Camille O'Sullivan - press release

Fringe Dreams Can Come True
Or
How Spiegeltent Chanteuse was spotted by Trainspotter Spud!

Sexy Irish chanteuse Camille O'Sullivan very nearly didn't come to the 2004 Edinburgh Fringe, following the collapse in July, of Edinburgh Fringe venue the Wigwam. Things got worse at the beginning of August with the news that a 5 week Dublin booking in October had fallen through.

6 weeks later however her career is on the up again.
The Famous Spiegeltent and C venues stepped in with dates for her two shows Camille Sings Brel and The Dark Angel, featuring songs by Jacques Brel, Nick Cave, Kurt Weill and Tom Waits. Her stunning voice and full-on, passionate performances (including occasional forays into the audience) attracted a clutch of rave reviews and packed houses.

... raunchy, dangerously fragile and laced with a dark erotica… a real star
......................................................................................................................................Edinburgh Evening News
A riveting performer.................... Rob Adams, Herald
almost unbearably poignant… Edinburgh Guide
An exceptional voice…provocative and sensual… Critic's Choice - Sunday Times

The Spiegeltent also gave her a place in their sexy late night cabaret burlesque - La Clique - which became one of the must-sees of this year's Fringe.

One member of the audience at those shows was Edinburgh's Euan Bremner - aka Spud from the hit film Trainspotting - who was so impressed that he got straight on the phone to film director Stephen Frears, who was looking for an actor to play a burlesque chanteuse in his new film Mrs Henderson Presents, about the rise of the Windmill Theatre. Camille auditioned and was delighted to be offered the part. Filming starts in October with Dame Judi Dench, Bob Hoskins and Will Young.

Meanwhile - never one to stay still - Camille has just opened a new show - The Carny Dream - a one night only performance at the Dublin Fringe on Wed 22 Sep, to a full and enthusiastic house. New songs included a show stopping A Good Man is Hard to Find (which typically saw her trying out several possible candidates in the audience!), Nick Cave's edgy and ironic God is in the House and the Peggy Lee standard Is that All There Is?

In November she will fly south to Melbourne to rejoin the Famous Spiegeltent.

all web content © Morag Neil
all photographs © marc marnie