SHOWZAM '11

The year it happened!

This year Blackpool really outdid itself – there is SO MUCH I could waffle on about but I will keep this strictly cinnamon donuts.

The carnival ball was actually a proper ball this year, featuring antony johns’ showgirls from the Pleasure Beach, a band, the always gorgeous broken heart dj’s and over 900 vvvvvvery well dressed patrons dancing late into the night.

The theme this year was the ‘Moulin Rouge’ but regardless of this I still took time out to have a good english cuppa tea and a piece of victoria sponge. I did two acts, including my Josephine Baker dance that lead to 2 very big holes in my expensive tights, but a new found love of sliding on the floor.

The Gorgeous Raphaelle Boitel otherwise known as my duck (affectionately) came over from Paris and twice a day in showzam central we presented a show called Exotica (Tim, the show was called EXOTICA)

Here we presented a mix of our best acts, contortion, the wing dance, the sword ladder and of course, some hoola hoops (this year with Light up hoops!) the best part of doing this show was the reactions from children; genuine fear when I walked up the ladder, laughing at my snake act ( which I think potentially IS funny) and the excitement over my Light up hoops – kids are the best!!

This year the side show boys were working extra hard (there were 4,000 people through the door on the first day! And a queue every morning before the doors opened.)

And Mr Marshall really outdid himself with a new illusion – the butterfly girl, a truly wondorous creation – and the front was painted by the ever talented Mark Copeland, So many times I caught myself staring at the huge laquered, jungle vision, dark green, orange, blue, red! SO BRIGHT – I saw this illusion over and over and loved it a little bit more each time– the mango tree that the butterfly girl eats from was my favourite part – so great!

This year as well as the side shows, there was the Petulengo’s ( LOVE THEM) and the café ( I will come back to this..) Dingles merchandise stand, the insect circus! which also equals having sarah around for many a philosophical chat over a pear or two..Dr Diablo and the Van Buren Magic Show!

We also had a new addition – Geoff and Narial and the pinball machines - or more importantly pinballs and a JUKEBOX!!!

I love a jukebox! And I love ‘river deep mountain high’ which was on maximum rotation.

Many people complimented my Koringa look as having a likeness to the Original which made me happy – but not as happy as when I met FLORENCE SHUFFLEBOTTOM!

What a brilliant name! and a brilliant woman! A snake charmer no less - an inspiration – she looked immaculate – dressed in a smart suit with a subtle animal print trim. We talked about Koringa and her time performing . She told me the most romantic stories about how when she left home to be wed her 3 faithful snakes all died immediately. And we walked around arm in arm whilst she told me over and over to not invest in a boa – because they would only be trouble and die young – but really what I wanted was I python ( I DO NOT want a python for the record) because they are sweet loving, gentle, loyal friends, that just like to be stroked under the chin.

Well.

That sounds just so sweet.

meanwhile, the saddest thing this year was that I missed the tower circus -Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaah

All their showtimes clashed with our shows which was infuriating – next year I will check in advance.. allegedly there was a terrifying highwire act! Which was performed over the water filled stage, and a wheel of death act! Performed by the same mad man.

Next year next year..

Antony got involved in Showzam too this year opening the phenomenal costume collection of the pleasure beach to the general public – everyone who went on the tour was amazed at the collection – which I can say was totally intoxicating and migraine material when I saw it last year – its BETTER than Charlie and the chocolate factory. Amy hosted the crack! At The Grand and it was super nice to sit in the audience and watch a show! And extra great because Mr Pfister was in the show too! Amy looked gorgeous swanning around stage in a variety of outfits ( quickchange acts look out) and Phil was as ever a handsome host.

This year there was some super fun new faces, for one the cast of soap – which meant lots of fun dancefloor times, the ‘slightly fat features’ boys who are all LEGENDS and I think by the end loved blackpool a lot too.

Also there were european producers, young people, film makers, and Gerry Cottle! All the greats were out and a lot of new people experienced their first showzam, some had travelled from London and Birmingham, but some who had travelled as far as Spain to come and be part of this ever growing festival! It made me so happy to see it really spike in popularity this year and to have such a strong and loving family team that is continuing to push the quality of work and performances that we have to offer.

