Tag Archives: Suzanne Forbes

Kabarett der Namenlosen!

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Bridge Markland in slip at Kabarett der Namenlosen November 17 2019 by Suzanne ForbesI made it to Kabarett der Namenlosen!

The show is a time-travelling fever dream of Once Upon a TIme Queer Berlin. I was so excited to draw Bridge Markland, above, again!! Bridge is a barn-burner of a performer, a terror and a treasure.

Lars and Mlle Vicky Butterfly dancing at Kabarett der Namenlosen November 17 2019 by Suzanne ForbesThe pre-show experience began with Lars and lovely Mlle. Vicky Butterfly dancing before the Ballhaus Berlin stage, shrouded in fog.

Lars at Kabarett der Namenlosen November 17 2019 by Suzanne ForbesI warmed up with this profile of Lars Schwuchow, then the loose marker drawing above.

Lars is a serious Art Deco guy, and he has an Arrow shirt ad elegance I always want to capture, but I didn’t quite get it this time.

I had drawn several of tonight’s performers before, at Dr. Sketchy’s Berlin sessions; you can see Lars, Mama Ulita and Le Pustra here and here, and Bridge Markland as Anita Berber here.

The costumes and sets, by Le Pustra, are simply unbelievable, and everyone has such a unique look. I knew I would be spoilt for choice!!

Charly Voodoo and Shir-Ran Yinon at Kabarett der Namenlosen November 17 2019 by Suzanne ForbesMy jaw fell off my face when I saw Charly Voodoo walk onstage.

As a corset-lover (some might say hardcore corset fetishist!) I am always thrilled when I see someone seriously corseted. Charly Voodoo‘s whole look was incredible, with a lace head mask, high heels and stockings. He is absolutely beautiful (as is his husband Pierre-Louis, a dancer and plant-lover who revealed so much more! Sadly, I did not have a chance to draw Pierre-Louis!)

Charly’s corset is by Maxim Blotin, a young corsetmaker in Paris. It looked like satin coutil to me but apparently is made of something called leather satin! It is either corded or quilted, with gores, and a near-pipestem cut. I did not draw the details accurately, which pains me, but I think I got the shaping right. His mask, by Kevin Jacotot, was a thrilling challenge. I was so excited I really couldn’t even see straight.

Next to Charly above, singer and violinist Shir-Ran Yinon, woman of exquisite profile and fabulous pipes.

Charly Voodoo playing piano at Kabarett der Namenlosen November 17 2019 by Suzanne ForbesAnd then Charly Voodoo started to play the piano!!

Amazingly!! He is FAB. And then, I got a special ringside seat for a spectacular vignette involving Julietta la Doll, one telephone, two glasses of water and no pants!! But I can’t share anything about that on this family-friendly blog, so here’s another drawing of Bridge Markland!

Bridge Markland at Kabarett der Namenlosen November 17 2019 by Suzanne ForbesYou can find out what wild theater and performance Bridge is up to right here, if you’re not too afraid of her wild soul!

Her staging of an 1890s “German screwball comedy” with puppets is coming up Nov. 29- Dec. 1, at another beautiful Berlin venue, the Theater im Delphi.

Legendary Berlin performing artist ReverRso, who unrolled a strip of cutwork cotton from his mouth as he danced in a lace dress, then blindfolded himself.

Le Pustra at Kabarett der Namenlosen November 17 2019 by Suzanne ForbesThat is producer and torch song singer Le Pustra above, limned in glitter.

Wigs for the show are done by hair artist Nina Butkovich-Budden. They are devastating, characters in their own right. The suberb stage managing is by Lady White Rabbit, who I hadn’t seen in ages – she took very good care of me! I can’t imagine this immersive, improvisational show anywhere but at the historic and louche Ballhaus Berlin. This theater is a treasure, and I hope it will be preserved as a venue for some time.

Speaking of which, I gotta get to Clärchens Ballhaus before they shut it down. Should I draw tango or swing?

As always, I’m incredibly grateful to my Patrons on Patreon. I couldn’t show up and tell these folx’ stories without the monthly financial support of my Patrons, especially as my health has declined this year. The subway was inexplicably just not working when I left Ballhaus tonight, and the fact that I could hail a taxi to go home means so much. I might otherwise have spent hours figuring out a sequence of trams, buses and trains to get home – I have before, and it’s brutal on my body and on my psyche.

I will be increasingly asking for disability accommodations at venues, as I simply can’t move, stand, or do the things I once could.

Le Pustra was kind enough to let me in the theater early to find a seat that was comfortable for me. Pure luck that I picked the one where Julietta was going to be making a very naughty phone call – my luck, that is! I was also very grateful to both Mayliss – stage manager Lady White Rabbit – and Julietta la Doll for warning me about the water in Julietta’s performance and making sure my art wasn’t damaged!

Cute young artist folx at Kino Babylon for Spit and Ashes!

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Young artist at Spit and Ashes screening Babylon Kreuzberg Oct 26 2019 by Suzanne ForbesI went to celebrated cinema Babylon Kreuzberg for the screening of my friend Sadie Lune’s new movie from Maria Beatty, Spit and Ashes.

The whole scene was like Planet of the Invasion of the Sexy Young Queers. Basically no-one had any gender binary and no-one had any hair on the sides of their head. If I hadn’t already been dizzy and exhausted I would have been knocked into a chair by the sheer gorgeous life and freedom of the young people. I drew this blue-haired artist while they were waiting in line.

Waiting for Spit and Ashes screening Babylon Kreuzberg Oct 26 2019 by Suzanne ForbesEveryone was looking fantastic and fearless.

While waiting I got to IRL meet and talk to Sara Niedorf, co-founder of Final Girls Berlin Film Festival, Berlin’s marvelous showcase for horror films produced, directed and written by women. As the crowd lined up for Spit and Ashes, I saw an old friend from SF! He had wanted to let me know he was in Berlin but decided to respect my mentioning health issues on my twitter. It was so good to hug an old friend who understands the challenges of my life with disability.

When Sadie arrived, she was in full Witch regalia and breathtaking! Director of Production Jo Pollux was gleaming like a fey creature, spooky and ethereal.

I hugged them and then I had to leave, because I have been having a crushing Hashimoto’s flareup; I was feeling like hammered shit. I am so damn sad I couldn’t see their gorgeous movie on the big screen with that amazing crowd. But I had already done one event that day, live-drawing Shine Louise Houston teaching film-making, and then gotten mixed up and gone to Moviemento (where I had drawings on display this year btw!!!) instead, and had to cab it to Babylon. I was in spoon debt already.

I didn’t have any trouble at all accepting that I’m an alcoholic and an addict and that addiction is a lifelong, incurable disease. But I am having a terribly hard time accepting that autoimmune illness has permanently changed my life. Every time I get better I think I’m better for good; every time I get worse I feel consumed with guilt and grief for the work I’m not doing and terrified of a future where I may be able to do less and less.

I am so grateful to my Patrons on Patreon, whose support makes everything I do possible.

If I didn’t have this monthly financial support, I wouldn’t be able to work at all. The flexibility of being supported by Patrons is so critical to my work. I’m writing this flat on my back on the couch on a Halloween night when all over town my friends are doing beautiful events I desperately want to document – but at least, thanks to my Patrons, I can take the time to scan, edit and post these drawings of cool young folx, and share them with the world.