“Totally Hilarious”
Ben Elton
International invitation and standing ovation - Kittie is an original British burlesque Queen, with an Empire…
Hailed as “the doyenne of feline femininity” (The List) Kittie is celebrated for her unusually invigorating performance style of wit, vitality and physicality. Upholding the sentiments of traditional British burlesque theatre* she has brought the golden era of British burlesque cartwheeling in to the 21st century - and with considerable influence. She is perhaps best ‘pigeon-holed’ (in the lofty academic sense) as a neo-classical burlesquer with an original and charming repertoire.
In essence, Kittie is a specialised comedienne - and one with prowess. She presents her bawdy, whimsically satirical collection of ideas as burlesques - acts which send up female archetypes, gender stereotypes, ideals and notions of femininity - often paying homage to the genre’s heroines and heretics too. She calls this catalogue of visual punnery her ‘Heroine Addiction’.
Having meticulously carved out her niche over eight years, each routine is highlighted by her glamorous ‘historical chic’, doll-like appearance and her imaginative ‘visual puns’. Difficult to imitate, she is unlike any other in the burlesque industry - past or present. Her acts sparkle and stand out. They are also truly provocative being both thought-provoking and aesthetically alluring. They capture the nostalgia of past theatrical spectacle yet are presented for the present.
Captain of the British burlesque revival itself and a thorough protagonist of 19th century spectacle, she has a number of campaigns, esteemed clientele, media appearances and original productions to her name. Her international reputation and role in the emergence of the UK burlesque industry and accompanying national scenes has set the trends and notably raised the ‘barre’ for the wider burlesque genre.
There are live ‘in flagrante delicto’ images and a series of videos near the bottom of this page beneath the repertoire.
SOLO ACTS - Kittie Klaw
Rude Britannia - Red, White and Thoroughly Blue
A burlesque of Britannia herself. What is Britain’s proud image worth today? Has our Britannia been reduced to the fodder of Tabloid titillation - or is she still an Imperialist fantasy? See the once proud, Commander of the Seas and Conqueror of Nations stripped down to the attire of a Las Vegas showgirl in this ‘infamous’ (Marie Claire) act.
The Solitary Vice
A burlesque of our notion of Victorian female prudery. Fictional Kitty De Winter-Fairbotham, an unmarried young lady engages in the perilous activity of reading alone. A dangerous liaison between one woman and a book, she succumbs to the most titillating diversions found in the passions of Mr Burton’s most brazen exotic tome.
Lola Montez - Reina de Corazones
A burlesque of a blag-artiste supreme. An imagining of the naughty ’spider dance’ rumoured to have been performed by Lola Montez, the famous Victorian faux-Spanish dancer of dubious repute who seduced the King of Bavaria and achieved nobility (but causing a minor revolution too)… After all, whatever Lola wants, Lola gets.
Seaman Thompson
A burlesque of the classic Sailor’s hornpipe. Inspired by Lydia Thompson’s ‘Sailor Boy’ routine - famous in 19th century Europe for being danced by a women in trousers - this is an update of the gender-bending sea-faring favourite of our forebearers. Kittie pairs classic archetype with modern stereotype for some unexpected nautical fun (and techno shapes).
An Ancient Egyptian Beauty Ritual
A burlesque of feminine vanity. Kittie questions the old adage ‘pain is beauty’. Here our devotee addresses the goddess of beauty and sends up of a well known rite which challenges the notion that the temple of hair removal is in any way, an elegant practice of ‘goddess’ worship - ancient or modern.
Seance and Sensibility
A burlesque of Victorian Spiritualism. Inspired by the enterprising ingenue Florence Cook, a 19th century Spiritualist medium who enthralled her audiences by ‘performing’ in the guise of ghostly pirate girl ‘Katie King’. Wonder as the innocent Florence disappears in to the spirit cabinet while something else entirely, something scanty and scandalous comes out of the closet… (how convenient..)
Agent Klaw in… Eye Spy
A burlesque of the ‘femme fatale’. Drawing comic inspiration from the legendary pin-up queen, Bettie Page. Here a mysterious spy is double crossed in a tale of secrets and suspenders. Agent Klaw must think quickly when her cover is blown and she needs all her wit to ‘inconspicuously’ get out of her disguise. A burlesque-striptease in the comedic style of golden-era American burlesque.
