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Twinwood Festival 2012


Voted in the top 20 of UK festivals by The Telegraph 3 years running, Twinwood Festival is back for another great year! From 25th to 27th August, I will be there and performing Burlesque on the Saturday and Sunday evenings!

I am so excited as there will be a NEW entertainment marque, that can house 2000 people and not only will *swoon* Max Raabe be performing there…I will be too!

You will get to see my Lili Mewleen act in the Colonial Club, which was debuted at War and Peace Show this year and a fan dance with my ATS corset and some fun Gracie Fields songs to get you all singing along in Cafe du Bois and the Casablanca Club!

burlesque stocking striptease kitten von mew

Stocking Striptease by Kitten von Mew, Photography by Lee Parker

WW2 Pinup Kitten von Mew in ATS corset

Kitten von Mew in ATS corset, taken by Candee Photography

The fantastic Sticky Wicket band will be there, my gorgeous Madeline Brown and Lola Lamour…did I already say MAX RAABE?…and sooooo many more acts.

For a little history behind Twinwood, you may not know that this was the airfield that Glenn Miller made his last flight from, before disappearing. They have a fantastic museum on site, that you must go and visit on Sunday. It is open 10.30am til 4pm, so plenty of time to fit in some culture before you Shag on the dance floor (it’s a dance move Ma…).

Remember to save your pennies before the event as there are heaps of swell stalls selling vintage bric-a-brac, clothing, repro and Vintage Life Magazine too! Strut your stuff in the evening in a new outfit from one of the stalls!

On Sunday and Monday ‘The Last Flight’ will be shown twice daily in the Tin Hat at approx 2.30 and 7.00 each day. I saw the live stage play in Leamington Spa a year or more back and it was incredibly well done and truly spine chilling. I can’t wait to see how they have turned it into a film.

There is something going on all day and night, whether it is watching a singer, dancing to a band, learning a bit of swing or watching Burlesque, so whether you are into the 30’s, 40’s or 50’s, head on down to this amazing event!

FRIDAY EVENING
(Friday evening is open to onsite weekend camping ticket holders only)
STROLLIN’ STEVE & ROCKIN’ THE JOINT
(DANCE MARQUEE)
RICARDO GAZZINI (TIN HAT CLUB)
RUG CUTTERS DANCE (HANGAR)

SATURDAY – ARENA STAGE
PASADENA ROOF ORCHESTRA
STICKY WICKET & HIS SWING ORCHESTRA
MOSCOW DRUG CLUB
BOBBY VALENTINO & THE MUSICIANS
THE THREE BELLES AND THE BEVIN BOYS
MADELINE BROWN
THE TOOTSIE ROLLERS
RUG CUTTERS DANCERS
C&BLE DANCERS

SATURDAY – CONTROL TOWER STAGE
SI CRANSTOUN
THE HEP CHAPS
CARMEN GHIA & THE HOTRODS
OO BOP SH’BAM
GALAXIE BOB

SATURDAY – COLONIAL CLUB
MAX RAABE & PALAST ORCHESTER
KITTEN VON MEW
THE LAMOURS
CASABLANCA STEPS
HANNAH NORTHEDGE
ALEX & SERGE
THE TOOTSIE ROLLERS
TEA DANCE
FASHION SHOW
DANCE LESSONS
ALL DAY VINTAGE MARKET
AND MUCH MORE
HOSTED BY DUSTY LIMITS

SATURDAY – DANCE MARQUEE
STROLLIN’ STEVE & HIS MUSIC MACHINE
DANCE LESSONS
FASHION SHOW

SATURDAY – HANGAR
CHRIS REYNOLD’S SWING SHIFT
DANCE LESSONS

SATURDAY – TIN HAT CLUB
RICARDO GAZZINI & FRIENDS
AFTERNOON VARIETY SHOW
THE TOOTSIE ROLLERS
SINCERELY YOURS
RICHARD C PARKER
ANNIE ANDREWS
SAMANTHA HUGHES
HISTORICAL LECTURES

SATURDAY – CASABLANCA CLUB
CASABLANCA HOUSE BAND
HANNAH NORTHEDGE
MADELINE BROWN
KITTEN VON MEW
BELLY DANCING

SATURDAY – LE CAFE DE BOIS DE JUMEAU
FLEUR DE PARIS
MOSCOW DRUG CLUB
SWING MUSEUM
ALEX & SERGE
KITTEN VON MEW

LATE SATURDAY NIGHT – THE GLADE
SWING MUSEUM

SUNDAY – ARENA STAGE
MAX RAABE & PALAST ORCHESTER
JOHN MILLER & HIS ORCHESTRA
THE JIVE ACES
THE METROTONES
FLEUR DE PARIS
THE POLKA DOTS
SINCERELY YOURS
C&BLE DANCERS