Meanwhile meanwhile.. Amy and I hit the spa a lot – that was SO needed and SO good.

The Duck was initiated to every seaside habit I have, donuts for breakfast, warm ups that consist of eating hot foods and putting on costumes at the same time.

Vanessa launched her book at the pleasure beach and THEY TURNED ON THE ILLUMINATIONS FOR THE OCCASION! (you know you have made it when..)

Shares in MnS salads went through the roof (but where oh where has the edamame salad gone????)

The Wintergarden restoration was unveiled AFTER the magicians cleared out – they were as unfriendly as ever – and the place looks truly stunning – the lights the shiny glass ceiling, I walked through there as much as possible..

AMY AND I WENT TO THE FOOTBALL.

I know I was there for the ‘festival of new circus variety and magic’ BUT WE WENT TO THE FOOTBALL. And it was Ace – and we were like a lucky charm bc blackpool beat Tottenham 3-1, and have lost ever match since (cmooon you lot.) I sent them fan mail and we got a signed programme from all the players (score!)

Nancy was so grown up! And as lovely as ever – and her super lovely family invited me around for a home cooked, delicious, meal on the last night – totally needed and appreciated! Nancy and I will be doing a show later in the year at jacksons lane - look out!

I saw mark raffles on a few occasions and was so happy to see him as always, he always makes me so happy.

Wannee wah wah’s became our local as per, but we also made it to the steak house next door one night – where to my delight they took our picture and promised us that next time we would be on the wall of fame (made it) I ate so many scones that I am done for the year (such a liar I am having a cream tea at Albion as I write this) and I had some great hot chips. But let me say this:

Dear new café in Olympia without the nice ladies that used to work there:

Where oh where did the chip butty’s go?! This is not the blackpool I remember? That I grew to love! What. is going on? Please. someone bring them back for next year. I know they are the most unhealthy thing in the world but they are practically a national icon – a tradition – a nod to the north. Olympia just wasn’t the same without that snack time safety net. But hey, if I had to choose between that and the new fancy red carpet – ill take the carpet ! talk about happy! We were all grinning every morning – pre coffee! Someone did the right thing there. GENIUS!

And so till next year –

For now, the Tom Norman is packed up. The lightbulbs unscrewed (I did that bit – that’s what I am going to do for a living when I retire – I love lightbulbs) and the under 16 Showzam fanclub is back at school. I hope.

CANT WAIT TO DO IT ALL AGAIN.

Peaceful, revived, invigorated and hopeful.

Showzam central is like wheatgrass for my life. If wheatgrass was delicious, and very colourful.

xx

2010 WHAT. WHERE. WHEN.

2010 was a great year in music.

here is the list of the years most

influential tracks, in no particular order.

O-O-H Child - The Five Stairsteps

rediscovered on Binky's radio show. such a classic. Blackpool memories.

Hold Yuh - Gyptian

summer

Ben - Michael Jackson

timeless

Holidays In Congo (Myd Remix) - Rainbow Arabia

My new friend Jean.

Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing - Stevie Wonder

JoDucks remedy to surviving edinburgh i drove everyone

crazy playing this EVERYDAY.

Speakeasy - Manaré

MANARE. a true gentleman. this was my skipping song of the year

Massive Attack - Nicki Minaj

She could do no wrong. till she stretched her legs. i still love her,

and the tom toms.

Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel- Tavares

this was the cooking song of the year

4th of July (Fireworks) - Kelis

my dad's birthday and yet another amazing reinvention of this lady

Funeral - The Clipse

no year would be complete without them. the new stuff is excellent too of course.

jungla - yma sumac

yes.

dinosaurs with guns - Teki latex IS the future.

Pianolo - Pérez Prado

I want to marry him. PERFECTION.

Explosion - Eli 'Paperboy' Reed

new but good - RARE.

I Learned the Hard Way - Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings

HARMONIES. delicious ones.

Love Will Tear Us Apart - Joy Division

spent 2 weeks depressed after watching control. sad sad genius sad.