Theodora - Girl Power
A burlesque of an ancient burlesquer-turned-super heroine. From temple dancer to Saint, Theodora was a 5th century burlesque comedienne who paved the way for Feminism when she became Empress of the Byzantine Empire and decreed a change of patriarchy… This is her biography in under 4 minutes…
The Dream Dance
Not a burlesque. Nope, instead, this is simply a delicate dance sequence which combines the softness of showgirl ostrich feather fans and the hypnotic movement of oriental Isis wings set to soporific waltzing music. This sequence is dreamy offering a ‘visual lullaby’ drawing influence from the Victorian serpentine dance. The Dream Dance was devised for High Tease and is performed in either red and white to an original early recording from the ‘Moulin Rouge’ or in fascinating blue tones in the theme of ‘time’.
DOUBLE ACTS - Toff & Tales: An Audacious Duo Kittie also performs with Mr. Jim Devereuax as an audacious duo, ‘Toff & Tales’. Their assortment of acts combine Kittie’s vivacious burlesque style with Jim’s phenomenal vocal and character talents. They are an uproarious medley of variety and Brit Wit. See the pippin pair in:
The Piccadilly Prowler Think 19th Century Music Hall with 21st Century attitude! This is a splendid (and their most famous) sketch in which uranian (that’s ‘homosexual’) intrigue, intrigues a young woman. Alas! It is but 1890 and homosexuality is just but a new fangled idea and so poor Kitty de Winter-Fairbotham just cannot comprehend her failed attempts at seducing her new beau.. All is explained of course, in a song and dance way of things.
Minnie The Moocher Here Kittie and Jim perform a tribute to our cousins across the Pond. A very entertaining take on Cab Calloway’s classic sing-along anthem, this routine includes an invigorating dose of vintage American striptease - just to illustrate the point, of course, that Minnie was indeed a ‘low-down hootchy kootcher ‘. Can you guess who strips off? Hi-de-hi-de-hi…ho-de-ho-de-ho….
note * What is British Burlesque? The word burlesque literally means ‘to send up’, to spoof through parody. In its traditional theatrical form, it is best described as “Spectacular Satire” and was eventually mass-popularised in the Victorian era.
Classical Burlesque: Right from it’s early beginnings in ancient Greece, burlesque was a specialised form of musical-comedy. A burlesque was typically comprised of ironic iconography, playful punning and adult jokes, put to a musical score. Naturally, the performers of this time were satirising Dionysus, Odysseus, the Senate and all the entertainment that we now call ‘the Classics’, and they were making comment on current affairs, gossip and life in their time.
British Burlesque: The 19th century form was an updating of Classical burlesque (the form in it’s antiquity, see above). It was both splendid and thought provoking with high production values, ironic use of music and typically with female performers breaking taboo and taking the lead roles - as men, lampooning gender roles and ideals and dressed often in ankle-worthy britches. In Britain, burlesque’s history is indeed steeped in potent social change and reflects the development of female empowerment and how women perceived themselves; it saw the rise of the first female manageress in theatre, feminist icons and trans-Atlantic celebrity. Arguably, as a theatrical genre, burlesque saw it’s apogee in the 19th century where the players would send up known literary, historical and artistic works while making ribald social comment for the enjoyment of the middle classes and later, the working classes too. The form is still alive today (just) but it is not to be confused with the modern American striptease - which is also fabulous and related in time, but quite a different thing. Striptease is a form in it’s own right and usually doesn’t require any buffoonery.
Among the famous burlesquers of the traditional British form, we can count Geoffrey Chaucer, William Makepeace Thackeray, Eliza Vestris, J. R. Planché, Nellie Farren, Gilbert & Sullivan, Lydia Thompson, Vesta Tilley, The Western Brothers and also Monty Python.
Of course even further back in time and in the ancient Greek lands where it all began, there is a cornucopia of unexpected heroes and heroines, including the drinking buddies of Socrates and even a Saint… Click here for more info.
ACTION SHOTS - In Flagrante Delicto
PERFORMANCE VIDEOS
A Montage:
Kittie burlesques Lola Montez:
Toff & Tales in ‘The Piccadilly Prowler’:
Kittie’s Dream Dance:
Kittie and co in a Silent Movie: