Away at 92
It has been announced today via her official Twitter that trailblazing dancer, director, and choreographer Dame Gillian Lynne has passed away. According to the tweet, she passed away tonight, July … Continue reading
Rochdale News | News Headlines | Appeal for Gracie Fields memories for new biography – Rochdale Online
It is 40 years next year since the death of Rochdale and Britain’s first superstar, Dame Gracie Fields. To commemorate the anniversary, Seb. Lassandro, the president of the Dame Gracie … Continue reading
Anti-Semitism in Handel’s ‘Messiah’? | A R T L▼R K
The first production of Handel’s Messiah in Dublin in 1742 was also notable for the breakthrough performance of the contralto Susannah Cibber, who consequently became one of the biggest and … Continue reading
Kurt Weill and Lotte Lenya: Love in the Creative Partnership | A R T L▼R K
On the 3rd of April 1950, German composer Kurt Weill died of a heart attack in New York City. His highly innovative and eclectic works for the theatre, such as … Continue reading
Carrie Hope Fletcher | singer, author and actor| interview
Her CV boasts stints in big-name West End productions and her vlogs attract a huge following, but the multi-talented performer, author and internet star tells Mark Bonington her upcoming show … Continue reading
Quote • STEPHEN SONDHEIM • Directors and Musicals
Stephen Sondheim: ‘Directors should focus more on the text and less on themselves’ Stephen Sondheim: ‘Directors should…
Comedy legend Sir Ken Dodd dies aged 90 two days after marrying partner of 40 years at home – Mirror Online
via Comedy legend Sir Ken Dodd dies aged 90 two days after marrying partner of 40 years at home – Mirror Online
How ‘Strange Fruit’ Killed Billie Holiday – Progressive.org
“Strange Fruit” may have been written by American songwriter and poet Abel Meeropol (a.k.a. Lewis Allen), but ever since Billie Holiday sang the three brief stanzas to music in 1937, she’s … Continue reading
‘It was unbearable’: Tim Minchin on life under Trump and the collapse of his $100m movie | Stage | The Guardian
Back on home soil, the Australian polymath discusses politics, musicals and #MeToo – and the worst year of his professional life. via ‘It was unbearable’: Tim Minchin on life under … Continue reading
Return to the Forbidden Planet creator Bob Carlton dies
Bob Carlton, who created Return to the Forbidden Planet, has died. The writer and director created the jukebox rock and roll musical, which is loosely based on Shakespeare’s The Tempest, … Continue reading
Piaf and Cocteau: Les Enfants Terribles | A R T L▼R K
When I write I disturb. When I make a film I disturb. When I paint I disturb. When I exhibit my paintings I disturb, and I disturb if I don’t. … Continue reading
10 Questions for actress Tracy-Ann Oberman: “it’s made me pretty fearless”
What do you call a woman who murdered Dirty Den, is the darling of TV comedy producers, writes radio plays about the golden age of Hollywood, hosted and judged Channel … Continue reading
Archive Interview • DAN LENO • Stewart Permutt • 2003
Mr Dan Leno as Mother Goose Posterby FirstNightVintage Excerpt from an interview with the actor, director and playwright, Stewart Permutt. [One project] on the go is a play about the Music … Continue reading
Vintage Photos of Berlin Cabaret Artists (1920s-1930s) | FROM THE BYGONE
Marlene Dietrich (1901-1992). Her earliest professional stage appearances were as a chorus girl on tour with Guido Thielscher’s Girl-Kabarett vaudeville-style entertainments, and in Rudolf Ne… Source: Vintage Photos of Berlin Cabaret Artists … Continue reading
A songwriter’s desperate end in a Bowery hotel | Ephemeral New York
If you’ve ever found yourself humming “Camptown Races” or “Oh! Susanna,” then you know Stephen Foster. He’s the genius behind these and other catchy Antebellum-e… Source: A songwriter’s desperate end … Continue reading
Scandalous Women: Spirit of a Dove – Guest Post by Stephen Bourne
Evelyn Dove was one of the true pioneers of the booming cabaret age of the 1920s. She thrilled audiences around the world and her exquisite stage costumes helped to make … Continue reading
Rogues & Vagabonds 