Helicopta - GWADADADA remix by DJ C-AIR

JEAN. EMI. NAOMI. BASHKATEERS FOR LIFE!

and finally. sheer brilliance, Get Crazy feat. Mr Slaughter - Poirier

EXCELLENT WORK. i hope i get to dance to a lot more of mr poirier's tracks this year, and the next.

ALSO, in music related news, I was in a gonzales film clip that was super fun,

and frenchfries and mans made a song called marawa. scary.

and I worked with the amazing Wendy Bevan this year, she takes pictures but also makes music, such a stylish lady..

Russella also brought out a #1 best selling track too fabulous and I started listening to 'electro' via the casiokids.

VERY EXCITED about all this new music, and looking forward to another year of great discoveries and dancefloor related hip injuries.

NICE UP THE DANCE.

2010. the year for calm. This year im going to stay in one spot. No more of this non-stop travelling around business..

well, that was the plan.. now, 50 or so plane trips later, and with a big headache im home, via India, sitting inside with the heater on, wondering what happened to my plans of being home for a SUMMER Christmas. Melbourne. Your unpredictable weather is more annoying than charming today.

The year started in Primrose hill, La Clique ruled london; stadium like shows, 8 shows a week. A super fun season hanging out many fun people, helping to ease the pain of my first full English winter ( never, ever, again). I did a few weeks with the show in Paris at the bobino – this was a dream, everything feels magic in Paris. I wish I could have done longer there – But then it was time for blackpool! Showzam was huge this year too, and really busy for me as I was performing with La Clique in the evening and as koringa during the day, walking up a ladder of knives.

By march I was living in my own place finally! Chez Marawa was in the same building as Feef Killacky – who actually found me the apartment – thankyou!!. This was my home for the next 5 months – the longest time I had stayed in one place for a few years. I bought a toaster. a fryingpan, AND a kettle. And I felt a sense of calm that had been missing for a long time.I was still travelling a lot – I did a couple of weeks in Hanover performing at the GOP, and some more trips to Paris.

I performed on the champs elysees for swatch and managed to squeeze in a Gonzales film clip. And I did a fun weekend of party shows with ryan (martelo) and savage skulls.

And I went for Brussels to have dinner with dad one night. He is doing BIG TINGS, in the online world, .so, that’s cool.

In april I performed in the first version of Carnesky’s Dystopian Wonders at the roundhouse, with my dear friend Raphaelle.

This involved being set in plaster at the Insect Circus house and more knife ladder climbing. My Birthday was a culinary triumph! Emi and Ryan met me for breakfast at the Diner, Pancakes and French toast oui! Then it was an enmasse coffee session. Then a trip to the spas with the broken hearts and trixie. Then an epic dinner at viet grill. Perfection.

With the departure of Alice and Paulie back to the motherland, ( DISASTER) I was without my favourites but I made some hot new friends to replace them! Mi Casa became host to regular dinner parties, where on a good night Jean, Emi, Mattias, Russella and Naomi all came around.

Amechi even made me trousers! Eventually. So it was a great summer, broadway market providing many a protein boost in the form of a haloumi burger, bean salad with a lamb burger on top. Genius.

I also went to Edinburgh this year – what originally started out as an ‘exciting new experience’ became a month of drama ( not the good sort ) as I made my acting debut as the lead in LULU – a frank wederkind 19^th century sex tragedy – tragedy being the word I would like emphasis. Well. It wasn’t as bad as I would have liked it to be ( because then at least it would have been funny..) Nevertheless I survived ( even when the set fell down ) and had a really lovely month in Edinburgh saved by the lovely folk at artisan coffee ( carrot cake gods), piff the magic dragon, wendy bevan and the botanical gardens. Seriously the loveliest botanical gardens ever. I had many nice afternoons there, and many nice dance times with the wauwau's and amy.

