Sinzine

 

 

When Marnie Scarlet enters the room, you always know she is there. Not only does she dress like a sexy alien from a high budget sci-fi movie, but she is a force of nature with the kind of personality that makes heads turn even before they have any idea of what they are about to see.

 

I invited the divine Ms Scarlet to my flat for a chat over a cup of tea and a biscuit, although in the end we actually plumped for beer. As she walked through my front door the first thing I thought was "Boy has she got some balls!" The vision that stalked into my hall was amazing. Marnie was dressed in a matching full length silver/grey and black flared trousers, corset, face mask and fascinator and a black nylon ruff. Peaking out from behind the mask was superb make up and the longest red false eyelashes I had ever seen. She had walked through Camden like that. Now Camden is one of the capital's alternative hubs, but this is something that would have turned heads even here! 

 

 

After some quick hello's and pouring the beer, we sat down and got down to it. (Oo-er) Let me first say that we are not related or married or anything. I commented to Marnie that if we were it would save us a fortune in monogrammed towels. She laughed raucously and added

 

"If we had a baby we could call it Scarlet Scarlet"

 

 

Now I really wanted to make sure I described Marnie Scarlet correctly, and rather than give it go without doing her proud I went for the easy option and asked her to describe herself.

 

"I'm a costume designer and performance artist, I dabble in the world of fetish and burlesque, a bit of performance art occasionally, mix it all together, throw a nice hat on it, put a collar round it, some heels  and go out there grab the world by the balls and chuck it on stage" Marnie had built up to a crescendo during this description, but now she returned to a calmer state and ended with "That's what I do"

 

 

Slightly stunned, and trying not to laugh at the fantastic way she explained who she is, I asked my next question. If people hadn't seen one of her performances what should they expect?

 

"Mayhem usually! Some of them are mayhem, some of them are more dance based, but generally I try to do something personal to me, that I would like to watch. Something I think will entertain. Something a bit different. It's nice to do something that hopefully hasn't been done before. Not completely unique, because no one can reinvent the wheel, but something that is a little bit special."

 

 

Where does she start when she is coming up with a show?

 

With a deep intake of breath Ms Scarlet explains "Costume, everything starts with a costume". We laugh, as let's face it we both know that that's how most good things start. "Proud to be shallow. But it's true. It's always starts with something I made and I think what does this persona do. I have made a Poison Ivy dress and I thought to myself "What would Poison Ivy do? She stings", so that is a piercing show. I've got several things with wings, so they fly or they dance with big feather fans... stuff like that"

 

 

Just to make sure I had got that right, because her clothes looked so great (I studied fashion back in the era of Thatcher and New Romantics I so know good tailoring) I asked if she designed all her own outfits?

 

With her chest puffing out in pride, Marnie smiles. "All my costumes are designed by me. Occasionally I have little Prong bits and accessories and occasionally bits from Compulsive Behaviour, but the bulk is usually done by me. If I do use bits and bobs from other people it usually because it fits in the aesthetic"

 

So not only designed but made by Marnie...wow.

 

 

 

 

Changing tack slightly, I wanted to know how Marnie felt she fitted in with the growing Burlesque scene, especially as I knew she had performed at many of the major events. So did she see herself as part of the Burlesque movement?

 

"Hmm, Yes and No. Burlesque is a very all encompassing thing. When you go to very well produced good burlesque night, there are a lot out there and there are not all good". She explained "Some are very good, and there's a wide variety. At the good ones they have circus acts, body acts and it's not just striptease. I have elements of burlesque, I have elements of striptease, big fans, but I do think I do not conform to traditional burlesque standards. It's just not me. It's not that I don't like it, but it's not my thing. It's not what suits me."

 

 

So how does she go down when she plays at that kind of event?

 

"Everybody loves it. Every time I go to do one of those nights, like I was at Vuluptra last week, and I was like Oh my God, it was a very traditional crowd and I was hired to be the odd one out. I was kind of terrified, because I saw the crowd and thought they are SO not going to like what I do. And they absolutely loved it. So far I've not had a bad response, not here (in London), up North, no where. Even the very very traditional nights when I've been very nervous because I really think that they are not here to see someone like me, they've absolutely loved it and I get nothing but compliments. So Phew!"

 

 

It sounded like she did really worry about what kind of reception she might get when she performs. Did that mean that she got nervous before a show?

 

"I do YES. I do at times. I always think a bit of nerves are good. Too much and you cock up, too little and it's flat. but I do."

 

 

Suddenly I am struck with a picture of a nervous Marnie getting ready for show, putting it together and rehearsing her act. But how does she rehearse?

 

"Oh in my flat" at which point we both crack up, me because I can just imagine it, and her because she knows that whatever I am imagining is only half the story. "With all my neighbours across the road" she continues. "I was doing something with a gas mask and a big feather head dress yesterday, and as it's hot I had all the windows open and with my neighbours it's like I wonder what she's doing today, the nutter over the road? But people in London just don't care. It's just another nutter across the road."

 

 

Did she ever finish and find a row of eyes peering in from across the street?

 

"No, disappointingly enough, no" Maybe if her neighbours read this they should start watching out for any rehearsals, but then we both agreed that no, they should go and see a show and pay like anyone else!

