music feature
Merseybeats
From Eurovision to Crossroads to Spitting Image and back, Kate Robbins reflects on her careers in pop, comedy and soap through her Songs From The Pool, and brings a bit of Mersey flavour to the Fringe.
TW: You directed Guy Pratt’s one-man show ‘My Bass And Other Animals’ for the Edinburgh Festival last year. Are you looking forward to returning as a performer?
KR: When I directed, it got me itching to perform again. I love the Festival here in Edinburgh... I just adore it!
TW: Have you performed at the Edinburgh Festival before?
KR: The last time I performed at Edinburgh was in 1995 and I found myself bathing three young children before running on stage every evening. It was not the best way to prep for a show! Now those children have grown into teenagers and consider me almost ‘cool.’
TW: Why did you pick the Fringe to premiere ‘Songs From The Pool’?
KR: Edinburgh has such wide-ranging audiences from all over the world. It just seems logical.
TW: You have said that the songs in your show reflect your McCartney heritage (he’s her second cousin) and Scouse roots. Can you tell us a bit more about your show in Edinburgh and what audiences can expect?
KR: My show is a wander through events of my working life, which started as a pianist in a cocktail lounge in Knotty Ash, well, if you can call Tia Maria and Lucozade a cocktail. It moves on to the Eurovision Song Contest in 1980 [where Kate came third] and other daft true stories about the wonderful Scousers who have affected my life and music.
TW: What other projects are you working on?
KR: I’m recording an EP also called ‘Songs From The Pool’, which I’ll be completing in the Autumn. The five tracks I have recorded are a mix of The Beatles, traditional folk songs – which I used to listen to with my parents – and my own compositions. Gerry Marsden’s classic ‘Ferry Cross the Mersey’ also had to be included because, as a young girl, ferries were my favourite form of transport. And much cheaper and more fun than the train!
TW: You are well known for your voiceovers and impressions and your show in Edinburgh is going to include some ‘surprising impressions’, can you reveal a bit more?
KR: Erm, well I love doing Marge Simpson but it wrecks my voice, so I might exclude her and she isn’t a Scouser anyway! Cher and Anne Widdecombe pop up and I will surprise you with a few others...
TW: Do you have any other plans for ‘Songs From The Pool’ after Edinburgh?
KR: Oh yes... I am already being booked into Rep theatres up and down the country with an extended version of the show.
TW: You are clearly a very versatile performer, would you say that you are primarily a singer?
KR: A songwriter first, singer second, pianist third and a clown always!
TW: You were recently in the movie ‘Flyboys’, tell us what is next on the agenda?
KR: I am playing the lead role with Harry Hill in his new sitcom ‘Soapington Way’ early next year. I play his sister who used to be a man but the operation was not completely successful; hence my voice is rather deep! It is a brilliantly written soap spoof. Harry is a genius.
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Kate Robbins' 'Songs From The Pool' was on at Gilded Balloon Teviot.
published: Oct-2008
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