Showing posts with label Memoirs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Memoirs. Show all posts

Thursday, 15 June 2017

Do You Mind if I Smoke? The Memoirs of Fenella Fielding

 
Following a series of extremely popular shows late last year, Fenella Fielding will be returning to the Phoenix Artist Club this June for more tales from her new audio book of memoirs. 

Fenella Fielding is best known for her film appearances in Carry On Screaming (1966), Doctor in Clover (1966) and Carry On Regardless (1961). She was the voice of the Blue Queen in Dougal and the Blue Cat (1970) and the telephone operator and loudspeaker voice in The Prisoner (1967). Her stage credits include the title roles in Hedda Gabler (1969) and Colette (1970). 

She’s fondly remembered for a number of appearances on the Morecambe & Wise Show (1969-1972) as well as playing The Vixen in Uncle Jack (early 1990s). Her most recent TV appearance was Skins (2012).

During her career, Fenella has worked with many of the greats and has known, or at least met, practically everybody else. She has amazing recall and can tell a story about most of the people who were special in the 60s or 70s… Kenneth Williams, Peter Cook, Tony Curtis, Francis Bacon, Joan Sims… the list is endless.

During a total of four Saturday matinee appearances Fenella will be reading a series of chapters from her forthcoming audio book ‘Do You Mind If I Smoke?’ Each show will be different. There are stories about innocence, her struggle to get started, family strife, professional jealousies and intriguingly a chapter about London tarts and gangsters. The stories are witty and beautifully observed scenes from her life and all told in that unmistakable and ever alluring Fenella Fielding voice.

Each performance will include a short Q&A about the book with Misty Moon's special guest MC Simon McKay, co-author of the book and a personal friend of Fenella.

There’s also an opportunity to pre-order the audio book with extra goodies included. 

Fenella will be appearing at the Phoenix Artist Club in London's West End for four shows. More details are available  here



You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and also Facebook

Monday, 24 April 2017

Fenella Fielding's Memoirs available to Pre-Order!

 
Following a series of extremely popular shows late last year, Fenella Fielding's memoirs will finally be released this May! The audio book, "Do You Mind if I Smoke?" will be released as a five CD set and those who pre-order now will receive their copy signed by Fenella.

Fenella Fielding is best known for her film appearances in Carry On Screaming (1966), Doctor in Clover (1966) and Carry On Regardless (1961). She was the voice of the Blue Queen in Dougal and the Blue Cat (1970) and the telephone operator and loudspeaker voice in The Prisoner (1967). Her stage credits include the title roles in Hedda Gabler (1969) and Colette (1970). 

She’s fondly remembered for a number of appearances on the Morecambe & Wise Show (1969-1972) as well as playing The Vixen in Uncle Jack (early 1990s). Her most recent TV appearance was Skins (2012).

During her career, Fenella has worked with many of the greats and has known, or at least met, practically everybody else. She has amazing recall and can tell a story about most of the people who were special in the 60s or 70s… Kenneth Williams, Peter Cook, Tony Curtis, Francis Bacon, Joan Sims… the list is endless.

There are stories about innocence, her struggle to get started, family strife, professional jealousies and intriguingly a chapter about London tarts and gangsters. The stories are witty and beautifully observed scenes from her life and all told in that unmistakable and ever alluring Fenella Fielding voice.

Fenella will be appearing at the Phoenix Artist Club in London's West End for four shows, the first of which will be Saturday 3rd June at 2.30pm. More details are available  here

You can pre-order a copy of the audio book of memoirs, "Do You Mind if I Smoke?" via Fenella's Website



You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and also Facebook

Sunday, 29 January 2017

A Fantastic Afternoon with Fenella

 

Yesterday I ventured out once again to the Phoenix Artist Club in London's West End for another of Fenella Fielding's fabulous memoir shows. I had last attended one of these shows in November and as each show promised new material I couldn't wait to hear what Fenella had to say. As the Misty Moon's Curator was heard to say, it was "bloody brilliant"!

The intimate nature of the Phoenix's Members Lounge makes this show really special. Although the show in November was well attended, this one was packed out with not a spare ticket to be had. As ever, Fenella did not disappoint and presented three chapters from her memoir which were altogether funny, charming, surprising and at times moving. Fenella was quite obviously born to perform and she had the whole room on her side through the 90 minute performance.

This show covered three particularly interesting times in Fenella's life. We started off with a chapter entitled "Tarts and Gangsters" (that's all I'm saying on this one!) and this was following by a chapter dedicated to Fenella's experiences making her two Carry On appearances, in Regardless and most famously of all, Carry On Screaming in 1966. It was wonderful to hear Fenella recount stories of making these films and share some tales from behind the scenes at Pinewood Studios. After a short break, Fenella was back with her final chapter, discussing her incredibly diverse stage career during the 1960s, ranging from the musical Valmouth at the end of the 1950s through Shakespeare, Ibsen, light comedy and even a bit of Muriel Spark.

 

As ever there was a deftness and a lightness of touch throughout the reading which is very Fenella. Her unique delivery and some amazing tales make Fenella's memoir a must have. Afterwards there was an entertaining Q&A with a variety of questions bringing up stories on diverse aspects of Fenella's career including working with the late Patrick Macnee, Patrick Macgoohan on The Prisoner and Danger Man and one of Fenella's most recent television performances in the Channel 4 series, Skins.

The Phoenix Artist Club is the perfect venue for these shows and it was great to see the likes of David Barry, Anita Graham, Vera Day, Brian Murphy and Linda Regan gather there to support Misty Moon's endeavours.

The last show in the run is next Saturday 4 February however I'm told this has now sold out. I believe there are more shows in the pipeline for June this year so stay tuned for more information on those. 

 

Fenella will also be appearing with Stephen Greif in their show Just a Little Murder at Crazy Coqs, London on Tuesday 28 February. You can find out more about this performance and book tickets via Fenella's website. You can also pre-order a signed copy of Fenella's audio book of memoirs over on her website by following this link

The memoirs are due out in May this year.  



You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and also on Facebook