Missionary
Kittie is quite literally a woman with a mission - a Ministry of Burlesque…
A noted protagonist, she has been meritoriously lauded as ‘Queen’, ‘Leader’, ‘Captain’, ‘Authority’, ‘Major Force’ and even ‘Founder of the UK burlesque renaissance’ itself, by press and media. A number of campaigns and original productions to her name, her international reputation and role in the emergence of the UK burlesque industry has set trends, facilitated growth and arguably raised the ‘barre’ for the wider genre. She also acts as personal coach to others and has been invited to judge various prestigious talent contests has been both a resource for and also subject matter of academic papers. As impresario and show producer she also devises new routines and provides opportunity for both aspiring and established performers taking a delicate hand in the direction, management and promotion of stars.
In acting as champion of the unsung heroes and heroines of historical burlesque in her research, Kittie was the first to bring burlesque back to the oldest surviving intact Victorian music hall – the Britannia Panopticon Music Hall. She has also used her passion for 19th century history and burlesque research to rejuvenate the British form, creating an all new Victorian burlesque in the style of well, Victorian burlesques – Victorian Values.
“Kittie is at the forefront of the international burlesque renaissance”
Editor – The List
Ministry of Burlesque offers free resources and networking for anyone interested or active in burlesque. Kittie’s work within the MoB focuses on the merits of inclusion, education and aspiration across the growing burlesque scenes (which feed in to the emerging industry). Best described as a mediatrix she acts as a producer, talent agent, community leader, media liaison and didactic ‘burlesque historian’.
“The Movers & Shakers of the burlesque world”
BBC2
How did this all come about? In fact, establishing the UK’s foremost burlesque organisation was all quite by happy accident. It was a student hobby that got out of hand. The story in brief(s):
Whilst attending University at the turn of our millennium, Kittie discovered a passion for extra-curricular comic performance. Inspired by musical comedy, antiquated amusements and burlesque, she formed her own repertoire under the pun-worthy stage name ‘Kittie Klaw’. Attracting more attention than was anticipated, the mission grew in to a small troupe and expanded to advocate an idea of ‘public access theatre’ and fun for the sake of fun. Here, the mission statement began to form – “Together We Can-Can”.
“Ministry of Burlesque is London’s leading school & social networking portal for aspiring burlesque artists”
The Independent
By 2002, this mission had become known as the ‘Ministry of Burlesque’ (or MoB) where it’s risqué antics bewildered the press and bewitched the public, leaving Kittie no stranger to tabloid scandal. Relocating to London in 2005 to pursue her whim full time and to take up invitations to model across Europe, MoB quickly entered the international spotlight and here, internet business aficionado James Malach (aka ‘The MoBFather’) turned the mission statement in to a global reality. Ministry of Burlesque community website currently receives over 25,000 unique visitors every day and has over 14,000 members enjoying free networking services, job castings, resources, event listings and advice.
‘An authority on British Burlesque Theatre’
Karen Gregor, Producer BBC R4
As premier protagonist, Kittie researches and writes for public use, press and media. In doing so, she has come to be regarded as an authority on the wide burlesque genre with classical and traditional British burlesque as her speciality – this is the bawdy, satirical musical-comedy tradition which was popularised in 19th Century Britain. Her essays and articles are freely available on this website – see here.
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