Next up was Sketchy’s newcomer Glorian Gray in full tigress costume, dancing to The Lion Sleeps Tonight and Teach Me Tiger. Liberty Pink returned in a new costume to duet with side-kick puppet David Peckham for On A Tree By A River (Tit-Willow) from the Mikado, then went on to pose with stage manager Fleur du Mal as ringmaster and tigress respectively.

Ditzy Diamond returned with a set that was, quite literally, nuts, performing to The White Stripes‘ Little Acorns whilst dressed (and undressed) as a squirrel, and Mysti Vine brought another puppet to the show with her snake-charming set based on Kaa‘s song Trust In Me from Disney’s The Jungle Book. Events were brought to a close by Liberty Pink (in yet another costume change) and her version of Tom Lehrer‘s Poisoning Pigeons in the Park. All in all, another fun show. I finally broke my recent losing streak by winning an inflatable monkey for my sketch of Ditzy Diamond, and fellow scribbler Cathy Simpson also won an elephant.

The next class will be held this coming Saturday 17th July upstairs at the Victoria, with the theme of Beauties of the Blitz. Tickets are available on the door, priced £8.50. Doors open at 3.30pm. See you there!

“Life is a cabaret ol’ chum so come to the Cabaret”. So sang Liza Minelli in the movie Caberet, but she could easily be referring to the recent Dr Sketchy’s Anti-Art School in Birmingham (previously) back in March. Titled Berlin, this time around the burlesque life-drawing class took it’s lead from the Weimar Republic-set musical and movie – a movie incidentally that I’ve never seen, although I have read Christopher Isherwood’s semi-autobiographical novel, Goodbye to Berlin upon on which it is based.

Berlin also marked the first appearance by new host Liberty Pink who welcomed us by singing Willkommen and a short pose. Dr Sketchy’s regular Cherryfox was up next, dancing to Pulp’s This is Hardcore and posing with wineglass and cigarette holder. Following her appearance at the previous Victoriana-themed night as Fanny Malone, Crimson Skye returned to pose again, and we had a further pose from Sketchy’s newcomer Lulu La Rocca in a distinctly Sally Bowles-esque bowler-hatted outfit, although no performance. Rounding up proceedings, and performing to another Caberet song, Money, was, unusually, male burlesque dancer Mr Mistress and a heck of a lot of glitter.

Cartoonist and illustrator Cathy Simpson joined me on the sofa at the front of the house, and I also spotted British International Comics Show organisers cartoonist Andy ‘Doodles’ Baker and comic artist James Hodgkins, both of whom won prizes for their drawings (note to self: must stop encouraging talented cartoonists to come along – I’ve not won a prize in ages). They’re apparently organising a Dr Sketchy’s event for this years BICS in October – of which more when I know it.

Dr Sketchy’s returns with Carnival of Creatures next weekend, Saturday 15th May, doors open 3.30pm at the Victoria in John Bright Street, Birmingham B1 1BN and you can book tickets here. See you there?

Then, in a bit of a break with tradition from Dr Sketchy’s past, Fanny Malone (aka Crimson Skye) led us into a bit of an old Cockney knees-up with a few music hall songs (there were song sheets – sadly, I’ve misplaced mine). Events were brought to a close by Red Sarah‘s strongman routine, complete with swinging spheres and a giant set of weights – and an equally impressive moustache. All in all a great night out, with a bit more variety (although, presumably in keeping with the strait-laced Victorians themselves, a bit less shedding of clothes) than the usual Dr Sketchy’s. Also in attendance this time were fellow cartoonists Cathy Simpson and Gerard ‘Ger’ Whyman. There’s even photos over on Flickr (er, including a couple of me…)

The next Dr Sketchy’s is this coming Saturday 20th March, at the Victoria pub, with doors opening at 3pm. The theme this time round will be the Caberet-inspired Berlin, set in the inter-war years. I believe tickets are still available, so maybe I’ll see you there!

Proceedings were comperéd, as ever, by host The Decadent Gent, who was accompanied by assistant Ditzy Diamond. First up, as last time, was a song from Cherry Fox who, appropriately enough, sang her take on the Altered Images track Happy Birthday, followed by a short 10 minute pose. The birthday theme continued with Willow Blue‘s routine, to the tune of both the traditional Happy Birthday To You and burlesque classic The Stripper, in a rather elaborate birthday cake outfit.

Suzie Sequin brought Hollywood glamour to proceedings (as she had at a previous Dr Sketchy’s), this time perfoming to Marilyn Monroe’s infamous rendition of Happy Birthday, Mr President. Cherry Fox returned for her second song of the evening, Lesley Gore‘s It’s My Party (probably better known in this country by it’s 80s cover version by Dave Stewart and Barbara Gaskin). The final set of the night was Sherry Trifle performing, er, How to Make A Sherry Trifle (and yes, there was whipped cream…). After posing for one set, Sherry returned for our last pose alongside the Decadent Gent and Ditzy Diamond.

In between proceedings, there was Pass the Parcel, where I won my only prize of the evening (er… a knitted Swiss Roll), but the cartoonists weren’t letting the side down, as fellow scribbler (and PCO member) Cathy Simpson won two rounds (admittedly with one of my brush pens. Again). There’s also some lovely photos of the day’s proceedings (and if you look carefully enough, you might find a few of me).

So, raise a glass to Dr Sketchy’s 1st birthday, and here’s to many more… starting with the next one, Victoriana, at the Victoria (where else!) on 16th January 2010.