Looking fabulous and they know it: controversy-hit crew Briefs are back for their third stint in the Spiegeltent.
With its official opening just over a month away, a few more names have been announced for Udderbelly as well as the name of another major show making a return to its sister venue the London Wonderground’s Spiegeltent.
A raft of world-class attractions have already been announced, not least LIMBO!, The Tiger Lillies, Meow Meow, House of Burlesque and the Friday Night Freakshow – all of whom thrilled the crowds last year.
Nina Conti and her infamous collection of puppets will be one of the big attractions this summer in the purple upside-down cow-shaped venue. The Udderbelly may be down by the shore but Conti’s Dolly Mixtures show is no Punch & Judy knockabout. If you’re lucky enough to get a ticket for her only show there on 11 April, prepare for audience interaction of the gutbusting kind.
Irish improv-rappers Abandoman are back and bigger than ever. The initial duo have been fleshed out with a full band to help them with new show Moonrock Boombox. Expect riotous rapping, some insanely inventive rhymes and not a little craic. Hirsute solo act Beardyman will be using his own vocal talent and audience suggestions to create a new musical collection in his One Album Per Hour.
In July, talent show Circus Maximus makes its second outing, again in the Udderbelly tent. The 2013 run was a patchy affair both in terms of quality and ticket sales but this year’s competition shows promise. Over the course of a week of heats and a grand final, 20 performers will duke it out for the ultimate prize of £5,000 and the chance to make a show produced jointly by Udderbelly and the National Centre For Circus Arts (the new name for Circus Space).
Over at the Spiegeltent, the blockbusting boylesque experience known as Briefs rolls into town at the tail end of August. The critically-acclaimed troupe from Down Under hit the national headlines last month when an Australian politician linked an image of Captain Kidd (aka King of Burlesque Mark Winwill) with his failed attempt at endorsement. After the picture appeared on his Facebook page, Peter Maddern claims that it was used against him on the basis that the image’s presence was evidence that Maddern was “not a fit and proper person to be a Liberal Party candidate”. Fez Fanaana, Briefs creator demanded an apology and the photographer Neil Kendall derided it as “a political furore with a distinctly homophobic tone”.
Will there be more names announced before the Udderbelly’s grand opening in April? Just maybe. Watch this space for more information. Meanwhile, tickets for all the above shows can be bought through the official website.
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