Shuff & Byng: Unveiling Legends - Meet the Creative Team | The Dragonfly Lounge
Arts
Theater
Before RuPaul, before modern drag, there were Douglas Byng and Mrs. Shufflewick. Shuff & Byng brings their extraordinary lives and groundbreaking artistry to the stage. Join us for an exclusive panel discussion with the creative team behind this new theatre piece. Discover the fascinating stories of these pioneering performers and gain insight into the process of transforming their legacy into Shuff and Byng . Panelists: Billie Bottle (Musical Director)Dusty Limits (Shuff)Kinny Gardner (Dougie Byng)Moderated by: Dr Paul Davies This event is promoted by Funnelwick Limb's partner organisation, Slaget Theatre and is 14+ (not suitable for younger audiences) Image credits Image of Douglas Byng scanned from an original Hey Diddle Diddle programme of 1937 Image of Mrs Shufflewick © Robert Workman courtesy of the Bishopsgate Institute Robert Workman archive Image of Billie Bottle courtesy of the artist Image of Kinny Gardner courtesy of Birds of Paradise Theatre, Blanche and Butch R&D Image of Dusty Limits photo © Jodi Wyeth Billie Bottle is a composer, musician, bandleader, and producer whose work bridges jazz and rock, drawing on folk, electronic, and indie influences. Her career has included collaborations with members of the progressive rock band Caravan as well as Robert Wyatt. She has released two solo albums and five more with various groups, including Billie Bottle & The Multiple and her current project, Billie Bottle's Temple of Shibboleth, a mythic sisterhood exploring climate collapse and feminism. She also maintains a long association with avant-garde jazz legends Mike and Kate Westbrook, and plays with other jazz-related bands. Billie spent 5 years on the road with Gifford’s Circus, working with clown Tweedy and director Cal McCrystal. She has created soundtracks for theatre works (including Edalia Day's, Too Pretty To Punch) and since 2010 has been working in therapeutic music and care settings. A multi-instrumentalist, she sings and plays piano, guitar, mandolin, bass, and oboe, and is currently training to be an integrative counsellor. Dusty Limits (who is exploring Mrs Shufflewick in the R&D) is a performer, singer, and host who has redefined the boundaries of contemporary cabaret. With over two decades of experience, Dusty has become a legend in the international cabaret scene, captivating audiences with their razor-sharp wit, velvet voice, and theatrical artistry. Known for their darkly comic and deeply emotive performances, Dusty has performed everywhere from London to Liverpool, New York to Berlin. They directed and hosted the original Black Cat Cabaret at the legendary Café de Paris, just one of a myriad of shows they have curated and hosted. They have appeared at the world’s biggest cabaret festival (Adelaide, 2017) and been a mainstay of the Edinburgh Fringe since 2003. Dusty’s work seamlessly blends music, satire, and storytelling into unforgettable experiences. Whether they are crooning Weimar-era classics, singing their sweet-yet-cynical original songs, or reimagining modern pop, their performances are a masterclass in theatricality, song interpretation and emotional depth. Their versatility makes them a perfect fit for a wide range of productions, from intimate cabaret shows to large-scale theatrical events. With a career that spans the globe, Dusty Limits continues to push the envelope, bringing a unique blend of sophistication, humour, and raw talent to every stage they grace. For more information, visit www.dustylimits.co.uk Kinny Gardner (who is exploring Douglas Byng in the R&D) was born in Edinburgh sometime in the last century. As a soloist choir boy he sang War Requiem with Sir Peter Pears, under the baton of Sir Benjamin Britten, for the 1968 Edinburgh International Festival. He went on to feature in early West End casts of Godspell and The Rocky Horror Show, and in the more recent production of Chicago as Mary Sunshine. He enjoyed a year in Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap when he also moonlighted as a misleading lady in Mmm…Havana! at Madam Jo Jo’s Club Extraordinaire in London’s Soho. Other musicals include Sweeny Todd, Sweet Charity, Little Shop of Horrors, The Pirates of Penzance, The Threepenny Opera, The Rhythmics, Assassins and Cabaret. For 27 years Kinny was a principal guest solo artist with Lindsay Kemp and his Company, being his second leading man and second leading lady, and with them he toured the world’s greatest opera houses in Flowers, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Big Parade, Cinderella a Gothic Operetta, Variete and The Last Dance of Elizabeth the First. Kinny recently featured in Promenade, a feature film directed by John Jencks to be released in 2025, playing the principal role of ‘Lover Pip’.
Information Source: Funnelwick Limb | eventbrite