Saturday 30 June 2012

the london chinatown dolls


We’re delighted that The London Chinatown Dolls will be performing for us!  Led by American-born Miss Amelia Kallman and her partner, Bristol’s own Norman Gosney, the Dolls make magic on a nightly basis and on November 17th, they’ll be producing that magic in Bristol.

Miss Amelia is a talented performer, writer, and director and in 2004, she and Norman Gosney (an acclaimed nightspot designer and producer of nouveau cabaret burlesque events) opened a notorious and now legendary speakeasy, dazzling an exclusive, bohemian and celebrity cliental with such shows as ‘Guilty Pleasures’ and ‘The Blushing Diamond Revue.’ In 2007 they moved to Shanghai, China where they opened the first burlesque nightclub in Asia, the award winning ‘Gosney & Kallman’s CHINATOWN.’ They led their talented ensemble troupe, performing shows in Hong Kong, Borneo and Malaysia (the first show of it’s kind in a Muslim country).  Miss Amelia’s memoir on their Asian adventure, titled ‘Diary of a Shanghai Showgirl’ is due for publication in Spring 2013.

What can you expect on the night?  Well Miss Amelia is an acclaimed showgirl comedian who’ll be leading The London Chinatown Dolls, the chorus line regularly featured in their new groundbreaking London show, “When Worlds Collide”.  There’ll be four big production numbers across the evening, including a performance of a brand new 1920s number, specifically made for this event!  All the costumes are specially designed and made by Miss Amelia herself and joining her on stage, on the night, will be Miss Miranda, Kitten von Strumpet, Hotcake Kitty and Emerald Fontaine.  

We can’t wait to see them perform and we’re thrilled that they’re bringing their skills and love of nightlife entertainment to Bristol. Till then, you can find out more on their website, follow Miss Amelia on Twitter and check out a review or two, to whet your appetite:






Twitter: @AmeliaKallman






Friday 29 June 2012

anna jauncey


No roaring 20s emporium and kabaret would be complete without cigarette girls and we have them!  

Think cigarette girl and you think short skirts, tight waists and all the fun of the speakeasy in the Jazz Age. Our gorgeous girls will be walking about the venue carrying around trays of candy cigarettes and teacups filled with deliciously decadent sweeties and they’ll all be wearing unique 20s costumes designed by Anna Jauncey.

A Bristol-based fashion designer, Anna Jauncey graduated from the University of the West of England this year.  Her 20s-inspired degree show designs captured our imagination and we knew she’d be perfect to design the costumes for our girls.  Sketching everything from the costumes, to the buttons, to the trays themselves, Anna is currently immersing herself in 1920s research; “the costumes were really racy, skimming the tops of the thighs at a time when Flappers had loosened their corsets but were still wearing drop-waists.”  

Anna’s sketches and moodboards reflect the angular art deco shapes with cinched-in waists and short, short skirts with flirty, theatrical twists.  She’s excited to be working on her first project post graduation and looks forward to producing these very pretty and imaginative outfits with the 20s shape and volume that make the cigarette girl outfit so iconic.  

Look out for Anna’s designs on the night of the 17th November at the Cats Meow Emporium and Kabaret.  You can find out more about Anna and her portfolio on her website, read her inspiring blog or follow her on Twitter.  Don’t forget to check back with us soon… once the final design is ready, we’ll have some stunning pictures to show you.





Monday 25 June 2012

Georgina Claire White


Georgina Claire White is the talent behind our wonderful Cats Meow logo.  Having recently graduated from UWE Bristol with a BA (Hons) in Illustration, Georgina was our top choice to design both the logo and poster for our very first Emporium and Kabaret.

Georgina has a real passion for making things and for being experimental with illustration, using lots of different mediums and materials.  For our poster she’s taken inspiration from the concept of circuses and 1920s emporiums.  Add cats to the mix and you’ve got some beautiful artwork.  Think circus acts, flapper girls and cats in cabaret outfits!  She’s finalising the details as we speak and the finished poster will be up and on this site in a week or two.  Lookout for it in and around Bristol too!

Working with us is Georgina’s first commission and she’s thrilled to be a part of Cats Meow.  She’s really enjoying the artwork, utilising all her visual skills and some utterly gorgeous ideas.  Check out her website for more details and do make sure you take a look at her blog - Georgina’s visual diary is fabulous.