Fascinating Aïda
| Company type | Vocal ensemble, cabaret troupe |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment, Music, Theatre |
| Founded | March 1983 |
| Founder | Dillie Keane, Marilyn Cutts, Lizzie Richardson |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
Area served | United Kingdom, international tours |
Key people | Dillie Keane, Adèle Anderson, Liza Pulman |
| Products | Albums, live performances, DVDs, books |
| Website | www |
Fascinating Aïda is a UK-based comedic vocal ensemble and satirical cabaret troupe established in March 1983. The current members feature founding artist Dillie Keane, Adèle Anderson who joined in 1984, and Liza Pulman, who became part of the group in 2004.
The ensemble has earned a Perrier Award nomination at the 1984 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, alongside three Olivier Award nods for Best Entertainment in 1995, 2000, and 2004. Additionally, they received two Drama Desk Award nominations for Outstanding Revue in 2005 and 2010. Both Keane and Anderson were individually recognized with a Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Lyrics in 2010.
History
Established in March 1983 by Dillie Keane together with Marilyn Cutts and Lizzie Richardson, Fascinating Aïda’s principal members have consistently been Keane and Anderson. Their initial performances took place in a West End wine bar, quickly attracting media interest and leading to their television debut in July of the same year.
The group cultivated a widespread national audience, securing three Olivier Award nominations and being named 'Most Popular Act 1985' by City Limits magazine. They ceased activities in 1989 but reunited in 1994, continuing to perform for another decade with several album releases before disbanding again in 2004. Their twentieth anniversary production, One Last Flutter, was staged at London’s Comedy Theatre in late 2003, featuring original member Marilyn Cutts and earning their third Olivier nomination.
Liza Pulman became a member in early 2004. That year, Fascinating Aïda presented Absolutely Fabulous twice in New York—initially at the Brits Off-Broadway Festival and subsequently at Manhattan’s Acorn Theatre—garnering a Drama Desk nomination for Outstanding Revue in 2005. Announcements for a new show commemorating their 25th anniversary were made in 2007.
The troupe has contributed original songs to radio and television shows including Stop The Week, After Hours, People Like Us, and TV-am. Among their notable compositions are Shattered Illusions, Herpes Tango, Lieder, and Taboo. The members are accomplished actresses primarily known for musical theatre; Keane also pursues work as an author and columnist. Following the passing of pianist and musical director Russell Churney in 2007, their plans were postponed, but they regrouped in 2008 to celebrate their 25th anniversary through concerts and tours.
In 2008, performances took place at Jermyn Street Theatre followed by tours across the UK. Their style has been described as "Absolutely Fabulous meets Noël Coward, as sung by the Andrew Sisters". The album Silver Jubilee was released in April 2009, complemented by a DVD recorded at Theatre Royal, Windsor in July 2010. Their New York production Absolutely Miraculous received two Drama Desk nominations in 2010. After touring South Africa, they opened at Charing Cross Theatre in autumn 2011 before embarking on a UK-wide tour.
Beginning in 2023 and continuing through 2024, the group launched their 40th Anniversary Show tour, which includes appearances at the London Palladium.
Adaptations
Camille O'Sullivan and punk cabaret performer Amanda Palmer have both delivered their versions of Fascinating Aïda’s Look Mummy No Hands. Patti LuPone recorded both Look Mummy No Hands and Shattered Illusions on her album Matters of the Heart and performed these songs live in New York during 2000. Furthermore, Shattered Illusions is recognized as one of Bette Midler’s signature numbers.
Current Members
- Dillie Keane: 1983–1989, 1994–2004, 2008–present (contralto)
- Adèle Anderson: 1984–1989, 1994–2004, 2008–present (contralto)
- Liza Pulman: 2004, 2008 – July 2011, July 2012–present (soprano)
Former Members
- Lizzie Richardson: March 1983 – October 1983 (soprano)
- Marilyn Cutts: March 1983 – March 1986, 1999 – 2004 (mezzo in 1983; soprano from 1984)
- Glenda Smith: October 1983 – January 1984 (soprano)
- Denise Wharmby: August 1986 – April 1989 (soprano)
- Lesley-Anne Knight: 1989–1990
- Issy van Randwyck: March 1994 – July 1999 (soprano)
- Charlotte Nytzen: October 1999, February 2000 (soprano)
- Bonnie Langford: March 2004 (soprano)
- Sarah-Louise Young: 2009 – 2010 (soprano)
Fascinating Aïda has also worked alongside Tony Award-winning orchestrator Sarah Travis.
Touring History
Fascinating Aïda have appeared in more than one hundred venues throughout the UK and Ireland, complemented by numerous international tours.