SUNDAY – CONTROL TOWER STAGE
THE FIREBIRDS
CROWN TOP KINGS
PAUL ANSELL’S NUMBER NINE
LAURA B & THE MOONLIGHTERS
GALAXIE BOB

SUNDAY – COLONIAL CLUB

KITTEN VON MEW
CASABLANCA STEPS
MAINLINE BIG BAND (TEA DANCE)
ALEX & SERGE
FASHION SHOW
DANCE LESSONS
MISS VINTAGE AND MR VINTAGE PAGEANT
ALL DAY VINTAGE MARKET
AND MUCH MORE
HOSTED BY DUSTY LIMITS

SUNDAY – DANCE MARQUEE
STROLLIN’ STEVE & HIS MUSIC MACHINE
THE STROLLERS
DANCE LESSONS

SUNDAY – HANGAR
CHRIS REYNOLD’S SWING SHIFT
DANCE LESSONS

SUNDAY – TIN HAT CLUB
RICARDO GAZZINI & FRIENDS
HISTORICAL LECTURES

SUNDAY – CASABLANCA CLUB
CASABLANCA HOUSE BAND
MADELINE BROWN
KITTEN VON MEW
BELLY DANCING

SUNDAY – LE CAFE DE BOIS DE JUMEAU
FLEUR DE PARIS
MOSCOW DRUG CLUB
SWING MUSEUM
ALEX & SERGE
KITTEN VON MEW

LATE SUNDAY NIGHT – THE GLADE
MOSCOW DRUG CLUB

MONDAY – ARENA STAGE
THE BOMBSHELLETTES
KINGS CROSS HOT CLUB
THE ZOLTANS
LOLA LAMOUR
MADELINE BROWN
SINCERELY YOURS

MONDAY – CONTROL TOWER STAGE
THE REVOLUTIONAIRES
THE CAT FISH KINGS
THE JIVEOHOLICS
STROLLIN’ STEVE & HIS MUSIC MACHINE

MONDAY – COLONIAL CLUB
ALL DAY TEA DANCE
DJs RADIO FLYER, MAJOR SWING & KITTY
PLAYING THE BEST IN 30s & 40s DANCE MUSIC
AND VINTAGE MARKET

MONDAY – DANCE MARQUEE
STROLLIN’ STEVE & HIS MUSIC MACHINE
DANCE LESSONS

MONDAY – HANGAR
DANCE LESSONS

MONDAY – TIN HAT CLUB
HISTORICAL LECTURES

More War and Peace Show Photos!


Thought I would share a few more snaps with your from Beltring. Enjoy!

Air Raid Shelter Manhole Cover

This Air Raid Shelter Manhole Cover was for sale in the market place. Was very tempted to put a decimal point between the 4 and 55 so I could take it home. An amazing piece of history!

WW2 ATS Girls and Pinup

Such lovely girls! ATS reenactors in uniform and a thorn between them 😉

darren, lewis and kitten-von-mew

Was fantastic having my step sons at the show on the Saturday. Such lovely boys and they really enjoyed the show!

sue-hodge-and-richard-von-mew

Mimi and Mew Mew!

Not-Forgotten-Charity-association-pinup

The Not Forgotten Association and Kitten von Mew in the main marquee

kitten-von-mew-war-and-peace-show

It’s parading cats and dogs! You can see the slight ‘Please don’t bite my face off’ look in my eyes. This is because the owner handed it to me whilst saying “Just don’t look him in the eyes and you’ll be fine…”

vintage-pinup-war-and-peace-show

Kitten von Mew with two VERY handsome gents.

vintage-pinup-girl-war-and-peace

Posing on top of some ammunition boxes near the main marquee. Wearing a new playsuit from Big Beautiful Barbara Brown!

allo-allo-mimi-and-kitten-von-mew

Sue Hodge with my 2013 calendar. She loved July! Can’t wait to see this lovely lady next year.

paul-renshaw-kitten-von-mew

Awww…My little cousin Paul, who came to the show on the Sunday. Was great to see him at his 1st WWII event!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lili Mewleen Act Debuted at Beltring 2012


lili marleen burlesque act kitten von mew

Lili Mewleen Burlesque Act starring Kitten von Mew, War and Peace Show 2012. Photo by Lee Parker

 

I have just received some great photos from Lee Parker of my new Lili Marleen inspired act, so I thought I would share some with you all!

My very talented Mr Mew made the lamp from scratch and I made my pasties, fascinator, train and garter. The dress once belonged to a drag queen (who has passed away, rest his soul). I stripped it of all the black ruffles, tassel trim, netting and fake boob inserts and designed it into a sleek and sexy gown with rhinestones and turquoise trimmings.

