Andrew Pepper Live at The Crazy Coqs Every Month

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Cabaret

“A winner whatever he’s doing”
– Evening Standard

theandrewpepper

Limby.

Ooooh, I’m having a lovely time rehearsing @lyri

Brilliant words from our marvellous panto bard, @s

Brilliant words from our marvellous panto bard, @sonjalal.

On the subject of camp…
Christmas Day in the Pepper household often takes a bizarre turn around 3 Prosecco’clock. It’s at this point that I usually find myself having to explain to my dad why the word “camp” is not just applicable to men with a certain fluidity of wrist. Inevitably…

“But how is Shirley Bassey camp?!”

HOW IS SHE NOT?!?

The question of camp is one I’ve pondered for years. I even read Susan Sontag (and had opinions 👀). I’m non the wiser. Recently, I stumbled across this interview (from the British Comedy Guide) with Sonia. These words are just about the best explanation for camp that I’ve discovered. “Multiplied by daft.” Chef’s 💋.

Btw, I knew Sonia was a true camp connoisseur when I whopped out a Carol Channing number in my audition, and she both knew the song and was excited to hear it.

P.S: Come see our show @lyrichammersmith. It’s gonna be CAMP.

P.P.S: I was once asked to write an essay on camp. I didn’t get far, but it was provisionally called “camp but…” You see, in my experience, “camp” is usually followed by “but…”; and within that “but…” are multitudes. Listen out for it.

About 30 years ago (streuth!), I went up to my bed

About 30 years ago (streuth!), I went up to my bedroom and turned the radio on. THIS song and THIS voice stopped me in my tracks.
And then I came to my senses. I rushed to find a blank cassette tape, shoved one in the player, and pressed “record”. I got about 2 and half minutes of gold and then the song ended. Maybe the DJ had introduced the song beforehand, because he ploughed onto the next track without pause or comment. So… that was that. This was in the days before YouTube or Google or Shazam. And so the song became a great mystery in my life. But I was obsessed with those 2 and a half minutes.

About 10 years later, I finally discovered it was written by Barry Manilow from an original unfinished lyric of Johnny Mercer’s.
And then… tonight… just as October is drawing to a close, I FINALLY (thanks to YouTube) re-heard that version from way back when in its entirety, and discovered it was the late, great Nancy Wilson. Needless to say, I’ve now been on a deep dive. And thank God, because I’ve just discovered this live rendition, performed in 1993 at Blues Alley, Washington, D.C. It’s probably gonna take me 30 years to get over this now. Good grief! What a performance! What a performer! 🙌

#WhenOctoberGoes
#AndWhenOctoberGoes #NancyWilson #BarryManilow #JohnnyMercer

I think we might have broken Jordan. This was take

I think we might have broken Jordan. This was taken immediately after coming off stage this time last week. I can’t believe a week has gone by already. Streuth! I’m sure gonna miss cabaret shenanigans these next 3 months. Although, truth be told, I probably won’t notice too much. If rehearsals are anything to go by, this panto is going to be FUN!

Home for the next few months. @lyrichammersmith ♥️ Just look at her. This is my first time working (for longer than a night) in a Frank Matcham-designed theatre. He sure knew what he was doing. I had a good shufti around the auditorium yesterday and (aside from the boxes) I could only find 8 restricted view seats. The sight lines here are just incredible. As well they should be.

Fun fact: the theatre officially opened
in 1895 as The New Lyric Opera House just down the road on Bradmore Grove. Then, in 1966, the theatre found itself under threat of demolition. So… the auditorium was DISMANTLED piece by piece, flat-packed, placed in storage, and then reassembled on the current site in 1979. Rather fittingly, the current owner of the site is non other than… IKEA!

In the latest episode of ‘Revolving Doors at the

In the latest episode of ‘Revolving Doors at the House of Poivre’, Uncle Alex was whisked away to Mumbai for the month. Not to worry, @jordanpaulclarke was on hand. I’ve worked with Jordan before. We did ‘Assassins’ back in 2018, so I was acutely aware of his brilliance, but I wasn’t ready for THIS.
If you’ve seen our show you’ll know it’s a BEAST with approximately 9 zillions cues per minute. Reader, let me tell you, JPC got his head around it all in about five minutes flat and even managed to ad-lib, improvise and add his own flavour. What a guy! The man is a BOSS! Also, today is now officially his birthday, so send him all your lovin’, please. 🎉

Tonight (well, last night now) was our last night @crazycoqs. We’ve LOVED being resident there each month this year. Thank you to everyone who came, not just tonight, but all throughout the year. You have given us LIFE. We’ll be back at the end of January with a new show… ‘House of Pepper: Rebooted!’. I’m not exactly sure what it is, but hey, I’ve got 3 months to work it out. And if you wanna find out, tickets are on sale NOW!
Right, that’s enough, stop distracting me; I need to sleep. New adventures await! I start panto rehearsals in 8 HOURS. Weeeeeee. ✌️💗💗💗

Okay, seeing as it’s soooo popular, it’s going

Okay, seeing as it’s soooo popular, it’s going on the grid. It can be my annual portrait because TODAY IS MY BIRTHDAY! 🥳
I’d like to draw your attention to my glasses, not on my face, but sitting on the table. This is how it is now. On, off, on, off. This past year, my vision has become both short-sighted and long-sighted which basically means I can see everything and nothing. Often at the same time. Larks! Frankly, I can think of no better metaphor for where I currently am in life.

