Andrew Pepper Live at The Crazy Coqs

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“Andrew Pepper, a one off, daring to go further than you ever imagined a performer would”
– Musical Theatre Review

theandrewpepper

Limby.

The mashup you never knew you needed. TRIGGER WAR

The mashup you never knew you needed.
TRIGGER WARNING: I f****ed up the lyrics. What can I say? I am merely human. If you can spot where… sssshhhhh! 🤫
Huge kudos to the hunks behind me and out of shot.
🎹: @_alexmaynard
🪘: @nickandersondrums

It’s been a week since I saw Audra. Audra McDon

It’s been a week since I saw Audra.
Audra McDonald.
Audra McDonald as Rose.
Audra McDonald as Rose in ‘Gypsy’.
Audra McDonald as Rose in ‘Gypsy’ on Broadway.
A week and 14 hours. I’ve barely slept.

Last week at the Majestic, when Rose turned on Louise just before ‘Everything’s Coming Up Roses’, there was an audible gasp from the audience; a singular gasp collectively in unison.

At the interval, my friend leaned over and said, “I’m guessing most of these people have never seen the show before. They have no idea what’s coming.”

In Act 2, another gasp came when Herbie walked out; and again when Louise said, “I thought you did it for me, Momma.” But the biggest reaction came when Rose offered up her daughter for the “star spot”: a collective gasp and then a few rows behind me a woman muttered, “Oh, baby no.”

15 minutes later, Audra scaled Mount Rose’s Turn. And when I say scaled, I mean she climbed to the top, planted a flag, and launched a new administration.

When Rose sings “I had a dream; I dreamed it for you, June,” we don’t really believe her. We believe that SHE believes it, but as objective observers we’re all too aware of her blindness. When Audra sang that line, I believed her. Sure, she was deluded like all the other Roses. Delusion is the lifeblood of Rose. But in this Rose, coursing through the blood was undeniable love for her daughters. I think that’s what made it all so incredibly hard to witness.

At the end of the number, another collective reaction: the whole audience rose for Rose. Here in the UK, we can be very eye-rolly when it comes to mid-show standing ovations. But this wasn’t some rehearsed reaction for a star turn. Just as when Bette’s Dolly came down that staircase, there was something primal going on in the theatre.

We often say that theatre is church. It rarely is (well, certainly not the kind of church that provides any lasting nourishment). Last week it was; and Audra was our leader.

Well, @nickandersondrums clearly missed the memo 🕶️, but my word, he sure as hell made up for it with the rhythm! Thanks so much for ringing our bells (and then some), Nick! Come and play again some time. Such fun returning to the ever glorious @crazycoqs last week! How I’ve missed you! Thanks to all of you who came out to play! 💗💗💗💗💗

Well, these were just about the most popular pics

Well, these were just about the most popular pics I ever posted in my stories, so they may as well be immortalised on the grid. Thanks @conbug for capturing me in all my turquoise glory on Friday night.
Thanks, @houseof_flyingstitches for knowing my body better than even I do.
And thanks to the Petunias for pushing me to embrace the egghead. I’m getting there.

One of my favourite artists whose work I adore saw

One of my favourite artists whose work I adore saw my performance of Ruth in ‘Titanique’ in Paris. When she returned to London, she put paint to paper. You can probably imagine how chuffed I was. Yesterday, I received a little parcel in the mail. I’m overjoyed. Thank you, @isalu_ishii! You’re the best of us!
💗💗💗💙🕊️🕊️

Btw, these pics don’t remotely do justice to how lush the colours are in reality.

Ohhh, Chita, how I adore you. Most nights @lidop

Ohhh, Chita, how I adore you.

Most nights @lidoparis, as I climbed the stairs backstage, I’d picture dancers in full showgirl and showboy regalia charging past me, sequins and feathers moulting in their wake. Chaos; beautiful chaos. Standing in the wings, I’d frequently think of Dietrich or Aznavour or Eartha Kitt or Shirley MacLaine or Josephine Baker, although I never did ascertain whether she performed in the current Lido or the original one down the road. Anyway, like Chita says, the stage holds steps and sounds. It’s like a great vessel that somehow never gets full. Still, be careful what you put in it.

Now that I’ve left the Ship of Dreams, I shall b

Now that I’ve left the Ship of Dreams, I shall be returning to stage levitation. Hoping to make more of an impression than I did on the gents in this audience (zoom in!).
Next show @crazycoqs - FRIDAY 1st AUGUST- 9.15pm. Link oop there.👆

Stage magic captured by @nick.cornwall.

“Thank you so much, Céline Dion. You’re an in

“Thank you so much, Céline Dion. You’re an international treasure.”

A few of these pics are pinched from stories which I was tagged in. If you spy some of your sneaky camera work: apologies and thanks!

The hardest hills have the greatest rewards. I le

The hardest hills have the greatest rewards.

I leave Paris broken with kindness. Parisian kindness.

À plus tard…

💗💗💔💗💗🙏🕊️🕊️💙

As Gavin Creel would say… both!

Happy Pride 🦄

Will probably delete this in the morning.