ON my way back to blackpool I stopped in at the national fairground archive in Sheffield and also attended the illuminations switch on party! This year the lights were switched on by Robbie Williams and I wore a nice dress and got mah hair did. It was a lovely evening and it was so nice to see Phil, Vanessa and the Petulengro’s. Then it was back to london and straight back to work!! Rachael Castell gave me a lovely little home, where I spent many nights laughing hysterically at simon amstell’s Grandma’s house. I had so many shows booked when I got back I could hardly LOOK at another taxi – I was spending 4 hours a day in taxi’s BORING. And EXHUASTING.

By the time I got to paris in October for the 50^th time I was so crazy tired..but Emi surprised me on the train ( heart attack!) and we had fun fun times. Chloe Van Paris threw an amazing party, and it happened to be just down the road from the ninjatune party where Toddla was playing and I met my biggest musical crush of 2010 – Poirier. He played a 2 hour set and I danced the WHOLE THING down to the floor.

He makes perfect music.

Sabrine stuck it out with me ( love her) and then I walked back to my new favourite French hotel – hotel el dorado. After too many fashion parades/ parties and fun with sabrine I had to forfeit my trip to marsaille to see the savage skulls boys who were shooting a clip – and get back to london where I worked like mad to get ready for the opening ofLa Soiree. What a drama. New costume, new music, and most importantly – THE DEBUT OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL HIGH HEELED BABY BLUE ROLLERSKATES.

FINALLY. That’s one life goal ticked off the list!

Performing with La Soiree meant living in Soho Square again – hurrah! I shared with the lovely Miranda and Captain frodo. The other upside was that rob worked at tapped and packed – the new trendy coffee shop just up the road – where Yu takes his morning coffee! So I was happy to bump into him a lot J. Also I took advantage of a little time at soho house with wendy and john. I starred in 2 episodes of lady shimada’s cooking show – bitchin in the kitchen!LOVE HER. And she also got me hooping on the new Eliza Doolittle clip.. After a month of being endlessly entertained by mooky and amy in the dressing room – it was time to leave La Soiree – for bangalore! To attend Nina and Naag’s wedding, followed by a week in hampi. Then I came home! Yes yes yes.

Home. time. Breathe breathe breathe.

I had 2 days to sort my bag out and then adventure mum and I headed off to Tasmania for a week of hiking.

sheesh.

We did the overland track – a hike through cradle mountain, over mount ossa, and over to st anne’s – this was tough but so beautiful. There were waterfalls, snow, sunshine, leeches, and no reception. When we had reached the half way – I realised that we were 3 days hike from anywhere – each way. That was a little scary – and nice. I wondered if north korea had done anything spectacular and liked knowing that the world was still turning even though I wasn’t watching it.

I sat very still a lot of the time, and looked at the tree’s and slept a lot. Mum was a champion. I was proud. The next day we topped it all off by going to hollybank treetops for a morning of flying fox adventures 50 metres high. The longest stretch was 400 metres over a river. Adventure mum had met her match. And she didn’t mention anything about skydiving when we had finished which had been my fear.. We got back to Melbourne after a lovely cheese platter and some honey shopping. Then it was off to the Gold Coast for more shows..

Another massive WIN this year was seeing the clipse live – IN MELBOURNE! Who would have thought they would have ever made it here?? Wamp-nation for life. They are some very talented brothers. Also this year I acquired an epenpal, called Ketil. We have been exchanging stories of adventures, long journeys and local trivia, as well as our favourite youtube clipse. He is in a band called Casiokids and I am looking forward to meeting him in Melbourne soon when they come to play the falls festival

Christmas is looming – Asli gave her Christmas reflection as school music captain at the carol service ( she is so. Grown. Up.) and in her speech she talked about what Christmas meant to her and she said her memory of Christmas every year is the ultralounge Christmas album that is played throughout December in our house. I tortured everyone with it last year at the roundhouse and I am so please to be home. With THE WHOLE FAMILY. To go crazy listening to it all together. NOTHING like a little distance to make the heart grow fonder. Wampnation and the Ibrahim’s all in the same town? Its going to be a very merry Christmas indeed. Brraaaaaaap!

*Helmets are important.