The gorgeous corset is actually from Vollers Corsets! When I did my interview for The One Show at the corset factory, I got to see some lovely designs that weren’t even for sale. I saw these zip down corsets and thought they were a brilliant idea! They are still tight lace with metal boning, but have a ‘quick release’ function with a very heavy duty, military grade zipper at the side. Determined for other corset lovers to see these unique designs, I vowed to wear one in an act to demonstrate how easy and sexily them come off! No more tangled lacing! Hurrah!
I wrote a parody of Lili Marleen as well as sang The Boys in the Backroom for Terry Elliot! You can see this act next at Twinwood Festival 2012!

vintage pinup burlesque war and peace

“On my lovely dress vet paint I find, I take zee car, I sink next time…” Kitten von Mew in Lili Mewleen. Photo by Lee Parker

kitten von mew burlesque war and peace 2012

“I’m Lili of ze lamp light, vet paint, Lili Marleen….”, Kitten von Mew by Lee Parker

burlesque corset war and peace show

The Vollers Corset, War and Peace Show 2012, taken by Lee Parker

kitten von mew burlesque corset

POW! Taken by Lee Parker

burlesque stocking striptease kitten von mew

Stocking Striptease by Kitten von Mew, Photography by Lee Parker

corset striptease kitten von mew

Corset striptease, Kitten von Mew. Taken by Lee Parker

war and peace fan dance kitten von mew

Kitten von Mew fan dance photographed by Lee Parker

 

 

 

 

 

 

War and Peace 2012 Video – Boobie Woogie Bugle Boy


A Great video taken by my gorgeous friend Lee Parker of my family friendly Boobie Woogie routine with the alternative ATS costume (‘Almost Totally Starkers’ as I like to call it!). Thanks Lee!

War and Peace 2012 Photos


Swing Time Sweethearts and Kitten Von Mew at War and Peace Show

Swing Time Sweethearts, Richard and Kitten Von Mew at War and Peace Show 2012

Well, I cannot believe another year of Beltring is over! Thanks to everyone who made the trip so enjoyable, especially Paul Harper and the entertainers, Terry Elliot, Vintage Military Magazine, Mr Mew and his family, and of course everyone who came to watch my act!

Kitten von Mew War and Peace 2012

Kitten von Mew with Terry Elliot, Ashley Elliot and Rex Cadman, War and Peace 2012. Taken by Mr Mew

The weather was ‘squidgily temperamental’ when we got there with slashes of heavy tire tracks all over the caravan field. Mr Mew did a brave job of ploughing through the banked-up mud in Big Bettie, towing Gracie Wheels.

The temperature stayed mild, making the days so much more enjoyable, although it did rain at night. The great thing about the South East is the sandy soil, which drains the water rather quickly. It was very strange though as although the surface crisped up, underneath was waterlogged, so you felt as if you were walking across someone’s water bed or a big duvet!

Pearly King War and Peace

Pearly King and Princess, taken by Kitten von Mew

I debuted my new act Lili Mewleen at the show and it seemed to go down very well. I was really pleased with everyone’s reaction to the costume too. It has been a while since I did a proper striptease at the show and as I had 2 adult performances this year, I made the most of my zip-sided Vollers Corset! Everyone was gob smacked that Richard had made my incredible lamp post prop too!

In the daytime I brushed off my old ‘Boobie Woobie Bugle Boy’ act from when I first performed with the USO, this time with a new costume. No sleaze, just some lovely ostrich fan action and live singing!
We had a few accidents whilst we were there (which made the week hilarious), including…

Mr Mew:

Dropping his baked beans on the floor and asking why the bean fairies hadn’t come to clean it up.

Breaking the front door handle clean off, so resorting to climbing through the toilet window and breaking down the internal door!

Asking me to move my cup of tea whilst he get the bedding out, so he didn’t spill it over. I moved it right over the opposite side…only for Mr Mew to send it flying.

 

Mrs Mew:

Burnt toast

Forgetting my lyrics and inhaling fur from my cape so I had to try not to have a coughing fit through my act!

The stalls at the show were yet again full of a lot of ‘man stuff’, but I got some FANTASTIC things!

WW2 Collectibles Stall

WW2 Collectibles Stall, War and Peace 2012. Taken by Kitten von Mew

war-and-peace-antiques-stall

WWII Antiques, War and Peace 2012. Taken by Kitten von Mew

ww2-memorabilia-war-and-peace-2012

WWII Memorabilia. Check out the hand painted pebble! Taken by Kitten von Mew

 

 

My buys:

An 1800’s ship porthole from a sunken boat off the coast of Devon (£20!)

A Woodbines cigarette, trench art photo frame made out of 42 packets (£priced at £18, got for £10!)