 

 

 

 

 

Getting all serious for a minute, I wondered if Marnie considered there to be an element of feminism to her performances, especially as she could said to be corrupting the burlesque idea. She paused, thoughtfully for a second.

 

"Erm, not intentionally corrupting, not intentionally feministic. I just go out there to do what I want to do, to be me, basically... selfishly. I'm not out there to make a strong feminist statement, although I don't mind if it effects people's views on things. It's good to get people thinking, and if it does that then I feel good. I do have certain pieces in my repertoire, that I would like people to think about. Like my Tin Soldier act, but that's not a feminist thing, it's more of an anti-war thing. It has nothing to do with gender. I tend to leave gender out of things. With regards to corrupting the burlesque scene, I just wanted to me put out there, didn't necessarily go into the burlesque scene, or the fetish scene, I just wanted to put me out there. I had so many ideas I wanted to make happen, that any audience was good." 

 

Later after our interview, Marnie reflected on the feminist angle to what she does and agreed that it might be considered to have an influence. She doesn't actively have it in her mind when she is creating a performance, but by being a strong, independent woman, who is doing what she wants to do when she wants to do it then there must be some form of feminist message. It's just not an intentional driving force behind Marnie Scarlet.

 

 

I wondered if she was a cross over between the fetish scene and the burlesque scene, as there was in the beginning but I see that it has splintered in recent years.

 

"In London there is a BIG cross over, but not so much up North. There are a few clubs that have cross over, like TG and they do manage to get them together. There is some kind of cross over, but the fetish crowd do want to see their rubber. Having said that, when I do turn up to a burlesque club in rubber they seem to love it. Never a negative reaction, which is fortunate!" Or is it just because Marnie is good? Laughing she agrees, "Damn right".

 

 

To me Marnie carries on the tradition of people like Leah Bowery, as she is an entire performance all the while, always on. Does she feel like when she is getting dressed up she is putting on an act?

 

"Not an act necessarily, but putting on clothes make you feel good. If you put certain make up you feel a little bit special, and sometimes if you put a particular theme on you feel like you can be something different today, you know. I suppose without it I do that too, but I always loved dressing up. My favourite thing when I was little was my dressing up box, and my brother used to say that when you grow up you can't do that anymore, so I thought I'm never growing up!"

 

 

So is there an element of carrying on that child-like joy of dressing up?

 

"Oh absolutely, child forever man. Forever playful, you've got to laugh 'cos life's too short. Never grow up."

 

As I started to ask Marnie is she ever switched off, I realized I should really be asking her partner Max. So what is Marnie like when she is quiet?

 

"There is no such thing" Max replied, with a smile. As we all laughed out loud, yet again, Marnie added "Unless I am tired, or I'm asleep or if I'm eating chocolate then I quiet". Ah a fellow chocoholic eh?

 

 

What does the future hold for Marnie Scarlet?

 

"Running for Mayor, Marnie the Major the Musical! Nationwide auditions. I'm running for major in a few years time, and once I'm major I shall be writing a musical about it. Running nationwide auditions to find someone to play ME!" At this point I had another scary moment, as I am also writing a script for a TV comedy about my life, and am about to start looking for disabled actors to play me. So there must be some thing about having the name Scarlet, gives you a certain kind of ego. I'm so bad that I have found a guy to play me in my 20's who is far better looking than I am, even was back then. Better cheekbones for a start. Us aging Goths know that cheekbones equal beauty. When I admit to Marnie that my doppelganger is a better looking version of me, she agrees "That is a superb idea".

 

 

As the interview draws to it's end, it's time for the self publicity section. What can we expect from her forthcoming Club Antichrist birthday party show on June 24th?

 

"I've got a VERY rubbery splosh act lined up. I am going to have a very special Marnie Scarlet birthday cake, lined up. Full latex, a little striptease, whipped cream and sparklers, and mess and make up. It'll be fabulous. It'll be mayhem so stand well back!" Good warning for everyone in your best outfits. "I've started the design for the costume already. It's going to be very good, they'll be a hood and all sorts of lovely pieces to it. I'm going to start making it very soon". With a pause as she pictures what she will unveil at Club AC, she continues with a glint in her highly made up eye "I won't be able to rehearse that in the flat very much, unless you fancy some cake and you're outside my window! But I am really looking forward to it. I've done some splosh acts before and they are great!"

 

 

And what else is coming up?

 

"I my first exhibition, I have built a rubber installation creation, a inflatable latex structure for that, and it's at the Resistance Gallery. Then I have some shows in my home country of Holland, and some in Cannes and New York. I'm really looking forward to that".

 

With that our chat ended. We finished our beers and after chatting about where we would next bump into each other, Marnie and Max left. Off to a private party on the London Eye. Now that's the glamorous lifestyle. Alright for some eh?

 

After she leaves, you find yourself on a bit of a high. Her bubbly and fun personality is infectious, and she leaves a gap in any room. Of course from the sound of it, everyone out there will soon know the joys of Ms Scarlet. Watch this space, because if she stands for Major London is about to become one hell of a city to live in. Whatever, catch her live soon, you owe it to yourself.