Domestic Tours and Theatre Residencies
- 1984 Fascinating Aïda – Donmar Warehouse, London (11 December 1984 to 5 January 1985)
- 1985–1986 Fascinating Aïda – Lyric Hammersmith, London
- 1987 Fascinating Aïda – Piccadilly Theatre, West End, London (19 February to 3 April)
- 1989, 1994 Fascinating Aïda – Lyric Hammersmith
- 1994 Fascinating Aïda – Garrick Theatre, West End, London (7 December 1994 to 21 January 1995)
- 1997 Fascinating Aïda – Apollo Theatre, West End, London (4 to 15 March)
- 1997 It, Wit, Don't Give A Shit Girls – Vaudeville Theatre, West End, London (23 January to 15 February) and Lyric Hammersmith (4 to 15 March)
- 1998 It, Wit, Don't Give A Shit Girls – Lyric Hammersmith
- 1999 Barefaced Chic – Theatre Royal, Haymarket, West End, London (9 February to 13 March)
- 2000 Barefaced Chic – Lyric Hammersmith
- 2003 One Last Flutter – Comedy Theatre, West End, London (13 November to 6 December)
- 2008 Silver Jubilee – Jermyn Street Theatre, London (19 to 31 May), followed by a brief national tour
- 2009 25th Anniversary – National tour
- 2011–2012 Cheap Flights Tour – National tour
- 2013–2014 Charm Offensive – National tour
- 2019–2022 – National tour interrupted due to Covid; live album recorded in January 2020
- 2023–2024 40th Anniversary Show – National tour concluding in March 2024
Mini-Tour of 2008
To mark their quarter-century milestone in 2008, Fascinating Aïda presented the "Silver Jubilee Concert" at London's Jermyn Street Theatre, showcasing fresh material. The production was met with widespread critical praise.
Following this, the ensemble toured multiple English venues including the festivals at Chichester and Cheltenham, the Oundle Festival, as well as Aldeburgh, The Harleston and Waveney Festival, and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. They also took part in the Concert for Russell, a tribute event for former member Russell Churney, who died from pancreatic cancer in 2007.
2009 National Tour
In 2009, Fascinating Aïda embarked on an extensive nationwide tour featuring their Silver Jubilee production, preceding an autumnal tour and a residency in New York.
International Tours and Residencies
- 1988: One-month engagement at the Ballroom on West 28th Street, New York City, United States
- 1998: Brief national tour across Australia
- 1999: Two shows at Hemingways Resort, Watamu, Kenya
- 1999: Three-week run at Bar Jeder Vernunft, Berlin, Germany
- 2000: Residency at Raffles Hotel, Singapore
- 2003: Performances at Red Pear Theatre, Antibes, France, from September to October
- 2004: Fascinating Aïda at Mofet Theatre, Raanana, Israel
- 2004: Absolutely Fascinating staged at 59E59 Theaters, Manhattan, New York City during the Brits Off Broadway Festival of New British Theatre
- 2004: Absolutely Fascinating ran from 22 September to 14 November at the Acorn Theatre in Manhattan, New York
- Additional appearances include the Wellington Festival in New Zealand; two seasons at the Firebird Cafe in New York; participation in the New York Cabaret Convention; a four-week season and national tour for the Sydney Festival Bicentennial held at the Opera House; a seven-week engagement at Mason Street Theater in San Francisco; and a brief national tour of Australia in 1986.
- 2009/10: Absolutely Miraculous performed at 59E59 in New York as part of the Brits Off-Broadway series, securing two Drama Desk Award nominations.
Discography
Fascinating Aïda’s body of work includes eleven albums and five video releases.
Albums
- 1984 – Sweet FA
- 1987 – A Load of Old Sequins
- 1994 – Live at the Lyric
- 1997 – It, Wit, Don't Give A Shit Girls
- 1999 – Barefaced Chic
- 2003 – Absolutely Fascinating
- 2003 – One Last Flutter
- 2009 – Silver Jubilee
- 2012 – Cheap Flights
- 2014 – Charm Offensive
- 2016 – Back in the Saddle
DVDs
- 2009 – Silver Jubilee
- 2012 – Cheap Flights (Released 7 May 2012)
- 2014 – Charm Offensive
- 2016 – Back in the Saddle (Greatest Hits) (Released 9 December 2016)
- 2017 – Hello Dillie (Released 25 February 2017)
Selected Awards & Nominations
- Drama Desk Award
- Nominated for Best Entertainment – 2005, 2010 (Absolutely Miraculous!)
- Nominated for Best Lyrics – 2010 (Absolutely Miraculous!)
- Olivier Awards
- Nominated for Best Entertainment – 1995 (Live at the Lyric), 2000 (Barefaced Chic), 2004 (One Last Flutter)
- Perrier Award (Edinburgh Festival Fringe)
- Nominated – 1984
- City Limits
- Awarded Most Popular Act – 1985
Reviews
The Independent awarded the 2003 production One Last Flutter four stars, describing it as a "perfectly judged evening," while IndieLondon commended its cleverness and humor. The West End Whingers gave high praise to their 2008 run at Jermyn Street Theatre. The New York Times spotlighted their Absolutely Fascinating performance for its combination of subtlety and theatrical flair.
Additional critical acclaim came from The Daily Telegraph, which called them "the tops"; News of the World labeled them "simply hilarious"; The Financial Times noted their refined execution; and The Sunday Telegraph admired both the concept and delivery of their show.
In 2009, film director Ken Russell lauded their performance in The Times as "impossibly good," remarking that watching them was akin to experiencing "heaven."
Books
Fascinating Aïda have published two notable books:
- Keane, Dillie; Anderson, Adele (October 1986). Fascinating Who?, Elm Tree Books
- Keane, Dillie (December 1994). The Joy of Sequins, Methuen Publishing Ltd