Happy Libra season, to those who celebrate. 💋💋💋

And while we’re paddling around the memories, he

And while we’re paddling around the memories, here’s a pic I just unearthed of my time on Cherry Tree Lane. There may have been a touch of makeup involved.
Pictured with my glorious partner in crime, Sarah Flind.
☂️
#MaryPoppins #RobertsonAy

Still can’t get my head around this either. Th

Still can’t get my head around this either.

The only time I ever bunked off school was when I went to London to see her in a matinee of ‘A Delicate Balance’. Best lesson of the year.

I’ve been obsessed with her for more than half my life, and will probably continue to be. I don’t think a week passes when my friends and I don’t discuss her in some way. Just a few days before she died, my mum asked me why I thought she was the greatest. I couldn’t really answer. I still can’t. And that’s fine. I think trying to summarise her talent is reductive. It’s a bit like trying to put fire in a box. The elements cannot be caged.
So, instead, I’m posting this. Isn’t it stunning? I’d not seen it until last week. And now every time I come on here I’ll be reminded what an absolute beauty she was.
Thanks, Mags, for the matinee and all the other lessons.

📸: Robert Deutsch

Please make it make sense. Prince Edward Theatre,

Please make it make sense.

Prince Edward Theatre, London. June, 2006. Gavin Creel joined us as the newest company member of ‘Mary Poppins’. Most of us had been in the show together for 8 months by this point. It can’t have been easy, joining a company alone like that. On top of this, Gavin was American and taking on one of the most quintessentially British (and most coveted) roles in the theatre. He arrived and within approximately 30 seconds we were all smitten.

He brought sunshine and charm. Charm for days. My God, that smile, those dimples. And that dirty twinkle. We were his. Immediately. And he was ours. He was our leader. How did he do that???
Well, he didn’t. That’s the trick. Watching, Gavin lead a company I saw that it wasn’t about doing; it was about being. Centred. Calm. Kindness, grace, generosity. All the things people are now writing about him are true. So true. Weekly Saturday Krispy Kreme doughnut spreads in his dressing room also helped!

So many of us build up walls throughout life. And then there are the Gavins of the world: light oozing out, unencumbered. He was very easy to love.

And then there was the talent. That open spirit made him a beautiful actor. It’s why his Cornelius Hackl was such a joy. And, of course, the voice. The VOICE! And his total mastery of it. His impeccable musicianship. My God, his phrasing was sublime. All those portamentos! Who in musical theatre hasn’t sung along to him, wishing they could be him at some point or other?

If you don’t know his work, get thee to your nearest YouTube. If you’re unfamiliar with his extraordinary activism, get Googling. And if you’re unfamiliar with his song-writing, have a listen to ‘Whitney Houston’ (yep, that’s the name of the song). My God, it’s a bop.

I think that’s what I’m going to do right now because currently it feels like we’ve slipped into another dimension.
Please make it make sense.
💔

Come together, @cabaret_caerdydd, because I’m co

Come together, @cabaret_caerdydd, because I’m coming for you NEXT WEEK! FRIDAY 4th OCTOBER! And I can not wait! Get booking. 🎟️link in bio. 💋

Ooooh, it’s like a trilogy. 3/3. Thank you soooo

Ooooh, it’s like a trilogy. 3/3.
Thank you sooooo much to all the lovely people who took the time to say such lovely things after my show t’other week. You’ve filled my heart to burst. 💗

More loveliness from last week’s profoundly love

More loveliness from last week’s profoundly lovely audience. Thank you! 🙏🙏🙏🥰

The audience was full of lovely people last weeken

The audience was full of lovely people last weekend. Some of them even got in front of the camera to demonstrate their loveliness. Here are 3 such lovelies to whom I am profoundly grateful. 🙏🙏🙏💗

@cabaret_caerdydd, we’re coming for you in 3 wee

@cabaret_caerdydd, we’re coming for you in 3 weeks! We somehow managed to split @_alexmaynard in two at the weekend, but we’ll have him taped back together by the time we’re with you - FRIDAY 4th OCTOBER!

Oh, and please scroll right for details of our rider. Ta. 💋

#CabaretCardiff #CabaretCaerdydd

Obligatory post-show carnage. To @crazycoqs and al

Obligatory post-show carnage.
To @crazycoqs and all who sailed in her last night: YOU BLED US DRYYYYY! And we’re here for it. Big time!
I’m not one for favourites, but if I were… last night was everything and I couldn’t be happier. THANK YOU!
We’ll be back @crazycoqs one last time this year on Sunday 20th October; and ahead of that we’ll be @cabaret_caerdydd on Friday 4th October.
Tickets in links etcetera, etceteraaa.

Right, am off to sleep and steam. Byeeeee.
💋💗🙏🕺🏻🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

#CabaretCardiff #CabaretCaerdydd

🧞‍♀️ Over the pink moon to be spending Ch

🧞‍♀️
Over the pink moon to be spending Christmas with this bunch of lovelies at the wonderful @lyrichammersmith. Come see us! If the audition is anything to go by, things are gonna be FUN!

More smouldering and pointing on SUNDAY 8th SEPTEM

More smouldering and pointing on SUNDAY 8th SEPTEMBER; and if you come along I might even smoulder and point at you.
@crazycoqs
🎟️ link in bio.

As some of you know, this is also a part-time Caro

As some of you know, this is also a part-time Carol Channing appreciation account. 🤣
Thanks to Aurora Spiderwoman for uploading this to YouTube. I found it whilst deep diving last night and was especially tickled by this moment. Look at her working the room! 👌
#CarolChanning leading the #HelloDolly US tour in 1983. This clip also features a delightfully amenable Davis Gaines as Cornelius.

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Photography by Leo Holden.

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