Announcement: the 5th London Cabaret Awards to be voted for by public, not judging panel. Read more here
Paul L Martin at 2014 London Cabaret Awards
In a change from its usual judging format, the London Cabaret Awards, from 2016, will be completely audience-voted, replacing the judging panel with the entire cabaret community!
More information on the voting process are to follow soon, so if you would like to take part in this programme, either as an act to be considered or simply as a voting member, now is the time to think about it and get ready.
This is a very bold move by Paul L Martin, founder of Excess All Areas and the London Cabaret Awards, taken in part in response to the recent passionate discussions on cabaret, its definition, the desire to celebrate and elevate the genre, and the progress of the Awards so far. I am intrigued to see which acts get nominated, who votes and of course who wins, though in terms of celebrating the artform, the final results hardly matter.
Watch this space.
Fiona-Jane Weston
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About Fiona Jane Weston
I am Fiona-Jane Weston and as well as being a performer myself (see website), I write reviews of and features on shows, mainly on the London cabaret and theatre scene.
I have worked in theatre for many years, but decided to embark on a new direction in cabaret in 2009, when I produced 20th Century Woman: The Compact Cabaret. Not wanting to neglect my love of spoken word, particularly drama and verse, I made the conscious decision to include these elements in the programme, as well as wonderful songs, to tell the story of women's changing status and preoccupations throughout the 20th Century and up to now.
I was invited to audition for the renowned Cabaret Conference at Yale, run by the late legendary Erv Raible, and that was thrilled to be one of only 26 accepted that year, where I was taught by the masters of the genre. Amanda McBroom (composer of the Bette Middler hit "The Rose" and the poignant "Errol Flynn"), Laurel Massé, original member of Manhattan Transfer, Sally Mayes, Tony Award nominees Sharon McNight and Tovah Feldshuh, and New York cabaret veteran Julie Wilson were all on the faculty. We were also treated to the musical direction of Alex Rybeck, Hubert Tex Arnold and the now late Paul Trueblood.
With the benefit of their insightful teaching and great encouragement, I took my show to The Duplex in New York, where I was delighted with the response.
Since then, I have produced Loving London: The Capital Cabaret, using the same format of songs, poetry and drama, in various London venues, including Leicester Square Theatre and The Crazy Coqs.
2014, the centenary of World War 1, saw the launch of Wartime Women: the Khaki Cabaret to a sellout house at St. James Theatre, London, garnering great notices, including from The Times and Musical Theatre Review. I have since been touring the show to Belgium and throughout the UK.
I hope these reviews and interviews entertain and educate at the same time, and if please do leave comments in the box. It's great to engage in a conversation about the Arts.
Fiona-Jane Weston
Capital Cabarets And Shows Scene 