Ruth squared. Fresh off the ship of dreams in Lon

Ruth squared.
Fresh off the ship of dreams in London, @stephendguarino came to visit us in Paris.
What can I tell you about this guy? His comedy genius is matched only by his generosity. I’ve said it before; I’ll say it again: I wouldn’t be in Paris if it weren’t for him. I was so nervous at the prospect of finally doing this role in front of him and then of course it turned out to be an absolute joy, coz he’s also the best audience. Generous.
The original. The best. I can’t want to see what he does next.
He’s hopeless at selfies, mind. As am I. We’re good on stage. Surely that’s enough?

#titanique #titaniquemusical #titaniqueparis #titaniquelido #titaniqueruth #ruthdewittbukater

Only 4 weeks left to catch me doing Acting (upper

Only 4 weeks left to catch me doing Acting (upper case A).
Gonna miss playing this sweet soul. A heart the size of the ocean.
💙🕊️🕊️

📸: @julienbenhamouphotographe

#titanique #titaniquemusical #titaniqueparis #titaniquelido #titaniqueruth #ruthdewittbukater

I’m coming home! Back @crazycoqs on FRIDAY 1st

I’m coming home!
Back @crazycoqs on FRIDAY 1st AUGUST - 9.15pm.
Heads up: Je suis français maintenant.
Billets en vente dès maintenant!
Tickets on sale NOW! You’ll find the link! 👆I’ve every faith in you.

📸: @snootyfoximages

Salty, one of the chancers that lives rent-free on

Salty, one of the chancers that lives rent-free on top of my head, took a flight-mid show the other night. Fun ensued.
Kudos, as ever, to dream scene partner, @jessicaaubreymusic, who nightly tolerates my tormenting.
🕊️🕊️💙
📸 by @charlotte__soo who captured the chaos in a strictly legit way.

A whirlwind 20 hours in Norwich! Thank you for hav

A whirlwind 20 hours in Norwich! Thank you for having me @nnfest . You were the model of professionalism and kindness from start to finish. Thank you to all the gorgeous folk who came out in force after sunset on a Tuesday night. You were a joy and you sold out the Adnams Spiegeltent for us! Until next time, here’s a lovely carousel for your constant perusal.

1. Pepper squared.
2. Hello, gorgeous.
3. Afternoon tour of the magical @norwichpuppettheatre. Look at those beauties!
4. Showbiz is glamour. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
5. Check-in with my Paris boys.
6. Found!
7. Isn’t she lovely?!
8. Norfolk boys. Before.
9 & 10. During.
11. After.
12. Abattoir chic.
13. Showbiz is glamour 2.
14. It’s cold in Norwich.
15. ‘sup?!
16. Reward.
17. “But I’m not my mother…”

I first came to Paris circa January 2003. It was a

… RUTH! It’s Mother’s Day in the US, so it

… RUTH!

It’s Mother’s Day in the US, so it seemed like a good time to finally introduce this skinny monster to y’all.

Enchanté, bitches. The pleasure is all yours.
💙🕊️🕊️

📸 by @julienbenhamouphotographe

Introducing Sour and Salty. Performing 7 shows a w

Introducing Sour and Salty. Performing 7 shows a week @lidoparis when they can be arsed to pull their claws out. They left the stage mid show on Saturday night. We’re not talking about it.

We finally opened ‘Titanique’ last week. Phew!

We finally opened ‘Titanique’ last week. Phew! Rehearsing comedy is hard. On opening night, in lieu of flowers, my friends teamed up and bought me a year’s subscription to Headspace. Now, that’s comedy! It’s also extremely lovely and greatly appreciated. Earlier in the week, I was seriously wondering if I’d made a mistake coming back to this magical city. Last time had been so special. Maybe I should’ve left it at that. And then…

The audience arrived!

Ahhhhhh. And just like that… just as everyone had told me… just as I’d known myself, deep down… just like that, everything made sense.
This show is a joy bomb and it is going OFF seven times a week @lidoparis. Thursday’s grand opening was like nothing I’ve ever experienced. Waves of laughter!
A few hours earlier, as I was showering, I got a bit teary. I feel so proud to be doing this show at this time. As governments around the world take it in turns to make life difficult for the most innocent in our society, here is an unashamedly queer show that makes people laugh their tits off for 100 minutes. A show that revels in being stupid and ridiculous and more camp than a ray of polka dot tents in Liberace’s closet; a show with a big blue heart the size of the ocean. It’s such a tonic right now.
On the Saturday matinee, I walked out and spotted a small boy on the front row. Le fuck! Did I mention ‘Titanique’ is also filthy? It’s a riot, but probably not if you’re a child. But he seemed engrossed. Apparently, he’s a huge Celine Dion fan. And then we got to ‘My Heart Will Go On’ and he started weeping. He was so overcome with the beauty of it all. This show (especially in this extraordinary Vegas/Roman amphitheatre of a venue) somehow transcends the silly and all the buffoonery and becomes something else. It moves people. I’m witnessing it first hand every performance, but no more so than with this little angel. We all saw and recognised something in him and started weeping too.
So, yes, I’m blimmin’ proud to be in this glory of a show. Also, did I mention, the talent is NUTS!?!

We’re here, we’re queer and we’re open till June 22nd. Come see us. 💙💙💙

Continued in comments.

We opened ‘Titanique’ this week. This skinny

We opened ‘Titanique’ this week.
This skinny monster is finally out in the open.
Longer post coming soon.

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Photography by Leo Holden.

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