Carlotta (performer)

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Carol 'Carlotta' Spencer (born Richard Lawrence Byron)[1] is an Australian entertainer, cabaret performer and television celebrity. She began her career as an original member of the long-running Les Girls cabaret show, performed entirely by heavily costumed males, often as a singer and comedienne, which started in 1963 in the purpose built Les Girls (nightclub) building which stood on a prominent corner in the heart of Sydney's Kings Cross. The building was owned by Sydney identity Abe Saffron. Carlotta, a transgender woman, rose through the ranks of the show to eventually become the show's compere and its most famous member.

Career

Les Girls and Carlotta soon became must-see attractions for visitors to Australia and in particular Sydney and the show was popular with visiting international celebrities. The show continued in the Les Girls building until 1993, when, inspired by the film Priscilla Queen of the Desert, the Les Girls show went on-the-road, touring Australia. The Les Girls building, which was still standing intact with original 1960s features, throughout the 1990s was the venue for alternative cabaret, including the much loved Sunday night club The Tender Trap.

Carlotta was featured in the soap opera Number 96 in 1973 as Robyn Ross, the new girlfriend of Arnold Feather. In the story it was soon revealed that Robyn was in fact a transsexual showgirl, a revelation that led to the character's quick departure from the show.

To preserve the shock ending to this storyline the true identity of Robyn's portrayer was kept secret from all but a few central cast and crew members of the series, her scenes were shot on a closed set, and Carlotta was credited as "Carolle Lea".

Personal life

Carlotta's sex-change operation in the early 1970s was not the first such procedure in Australia, but due to her celebrity status it became the first to receive publicity there. Carlotta was also one of the inspirations for the film Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. She had a few short breaks from Les Girls for international tours, but overall by the time she left the show for the final time in 1992 she had spent a total of 26 years performing with the troupe. She is an published author (dictation), and has been the subject of many personal memoirs.

Television and Theatre

From 1997, Carlotta has been a regular panelist on the discussion program Beauty and the Beast.

In 2005, she featured in her own half a million dollar stage production, "Carlotta's KingsX", presented at the Big Top, Luna Park, Sydney. Produced by Brett Elliott and Richard Bernardo, the 90 minute show delivered classic storytelling, stand up comedy, lavish costumes, and team of 'Les Girls' dance performances throughout. Supported by massive 6x22m video backdrop, video content presented the story of Kings Cross collated from footage supplied by ABC, Channel 7 and Channel 9.

Currently and 2014 Feature Film

Carlotta is currently touring Australia with her "Carlotta: Live and Intimate", a one woman show that regularly features all sorts of events and premieres like Sydney's Mardi Gras. In 2013, she became involved with the ABC as a co-producer and consultant on a TV movie project, which is based on her life that will air in 2014. Actress Jessica Marais will portray Carlotta in the telefilm.[2]

References

  1. ↑ Guinness, Daphne (2003-08-30). "The queen who makes a reluctant subject". smh.com.au. Retrieved 2009-10-13. 
  2. ↑ "Jessica Marais steps into Carlotta's big shoes" from News.com.au (May 9, 2013)

External links

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