A Kings Coronation mug that Ive always wanted (priced at £28, got for £20)

2 gorgeous 40’s silk crepe dresses

An amazing deep red 30’s coat with red fox fur cuffs and fox stole collar

A 1930’s silk pajama top I will use as a blouse

A trench art bomb shell ashtray I gave to my cousin as a thank you for coming to the show

A brocade dress scarf for Mr Mew with a woven design of trains and a couple in Paris

Some Art Deco GWR brass buttons (£5 the lot!)

A dated pair of ATS stockings with a military arrow! (£4!)

A gorgeous brown felt 1940’s peaked tilt hat

A WWII Scottish War Dept poster saying ‘VICTORY starts in the Kitchen (£25?!)
I also found Mr Mew a wonderful 1930’s Crombie suit which has never been worn. Can’t believe I got it for £40. It is gorgeous and will be a great excuse to wear some different ties!

Kitten von Mew and Jive Aces

Kitten, Peter from Jive Aces and Gary Gibbs at Beltring!

war-and-peace-sunday-service-veterans

Veterans at the Sunday Service. Taken by Kitten von Mew

war-and-peace-ww2-veteran

To melt the coldest of hearts. A modern day soldier offering himself as a step for a WWII veteran.

kitten-von-mew-lee-parker

Lee Parker and I at the Saturday Dance! Taken by Mr Mew

war-and-peace-show-bagpipers-2012

Bagpipers. Apparently they don’t do requests. Taken by Kitten von Mew

richard-lewis-darren-seymour

Richard with his boys Lewis and Darren. One very proud Pa! Taken by Kitten von Mew

 

ww1-truck-beltring

Military WW1 Truck detailing by Kitten von Mew

ww1-trench-war-and-peace-show-2012

WW1 Trench, my favourite diorama at the show! Taken by Kitten von Mew

 

Will post more soon!

 

 

Wartime in the Vale Video


I wanted to share this video with you, taken by Olivia Orchid of Shadowflower Photography at Wartime in the Vale 2012. It is the first time Ive seen a proper video of Mr Mew and I dancing and it was so nice to see!

War & Peace Show 2012 – Boggy Beltring


ello-ello-cast-kitten-von-mew

All I can say is BRING YOUR WELLIES (or your ‘Rubbers’ as my American friend Stephanie calls them…hee hee hee!).

The fields are water-logged, the dirt will be churned from vehicle movement and foot glamour will be on hold this year!

Contrary to most people’s thoughts on the classic green, the first Dunlop Wellington Boots were matte black rubber, so if you have some, bring them for an authentic touch!

1940’s Dunlop Wellington Boot Factory, Liverpool

Why not tuck some trousers into them for a Women’s Land Army Look? Don’t forget to carry some dance shoes in your bag/ wicker basket for some much needed dancing in the main marquee!

Also, more great news is that some of the original cast from ‘Allo ‘Allo will be doing a skit in the main marquee at around 2pm on a  few days of the event! Im mortified that I will be getting changed for my performance at 2.30pm at that point, but so glad they will be back again as they were a hoot last year!

Well, I will be there from Wednesday to Sunday, performing every day and some evenings, so I hope you catch a performance. Most of the child friendly performances will be my Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy performance, with an improved costume! This was the first act I ever did with the USO Shows and it will be nice to bring it back again. My new Lili Mewleen act will mostly be used for the adult evening shows, but I will do some family friendly shows too.

See you there Catnips!

Kitten will be at Retro Revival, 22nd Sept 2012!


Retro Revival 1940s Event

So Mr. Moo emailed me earlier today and said something on the lines of “Well gee-whizz Mrs Mew, did you see the fabulous image Retro Revival are using on their advertisement of you?”

As I had never heard of the event I went and had a peek…Low and behold it is being organised by my gorgeously purrfect pals at Friends of the 40’s!

I have performed in Manchester and Sheffield, but never Liverpool and Ian and Sam have invited me to make an appearance at the event! I will be performing at Goodwood Revival the weekend before and am determined NOT to get laryngitis this time, so hopefully I will be singing for you at Retro Revival and will pose for photos too! You will see me in my ATS corset along with another vintage outfit (coverage will depend on the weather).

So if you are around the Merseyside area or looking for a 1940’s event more “Up t’ North like”, pop along to this Saturday event!

Our 1940’s Wedding Blog Page is Up!


WWII wedding guard of honour

The Garrison Group Guard of Honour, who created a spectacular arch for us. Taken by Candee Photography

You can see just a snippet of our amazing wedding HERE with photos from Candee Photography! Awaiting many more pictures from other photographers to add too!

Another Berliner Weekend Video!


I wanted to share this wonderful video with you all that Martin sent me from my recent trip to Berlin. It certainly captures the emotion and spirit of everyone on the tour.

Enjoy and thank you Martin for this…