Happy Sunday everybody!

 I hope you are all well and enjoying yourselves.

Well, after all the excitement of last weekends event and then the announcements that followed I have thrown myself wholeheartedly into preparation for "The House of Burlesque" at the Kings Theatre, Portsmouth on Saturday.It is time, for me, to become, a clown!

"NOT VERY HARD!"

I hear you all cry, but on the contrary, it can be rather hard. It's true of the fact that you can white up your face, throw on a silly hat, some oversized shoes and wander haphazardly around a room tripping over patterns in the carpet and surreptitiously squirting unprepared spectators with the fake plastic flower on your lapel BUT there is method and skills to be learnt and even a code of conduct if you want to reach the realms of the Clown Elite.

I do not profess to be a professional clown, nor would I want to insult the clowning profession with my random bumbling around the stage so, to this end, I have partaken in some 'Clown Training' via the fantastic medium that is The Internet.Historically, clowns have served not only to entertain the masses, but as political satirists, scapegoats and in some countries they were even believed to have the power to cure certain diseases. There skills ranged from 'baffooning' around to magic to fire eating to working with animals to contortion and all things in between.Costuming and make-up has always been an important factor, with status often being linked to particular items of clothing or make-up style.

The"whiteface" clown uses "clown white" makeup on the entire face and neck with none of the underlying flesh colour showing and there features delicately highlighted in red and black. Traditionally costumed far more extravagantly than other clown types, sometimes wearing the ruffled collar and pointed hat which typify the stereotypical "clown suit".

Auguste clowns are possibly the most well known of the clown types with there base makeup colour as a variation of pink, red, or tan rather than white. There features are exaggerated in size and are typically red and black with the mouth and eyes thickly outlined with white. The auguste is dressed in either oversized or too smaller is clothing. Bold colours, large prints or patterns, and braces often characterise the auguste.

Character clowns were first developed by the Americans and are most usually a Hobo, bum or tramp. Often down on there luck and dishevelled in appearance with a sad clown face. They more often than not silent clowns that react brightly to laughs from the crowd.

Additionally there is the 'Jester', 'The Perriot' and 'The Harlequin' who are all easily identified by the character, costuming and makeup and who all have different roles that they play; for example, it is the Harlequin's job to be mischievous, often causing havoc with the other clowns props, striking them with comedy effect with his stick, and ruining there tricks. It is said that slapstick was born with the Harlequins.From my research (which is on going) clowning is very much about creating your own character and story with in the frameworks that have been laid out within clown history. I will be bringing magic into play with "Peski the Clown", a noble and historic favourite as well as some physical comedy and traditional sideshow skills.

My make-up is influenced by the "white face" clown with delicate accents and my costume, although not traditional, has an oversized frilly skirt and comically large shoes. Many of the magic tricks I will be performing are old favourites to clowns with feats such as "needle through balloon" and "the magical linking rings" to name but a few.

I am really really looking forward to performing this act and watching it grow. I'm looking on it a starting point with the potential to spawn lots more creativity and ideas, afterall, who wouldn't want to be a clown?T

hanks to TipTop photography for the fabulous pictures used in this blog.

Keep it Magical and Smile at every chance

Peski

xxx

EXCITING NEWS!! I am over the moon to announce that I will be making a magical guest appearing at "The House of Burlesque" at the Kings Theatre in Portsmouth with the very lovely Mister Joe Black, Fancy Chance, Diva Hollywood, Coco Malone, Daiquiri Dusk, Cherry Loco, Flay and DeVille and Cat Aclysmic! I shall be performing "Is that your Card?" and also a new Clowning act with a crazy climax! :o)

BUT... not content with one amazing show, I am also ecstatic to tell you that I shall also be appearing in the showcase slot at the "Missy Malone and Friends Burlesque Revue - Halloween Spectacular" on the 28th October at the Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham. The line up is, again, phenomenal with Missy Malone herself, Leyla Rose, Desmond O'Connor, Cat Aclysmic and the amazing DIRTY MARTINI!!! I will be performing as part of the later show, starting at 10.00pm.I can not believe my luck and feel so privileged to be appearing at both of these shows.

Just a fleeting visit today :o)

Keep it magical lovelies

Peskix

This Saturday sees me compete in my first competition at Delicious Burlesque at Derby Assembly rooms. <a href="http://www.delicious-burlesque.com/delicious-newcomers.html"></a>

With my love of all things Japanese (geek) and magic, I decided to put together a new routine, especially for the competition, but also to add to my repertoire.

I have to confess, its a little more serious than the rest of my acts, but I'm hoping for dramatic and graceful (of sorts).

I've been watching FAR TO MUCH of "Memoirs of a Geisha"!

I have worked on some traditional dance moves and teamed them with 2 magic tricks, one performed at the beginning and the other as a finale.

I was lucky enough to be gifted some authentic Maiko fans and I have been practising all my flips and flicks :)

I wanted my costume to be part glamour, part authentic, on a budget as small as mine, it was going to be difficult.

I got a gorgeous purple, white and patterned Kimono and I've rhinestoned it topically in a way that I hope it really catches the light. I also made some tabi (toed) stockings which I embellished with a rhinestone seam and front tassel. The hair flower was purchased plain on ebay and then add crystals to as well as small ribbon flower drops.
















The pasties and underwear are based on blue flowers with gold trim and purple fringing. All hand sewn, stitched and crystals added for extra sparkle. I have to confess, I will be popping my stage thong cherry!!

The final part of my costume construction was to be Japanese Geta... the platform wooden sandals that are commonly seen. Again, I turned to my dads shed for some offcuts and modified some old black flipflops, adding blocks that were sprayed black and then, once they had been set in place, sequins and crystals.











And, my finished geta...


















The choice of music is a mix of traditional Japanese and a modern piece of music, I'm hoping it will be enjoyed as I've worked really hard on all aspects of this piece.

Anyway, that's more than enough of my wittering for one day.

Keep smiling and enjoy yourselves!

x

Well, I confess, I've not been to great at this updating malarkey but I have been doing constructive things with my time, so please, forgive me?

The first big job I did was to redo my bed of nails... gone is the single piece of mdf, battered at the corners and arching in the middle under its own weight. It has been replaced with 2, same size, edged, planed and very neat beds.

I recycled the nails and used off cuts from my dads shed so plenty of 'green' pros.







With the revamped beds, I thought it about time I revamped Medusa too. With some sequinned appliqués, fringing, rhinestones and jewels I have made a new costume. The base is mesh panelled leotard, sleeveless with a neckline. I'm really, really chuffed with the finished look. I've also rhinestoned some black fishnet gloves which, along with the beautiful headdress that Jay Charles made for me finishes it all off a treat :)

Here's a sneaky peek.