Double Olivier Award-winning actress and singer Janie Dee’s series of star-studded cabaret shows at London’s Crazy Coqs, celebrating the Earth, begins today (13 May).
Presented by Dee and the London Climate Change Festival, the series of 12 Beautiful World Cabaret shows follow on from Dee’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe hit Janie Dee’s Beautiful World Cabaret.
Each show is led by a high-profile artist, beginning with Dee herself on 13 May, followed by Rob Brydon in a special gala on 14 May. The starry line-up also includes Wayne Sleep and Maureen Lipman. Working with the London Wildlife Trust and mobile app the shows will feature a mix of cabaret, music and comedy, all aimed at reigniting our love of nature.
Announcing the shows, Dee said: “When I put together and produced ‘Song for Nature’ to focus on the problem of our behaviour and how it is affecting species decline, air quality, water, soil, sea… for Sky Arts at the Coliseum, we asked Sophia Priolo to rewrite ‘Mein Herr’ from Cabaret and a wonderful number was created about throwing our plastic and other rubbish everywhere (on chairs with dancers in a huge cabaret number). But the lyrics were quite different! The estate of Kander and Ebb wouldn’t allow us to do it. I recorded it anyway and sent the whole programme unedited to John Kander who wrote back after he had seen it and said he would be honoured that his work be a part of it and allowed us to use the rewritten number and waived all the rights.”
A spokesperson for London Wildlife Trust said: “We believe that creativity and nature go hand in hand – both have the power to inspire, connect and drive change. The Beautiful World Cabaret is an exciting celebration of this connection, shining a light on the urgent need to recover the natural world. London’s wildlife is under immense pressure, but through partnerships like this, we can engage new audiences and spark action to help it thrive.”
Tessa Clarke, co-founder and CEO of Olio, added: “We believe it was billions of small actions that led us into the climate crisis – and it will be billions of small actions that get us out. But right now, there’s a gap between awareness and action. That’s where Beautiful World comes in. By moving hearts as well as minds – through music, song and dance – the shows remind us that, together, we have far more power than we think.”
The full line-up:
- 13 May Beautiful World Cabaret with Janie Dee. Sophia Priolo, Josephina Ortiz-Lewis and Mazaika and guests
- 14 May Beautiful World Cabaret Gala with Rob Brydon and special guests
- 19 May Beautiful World Cabaret ‘Litter and be Gay’ with Josephina Ortiz-Lewis
- 20 May Beautiful World Cabaret with Wayne Sleep
- 21 May Beautiful World Cabaret with Laura Pitt-Pulford
- 24 May Beautiful World Cabaret ‘Songs of Love and Protection’ with Ian Shaw
- 25 May Beautiful World Cabaret ‘Nothing Like a Dame’ with Felicity Lott and Jason Carr
- 26 May Beautiful World Cabaret with Barlow and Smith
- 26 May Beautiful World Cabaret with Sister Mary and guests. Performed by Tim McArthur
- 27 May Beautiful World Cabaret with Carly Mercedes-Dyer
- 27 May Beautiful World Cabaret with Em Hoggett
- 28 May Beautiful World Cabaret with Maureen Lipman
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