Le Pustra

Le Pustra (1 July 1977) is a multidisciplinary theatre maker, singer, model and performance artist. He was originally part of the comedy Cabaret duo, Pustra/Vile-een's Vaudeville.^[1] Le Pustra is known for his often macabre white face make-up, signature red lips and androgynous styling, sometimes resembling a Weimar porcelain doll. A self-proclaimed Bon Vivant and 'Vaudeville's Darkest Muse', He appears regularly on the International Circuit in Cabaret, Burlesque,^[2] Variety and has appeared in cities such as Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, New York, Paris, Berlin, Vienna, Perth (Australia), Stockholm and Venice. He is much admired and respected for his personal style, unique persona and melancholic live performances.

Early life

Le Pustra was born in South Africa and adopted at birth. He was raised in a middle-class family in a small coastal town, and in 2000 he moved to London to pursue a career in Musical Theater but struggled to find work. He had a few day jobs ranging from an usher at Theatre Royal Drury Lane in Covent Garden to a kitchen porter in Surrey. There was also a brief stint as a Cher impersonator on a Cruise Ship, a Tarot reader in a nightclub and as an 'Extra' in British Soap Operas.

Le Pustra's Kabarett Der Namenlosen

In 2016, Le Pustra created a contemporary reimagining of the Cabarets and Nightclubs from 1920's Berlin, entitled Le Pustra's Kabarett der Namenlosen^[3][4] or Cabaret of the Nameless featuring selected music from Friedrich Hollaender, Mischa Spoliansky and Kurt Weill. The original show was a notorious but popular Cabaret in Weimar-era Berlin from 1926 till 1932 and created by Erich "Elow" Lowinsky. In October 2017, Le Pustra and the cast of Kabarett der Namenlosen performed "Das lila Lied" for the BBC Four series Tunes for Tyrants: Music and Power with Suzy Klein.^[5] in 2016 and 2017 American Artist, Ella Guru created two large oil paintings inspired by the show. In 2018, Irish artist Alana Richards created a series of paintings and an art exhibition based on the show's characters entitled: Morphium: Hallucinations of a Kabarett.^[6]

Television appearances

in 2018, Le Pustra appeared on Anthony Bourdain's Parts Unknown^[7] Season 11 (Episode 6) which aired on CNN and in October 2017, Le Pustra and the cast of Kabarett der Namenlosen performed "Das lila Lied" for the BBC Four series Tunes for Tyrants: Music and Power with Suzy Klein.^[5]

Music Videos

Le Pustra performed as two characters in the music video for Black for the Occasion^[8] by Faroese artist, Heiðrik á Heygum.

Noted appearances

In early 2011, Le Pustra co-produced and wrote a Vaudevillian all-male show entitled 'Villains'^[9] which was produced in Rome's Teatro Palladium. The show had a short run but made a huge impact on Le Pustra's career and established him firmly on the scene. Le Pustra connected with the Italian audience and they in turn, adored his vulnerability and uniqueness. Le Pustra attributes much of his development to his time working in Italy. The show returned to Rome for one night only on 5 September 2011 at the Villa Celimontana Festival.^[10]

In 2012, Le Pustra collaborated with Amanda Palmer, Neil Gaiman, Victor Victoria from musical duo, EastEnd Cabaret, Adrian Stout from cult Cabaret group, The Tiger Lillies and also The Irrepressibles as a guest musical saw player. He also collaborates with contemporary performers on various projects and is the subject and inspiration for numerous art works, especially paintings.^[11]

Other appearances include The Royal Academy of Arts, Skibo Castle, Wilton's Music Hall, The Box, The Last Tuesday Society, Torture Garden, The Secret Garden Party, Tipi am Kanzleramt, Wintergarten Varieté Berlin, Home House Private Member's Club, Madame JoJo's and club night 'The Face' alongside 'king of the Noe-Romantics and former 'The Blitz' ^[12] club owner, Steve Strange. It is here where Le Pustra was introduced to Adam Ant, who came to watch Le Pustra's show. International credits include Palais de Toyko (Paris), Coney Island ^[13] in New York, Perth World Fringe Festival,^[14] Södra Teatern (Stockholm), Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt.^[15] and the world-famous Venice Carnival. In 2014, Le Pustra appeared in Director Shelly Love's fantasy film 'The Fallen Circus'^[16] playing a latex-clad villain and can also be heard on the film's score as a guest musical saw player. Le Pustra's costume was designed by Oliver Garcia who have worked on films such as Maleficent_(film) and Hugo_(film).

Fashion and publications

In 2010, Le Pustra produced and directed a fashion video for Serbian designer Marko Mitanovski which were screened at London Fashion Week, London's Selfridges and Malaysian International Fashion Week. The short fashion film, 'Mr Pustra’s Lament Act II' was selected to screen at celebrated fashion curator/blogger, Diane Pernet‘s Film Festival, A Shaded View on Fashion Film in Milan, Italy on June 2012. That same year Le Pustra walked in London_Fashion_Week for designer Ziad Ghanem ^[17] and was invited back the following year. Le Pustra also modeled for up-and-coming fashion designer Ivana Pilja in 2013 and they collaborated once again for Berlin Alternative Fashion Week in September 2015 and March 2016. Other credits include a fashion campaign for Air_Berlin, a cameo in the fashion film: 'The Dionysian' directed by Stephen Lally, appearances in British and Italian Vogue,^[18] Hunger Magazine,^[19] Reuters, ^[20] French Playboy, I-D, Dark Beauty Magazine,^[21] Spindle Magazine^[22] and various published books on nightlife and clubbing culture: New Club Kids: London Party Fashion in the Noughties^[23] by photographer, Oggy Yordanov, 'What Else Is In The Teaches of Peaches ^[24] by Peaches_(musician) 'Night Flowers' by Damien Frost ^[25] and 'Boy Story'^[26] by Magnus Arrevad. His image have been captured at The National Portrait Gallery in London and the historical Musical Hall, Hackney Empire. Social Media has played a significant role in shaping and promotion of Le Pustra's artistic career and his work and visual style is subject of numerous online magazines and Blogs ^[27]

References

External links

• Official Website
• Facebook
• Le Pustra at London Fashion Week
• Le Pustra talks to Suzy Klein