Duckie (group)
Encyclopedia
Duckie is a collective of performance artists that describes itself as “a post-gay independent arts outfit.” They produce a mix of so-called "cultural interventions", such as club nights, new-mode pop, burlesque
and performance events, as well as anti-theatre experimentation. They have described their work as "mixing the arthouse with the dosshouse" and putting "highbrow performance in backstreet pubs and lowbrow performance in posh theatres".
and Arts Council
England, Duckie is based in London but has played in Berlin
, Germany
, Greece
and Tokyo
as well as the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Blackpool Tower Ballroom and the Sydney Opera House
. It continues to run cabaret and club nights every Saturday at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern.
The collective dates back to a club night called Duckie that started in November 1995 in south London
pub the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, created by producer Simon Casson – also known as “Simon Strange” – and compere Amy Lamé
. They were joined by DJs Mark Wood and Mark Johnston - who called themselves The Readers Wifes [sic] - and box office artistes under the name of “Father Cloth and Jay Cloth”.
in December 2003 as C’est Barbican. It won four awards including an Olivier Award for best entertainment show and returned to the Barbican in 2004. The show toured to the Sydney Opera House
as well as Berlin
, Thessaloniki
, Birmingham
and Manchester
.
In December 2007, this show was recreated as C’est Duckie! at the CSV Cultural Center on the Lower East Side, New York City
.
In 2006, Duckie created The Class Club at The Pit, Barbican
, a piece of event theatre that asked the audience to pre-select a social class for themselves, dress appropriately for the evening and then enjoy a meal and entertainment for their chosen grouping.
Leading cabaret performers Chris Green
and Ursula Martinez
have worked as part of Duckie, and it has also attracted performers such as Dusty Limits
, Janice Connolly
, Scott Capurro
and Kiki and Herb
.
Burlesque
Burlesque is a literary, dramatic or musical work intended to cause laughter by caricaturing the manner or spirit of serious works, or by ludicrous treatment of their subjects...
and performance events, as well as anti-theatre experimentation. They have described their work as "mixing the arthouse with the dosshouse" and putting "highbrow performance in backstreet pubs and lowbrow performance in posh theatres".
Background
Supported by grants from the British CouncilBritish Council
The British Council is a United Kingdom-based organisation specialising in international educational and cultural opportunities. It is registered as a charity both in England and Wales, and in Scotland...
and Arts Council
Arts council
An arts council is a government or private, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the arts mainly by funding local artists, awarding prizes, and organizing events at home and abroad...
England, Duckie is based in London but has played in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
and Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
as well as the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Blackpool Tower Ballroom and the Sydney Opera House
Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in the Australian city of Sydney. It was conceived and largely built by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, finally opening in 1973 after a long gestation starting with his competition-winning design in 1957...
. It continues to run cabaret and club nights every Saturday at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern.
The collective dates back to a club night called Duckie that started in November 1995 in south London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
pub the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, created by producer Simon Casson – also known as “Simon Strange” – and compere Amy Lamé
Amy Lamé
Amy Lamé is an American-born, British performer, writer, television and radio presenter and producer.-Biography:Lamé was born Amy Caddle and raised in Keyport, New Jersey. She attended Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland and moved to London in 1992...
. They were joined by DJs Mark Wood and Mark Johnston - who called themselves The Readers Wifes [sic] - and box office artistes under the name of “Father Cloth and Jay Cloth”.
Performance events
In December 2002, Duckie’s Christmas show at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern created the format of sitting guests at tables and offering them the chance to order short acts, using "Duckie dollars", from a menu. This was recreated at The Pit at the BarbicanBarbican
A barbican, from medieval Latin barbecana, signifying the "outer fortification of a city or castle," with cognates in the Romance languages A barbican, from medieval Latin barbecana, signifying the "outer fortification of a city or castle," with cognates in the Romance languages A barbican, from...
in December 2003 as C’est Barbican. It won four awards including an Olivier Award for best entertainment show and returned to the Barbican in 2004. The show toured to the Sydney Opera House
Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in the Australian city of Sydney. It was conceived and largely built by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, finally opening in 1973 after a long gestation starting with his competition-winning design in 1957...
as well as Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
, Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
and Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
.
In December 2007, this show was recreated as C’est Duckie! at the CSV Cultural Center on the Lower East Side, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
In 2006, Duckie created The Class Club at The Pit, Barbican
Barbican
A barbican, from medieval Latin barbecana, signifying the "outer fortification of a city or castle," with cognates in the Romance languages A barbican, from medieval Latin barbecana, signifying the "outer fortification of a city or castle," with cognates in the Romance languages A barbican, from...
, a piece of event theatre that asked the audience to pre-select a social class for themselves, dress appropriately for the evening and then enjoy a meal and entertainment for their chosen grouping.
Leading cabaret performers Chris Green
Chris Green (writer)
Chris Green is a British journalist and media consultant based in London working for the integrated public relations, marketing and business-strategy services firm . His work focuses on the areas of business, finance, technology and computer gaming, but has also encompassed crime and sociology...
and Ursula Martinez
Ursula Martinez
Ursula Martinez is a London-based Anglo-Spanish British writer, performer, and cult cabaret diva noted for her use of nudity and non-actors....
have worked as part of Duckie, and it has also attracted performers such as Dusty Limits
Dusty Limits
Dusty Limits is a cabaret singer and comedian based in the United Kingdom, and one of the leading figures on the “new cabaret” scene.-Biography:Dusty Limits first appeared in cabaret in Brisbane, Australia, and made his European debut in 1999...
, Janice Connolly
Janice Connolly
-Barbara Nice:Connolly is best known for her character Barbara Nice - a caricature of a middle aged housewife and mother of five from Stockport in Greater Manchester. Her act is heavily reliant on interaction with the audience, for example acting as an agony aunt to the audience...
, Scott Capurro
Scott Capurro
-Television appearances:-Stage appearances:-Personal life:In October 2006 Capurro purchased a flat in Bethnal Green and considers himself a London resident.-External links:* * *...
and Kiki and Herb
Kiki and Herb
Kiki and Herb are an American drag cabaret duo. Bond portrays Kiki DuRane, an aging, alcoholic, female lounge singer...
.
Productions
- Buffont: A Promenade Performance for Pissheads, performed in April 2007 at Soho TheatreSoho TheatreSoho Theatre is a theatre in the eponymous Soho district of the City of Westminster. It presents new works of theatre, together with comedy and cabaret....
in London - Gay ShameGay shameGay Shame is a movement from within the LGBT and queer communities described as a radical alternative to gay mainstreaming and directly posits an alternative view of traditional "gay pride" events and activities which have become increasingly commercialized with corporate sponsors and "safer"...
and Lesbian Weakness, the anti-Pride night that has run in some form since 2006 - Liverpool Vogue Ball
- De Trop
- London Vs. NYC
- The Class Club
- Nightbird, Part I and II
- Miss Lesbian Beauty Contest
- 1½
- The London History Promenade Performance Trilogy
- Kate Bush
- Julie Birchall
- C'est Barbican!