This year I fell off my bike and onto my forehead and hands and knees. My hands were wrapped in baby blue leather riding gloves, and I got some bruises on my knee. But I hit my head and I didn’t have a helmet on. It happened so fast and that’s what scared me most. I bought a helmet and avoided my bike for a few days and was pretty sad. My lovely neighbour sarah made me a card. That made me feel better. Emi’s good friend Jayne Helliwell died on her bike this year. She was younger than me. She was really sweet and made some amazing and beautiful things. I felt so sad about this even though I didn’t know her very well.

OTHER THINGS:

My Favourite times in 2010 were spent sitting on the bench outside Present. Drinking espresso’s made by mattias, lord of the coffeee. planning my day, and bumping into people. I logged most of this year here.

The best show I saw all year was the finals of london’s next top tranny. i love Russella.

I also went on radio 4 this year and did libby purves show, I didn’t realise how big a deal that was until I finished reading val doonicans autobiography.

French fries and savage skulls made a song called marawa!

I got to see Sharon Jones and the Dapkings in london and Melbourne – fittest woman ever! And binky griptite also has the greatest radio show ever ( more episodes PLEASE.)

I was the ambassador for the ‘hula hoop crisps sports relief world record’ event, which was pretty funny.

I swapped vegemite for marmite. im still not sure how to deal with this.

I Hope 2010 was good to you, if not, well.. its nearly over! Looking forward to bumping into you somewhere in 2011!!

LOVE,

Marawa in quality novelty heaven. xx

BLACKPOOL, SHOWZAM '10

My favourite fabulous English seaside town, with all the trimmings, glitter and even a bit of sunshine in February.

The very first time I went to blackpool was in 2007, to be part of Admission All Classes, which went on to become Showzam. It was a life changing weekend spent in some of the most romantic and beautiful theatres and buildings I had ever seen.

Here I also met some of the excellent people whom I am now endlessly inspired by. On the last afternoon we all decided to stay an extra night, and over a huge dinner at mamma’s Italian restaurant we discussed how we would bring new variety back to its original home and make Blackpool amazing again. ‘2010!’ we shouted with enthusiasm. By then it would be a huge festival! I think we had talked it up to Glastonbury proportions.. We headed off to Funnygirls and through a chorus line of sequin-seamed high leg kicks, my love affair with this seaside town was engrained for life.

This year’s showzam was particularly fun (and busy) for me, I performed during the day at the Showzam central site in Olympia, part of the Winter Gardens. In the evenings I performed with La Clique in what felt like its perfect home, the Tower Circus. There was also the Carnival Ball in the Tower Ballroom, and my new Koringa act which was part of the Magic show all weekend. It was 2 weeks of shows, Abingdon market, good coffee’s, magicians, great friends, beautiful paintings and sideshow scares. Circus and variety – old and new, but only the good bits.

This is my account of how it went down, I hope it brings back the good memories or helps you share in the fun we had.

The magic show was held on the weekends in the Tom Norman tent where I walked up a ladder of knives, and tamed a snake… sort of.

This act was a recreation of a famous act that was performed in the 50’s and 60’s by ‘Koringa - the only female fakir’. There were people in the audience who had seen her perform and even some people who had worked with her – much to my horror! but thankfully they all said wonderful things so that was a relief. Strangely as the 2 weeks progressed a huge pimple that really hurt appeared on my head above my left eyebrow. Well, it felt like a pimple but it was sort of just a red lump. Anyway. Koringa used to have a beauty spot like the one I mark on my cheek but hers was on her forehead. I had been drawing it above my right eyebrow, mirroring her posters, but by the weekend this red lump was so big I decided she was trying to tell me I had been drawing it on the wrong side..

Also in the show was Tim Cockerill, who was under the guise of Dr Walford Bodie, a master of electricity who used to demonstrate all sorts of electrical feats, which Tim recreated with the assistance of his glamorous assistant Electra. Tim is a legend.

I spent my weekends asking him questions that he always had the answers for; how did you make the chariot that the flea pulls? How many volts are you plugging electra into? How big is the biggest insect? (57 cm!!) How many insects are there in the malayasian forest? Tim is doing his PHD on insects at Cambridge and he is going to Malaysia for 5 months to collect creepy crawlies. Especially the ones that haven’t been discovered yet. He is also a good cook and travels with a spice kit.

