Desmond O'Connor (cabaret performer)
Encyclopedia
Desmond O'Connor is an English ukulele playing cabaret and burlesque performer.
, Mitchell and Webb
, Richard Ayoade
and Matthew Holness
. After a year away from Cambridge, he became musical director of the footlights at the invitation of David Mitchell
. At one point, O'Connor was a Latin
teacher. He has been a presenter for MTV UK at Bestival
and The Big Chill
.
In 2009 he was composer, lyricist and musical director of Scott Mills
The Musical for BBC Radio 1
, working alongside co-writer Emlyn Dodd and director Patrick Wilde
. Patrick Wilde
directed the musical Failed States, written by Desmond O'Connor and Andrew Taylor, which won Best Book and Best Lyrics in the MTM UK musical theatre awards in Edinburgh in 2006.
and Brighton Festival Fringe
. And The Devil May Drag You Under has also played in Berlin and at Latitude Festival
. Desmond has made regular club and festival performances in London, Dublin, Amsterdam, Berlin and New York, and at the New York Burlesque Festival 2008. He has a growing and loyal fan base.
In 2008 he was co-producer of the Ministry Of Burlesque's High Tease during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and at Glasgow's Old Fruitmarket in December. In September of that year he produced Fallen Angels with Julie-Ann Laidlaw, a show that has been subsequntly produced in Berlin. With Laidlaw, O'Connor created and produced Vive le Cabaret at the Pleasance during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2010, which won Best Cabaret in the Edinburgh Spotlight awards. The pair have just created La Variete in association with Hackney Empire, which plays on 15th April 2011. In the 2011 Brighton Fringe O'Connor and Laidlaw will produce shows by Sarah-Louise Young and Mr B The Gentleman Rhymer. They will also produce shows by Mr B, Mat Ricardo and Abi Roberts
in the 2011 Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Career
Des O'Connor was a member of the Cambridge Footlights at the same time as Sacha Baron CohenSacha Baron Cohen
Sacha Noam Baron Cohen is an English stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and voice artist. He is most widely known for his portrayal of three unorthodox fictional characters: Ali G, Borat, and Brüno...
, Mitchell and Webb
Mitchell and Webb
Mitchell and Webb are a British comedy double act, comprising David Mitchell and Robert Webb . They are best known for starring in the Channel 4 sitcom Peep Show....
, Richard Ayoade
Richard Ayoade
Richard Ellef Ayoade is a British comedian, actor, writer and director best known for his role as Maurice Moss in The IT Crowd.Ayoade was born an only child to a Norwegian mother, Dagny , and a Nigerian father, Layide Ade Laditi Ayoade. Ayoade studied at St...
and Matthew Holness
Matthew Holness
Matthew Holness is an English comedian and actor from Whitstable in Kent. He attended Chaucer Technology School in Canterbury and read English at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, where he was vice-president of the Cambridge Footlights...
. After a year away from Cambridge, he became musical director of the footlights at the invitation of David Mitchell
David Mitchell (actor)
David James Stuart Mitchell is a British actor, comedian and writer. He is half of the comedy duo Mitchell and Webb, alongside Robert Webb, whom he met at Cambridge University. There they were both part of the Cambridge Footlights, of which Mitchell became President. Together the duo star in the...
. At one point, O'Connor was a Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
teacher. He has been a presenter for MTV UK at Bestival
Bestival
Bestival is a four-day music festival held at the Robin Hill country park on the Isle of Wight, England. It has been held annually in late summer since 2004. The event is organized by DJ and record producer Rob da Bank and is an off-shoot of his Sunday Best record label and club nights. The initial...
and The Big Chill
The Big Chill (music festival)
The Big Chill is an annual festival of alternative, dance and chill-out music and comedy, held in the grounds of Eastnor Castle during early August...
.
In 2009 he was composer, lyricist and musical director of Scott Mills
Scott Mills
Scott Robert Mills is a British radio DJ, television presenter and occasional actor, best known for presenting The Scott Mills Show on BBC Radio 1...
The Musical for BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
, working alongside co-writer Emlyn Dodd and director Patrick Wilde
Patrick Wilde
Patrick Wilde is an English playwright and screenwriter for both television and film.-Early work:Most of Wilde's early work was centred around the classics. He played Hamlet, Mark Antony for ATC and Amnon in Tirso de Molina’s Rape of Tamar at the Lyric in London...
. Patrick Wilde
Patrick Wilde
Patrick Wilde is an English playwright and screenwriter for both television and film.-Early work:Most of Wilde's early work was centred around the classics. He played Hamlet, Mark Antony for ATC and Amnon in Tirso de Molina’s Rape of Tamar at the Lyric in London...
directed the musical Failed States, written by Desmond O'Connor and Andrew Taylor, which won Best Book and Best Lyrics in the MTM UK musical theatre awards in Edinburgh in 2006.
Shows
O'Connor produced and starred in And The Devil May Drag You Under and Desmorphia, both of which showed at the Edinburgh FestivalEdinburgh Festival
The Edinburgh Festival is a collective term for many arts and cultural festivals that take place in Edinburgh, Scotland each summer, mostly in August...
and Brighton Festival Fringe
Brighton Festival Fringe
The Brighton Festival Fringe is an open access arts festival held annually in Brighton, England. It is the largest annual arts festival in England.- Introduction :...
. And The Devil May Drag You Under has also played in Berlin and at Latitude Festival
Latitude Festival
The Latitude Festival is an annual music festival that takes place in Henham Park, Southwold, Suffolk, England. It was first held in July 2006....
. Desmond has made regular club and festival performances in London, Dublin, Amsterdam, Berlin and New York, and at the New York Burlesque Festival 2008. He has a growing and loyal fan base.
In 2008 he was co-producer of the Ministry Of Burlesque's High Tease during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and at Glasgow's Old Fruitmarket in December. In September of that year he produced Fallen Angels with Julie-Ann Laidlaw, a show that has been subsequntly produced in Berlin. With Laidlaw, O'Connor created and produced Vive le Cabaret at the Pleasance during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2010, which won Best Cabaret in the Edinburgh Spotlight awards. The pair have just created La Variete in association with Hackney Empire, which plays on 15th April 2011. In the 2011 Brighton Fringe O'Connor and Laidlaw will produce shows by Sarah-Louise Young and Mr B The Gentleman Rhymer. They will also produce shows by Mr B, Mat Ricardo and Abi Roberts
Abi Roberts
Abi Roberts is a British comedian, actress and singer songwriter.Educated at Swansea University, Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and later the Moscow Conservatoire, she gained prominence in a series of sketch shows on the London stage and at the Edinburgh Festival; appearing firstly in the satirical...
in the 2011 Edinburgh Fringe Festival.