About Kittie Klaw…

Recherché Leader of the Renaissance!

Kittie Klaw is an elegant eccentric with a curious mission. A unique personality among the new-Variety elite, she is an expert entertainer with seductive wit and passion for 19th century showbiz. From international invitation to standing ovation she is a burlesque Queen - with an Empire. As the recherché leader of the Renaissance, she is assuredly, the modern matriarch of classical British Burlesquing…

 ‘Burlesque’ is a classic theatre-form which in it’s true essence, is ‘Spectacular Satire’. Both splendid and thought provoking, burlesque is the home of high-brow musical comedy, ironic iconography, playful punning and bawdy ‘Brit Wit’. It is a sophisticated ancestor of the modern pantomime.  In Great Britain, burlesquing has remained relatively unchanged in 500 years and it’s history is steeped in powerful social change and true female empowerment. Among it’s most famous we count Geoffrey Chaucer, Eliza Vestris, J.R Planche, Gilbert & Sullivan, Lydia Thompson, The Western Brothers, Carry On and Monty Python.

Like a Victorian heroine with rebellion in mind, Kittie is a writer, performer, producer and protagonist of this classic, conceptual tradition. A life long entertainer, she has now been performing her own unique burlesques for over eight years. As founder of the Ministry of Burlesque, Kittie also nurtures the emergence of new talent and new entertainments.

With artistic versatility, an enviable oeuvre of original works and wide international appeal, Kittie courts impressive clientele, press & media associations. From 125 Art publication to the Dutch Telegraaf, from Marie Claire to Bizarre magazine, from London Fashion Week to the Cannes Film Festival and from Channel 5 to the BBC - she has been interviewed, photographed, filmed, comissioned to write, invited to choreograph and sought after as a highly prized production asset time and time again.

Scroll on to discover more about this Imperial madame of stage…

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Queen of the Scenes - International Star:  Kittie is a rare gem in modern showbiz – a comedienne with prowess. As the peculiar ‘doyenne’ of the quintessential British burlesque form, Kittie designs her shows to be both thought-provoking and alluring. Her burlesque repertoire demonstrates her talent for character-satire and high humour with each routine ‘incidentally’ highlighting her natural charisma and recherche sex appeal. Owing to her theatrical background in classical dance and her academic credentials in psychology, her burlesques are savvy and sophisticated in both humour and style. They are splendid compositions of wicked wit, bawdy charisma and beguiling aesthetics which leave her audiences, utterly foxed.

In compliment to her burlesques, she has also created a unique series of showpiece spectacles entitled ‘Dream Dances’. See her Repertoire for details.

Kittie entertains globally - from Paris, Berlin and London to far flung Moscow, Las Vegas and Jamaica - and for a wide assortment of admirers in both the private and coporate sectors. As such Kittie is indeed one of the performance select - one of those very few personalities who are called upon to entertain the entertainment industry itself.

As a muse of mirth and model of (im)propriety, she has appeared in over 70 publications world wide, is a serial cover-model, has walked ten international catwalks, has been the subject of numerous artworks, is a favourite spokesperson for luxury brands and has graced the walls of exclusive art galleries world wide.

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Behind the Scenes - Ministry of Burlesque: Following in the footsteps of bygone theatrical trailblazers like Eliza Vestris, Kittie has already carved out a unique position in the modern showbiz world. She has been at the heart of the resurgent British burlesque scene since it first began and is a long-time protagonist of the traditional ‘high-comedy’ British form.

Kittie is the founder of the globally dominant Ministry of Burlesque. When she first embarked on her burlesque pursuits there were no clubs, no troupes and no modern ’stars’. In fact, internet search engines yielded no results for the word ‘burlesque’ itself. Thus, Kittie’s ministry was set up to spread the word, produce events and encourage others to get on stage in a system of ‘public access theatre’. This one-time personal hobby went on to become the world’s most popular burlesque organisation for lovers of the many traditions of burlesque theatre – the classical British, the aesthetic European and the modern American-striptease form too.

Together with the savvy acumen of the ‘MoBFather’, the Ministry of Burlesque comprises a professional production group, talent network, industry magazine, an expansive academy and the world’s largest online community - among other essential resources. The website itself receives over 15,000 unique visitors each day and is the main hub for the public, performers, industry professionals, press and media alike.

Kittie is thus responsible for the emergence of many of the new Stars seen rising beyond the club circuit and she continues to educate and support emerging starlets across the wider showbiz industry. As the figurehead of the Ministry of Burlesque, she is described as a ‘fearless leader’ (Time Out) and is regarded a ‘burlesque boffin’ and ‘Mover and Shaker’ (BBC) of burlesque.  As well as giving public seminars and talks on this often misrepresented theatre form, she has appeared on all major UK television channels, various prime time radio shows and across many publications internationally.

With her own production company Kittie is also a recognised writer, producer and director too. Aside from private and corporate commissions, her personal theatrical pursuits include fundraising for the restoration of the Britannia Panopticon Music Hall and her own creative productions. In 2007, Kittie created and directed the sell out sensation, ‘Victorian Values’ - a musical comedy which burlesques Victorian ethics, morals and etiquette. As the first full length purpose-written burlesque in true 19th century sense, it was hailed by critics as “breaking new ground” (Time Out).

“Together We CanCan”

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