Masterminding the magic show was Andrew Van Buren, who performed many amazing magic tricks made famous over the years, even recreating an act made famous by his parents! here is father and son:

During the week the Tom Norman tent was host to a series of video’s curated By Professor Vanessa, the hardest working woman I know, mastermind behind so much of this festival, im pretty sure she never sleeps.. the video's were so beautiful and were often accompanied by Stephen Horne on piano ( and sometimes flute too at THE SAME TIME!)

To pull in the crowds there was the very glamorous Miss Behave barking her lungs out, along with various performances including Michael Diamond doing all sorts of fire tricks, and even some Frodo and Miranda music moments.

Professor Jon was also running his side shows as well:

There were many great things to see there, the headless lady, and the new monster show – which during the magic convention was also home to some nifty pick-pocketers..

There was also an amazing palm reader this year, and for the first time ever I had my palm read – it was a bit daunting – took me a week to get around to it – but I was very happy after! Her daughter nancy also happens to be a super accordian player, coming 3rd in the world accordian competition in Italy last year! wowsers.

There were also these two, who were always around looking after my hoops for me! I gave them lots of tips on how to get grip off a skateboard…

Michael from dingles was selling so many great circus books –

There was much excitement amongst the clique about performing in the tower circus. It was such an amazing venue. And I really liked going up in the air there because the winch was so fast!

It was the first time they had ever had seats in the ring – and it was neat seeing the circus show during the day which has a water finale where the stage sinks and the fountain in the middle of the pool sprays water nearly to the ceiling - and then knowing that at night we were performing in the same spot.

Miss Behave outdid herself for carnival ball with the most insane outfit I have seen her in to date. ( where are the photo's please?!) I didn’t catch much of the show as we had la Clique down stairs in the Circus. Straight after the show, George and I caught the service lift up to the ballroom to perform in the carnivale – Glamour!

I have been blogging the food constantly here,

Phil from the Grande theatre was the loveliest host as always, keeping matchums open for amy’s birthday, so nice, there was pizza and biscuits and all sorts.. it was so nice to see everyone too, relaxed and not running off to do a show..

Magic convention – by the 2^nd weekend it was apparent that the magicians were in town, there was a murmur during the week, the odd 3 piece satin suit in marks and spencer buying egg sandwiches, or the couple in their 60’s in very matching very bright outfits with hats casually strolling through town.. by the weekend there was no shyness, the cards were out and you couldn’t get through a bucket of chips without having to think of a card..

The Green Parrot – This was the highly anticipated opening that we were all waiting for. Amy had no doubt that it was going to be a total success ,but there was still an air of anticipation as to whether or not Betty Legs Diamond was going to give us all the splits, tricks and wigs that we were hoping for.

There was no dissapointment.

Screaming, yes. High leg kicks and back up dancers that made you want to take up tap dancing, yes. Lips that told 300 stories in the space of one song, of course. I was very happy about the hair, and the legs, geez. There was ample acrobatics too..

This year is Barnum’s 200^th anniversary, To celebrate, Professor Vanessa commissioned Mark Copeland from the Insect Circus to paint a series of Barnum paintings.

These were then turned into banners and hung around Olympia, seriously beautiful pieces that are now on display in Sheffield at the National Fairground Archive.

Vanessa, Robin, Mark and Sarah looked after Amy and I nearly every night as we crawled in the door greeted by this team, who always had a most delicious dinner waiting for us, which I would gratefully finish and then crawl back upstairs to sleep. There was many an apple pie, and many a good conversation. Chris and claire from the council worked round the clock, solving all sorts of problems even the small ones ie. me running out of carrots to slice on the sword ladder (thanks chris!) And when it all got too much, i could always be found here watching the lunchtime ballroom dancers go through there routines some with meticulous precision, others not so much so.. Showzam is the kind of festival I wish I could have as a job, nothing keeps me quite as entertained on every level.

Im sorry if i missed anyone out - there was too much going on to keep track of it all! I cant wait for next year and am hoping to make it back down for the illuminations and the world fireworks competition. Blackpool is the future.