Iestyn Edwards is an Olivier Award winning, Guildhall trained opera singer, international headliner, after dinner speaker and best-selling author of My Tutu Went AWOL.
He accidentally toured military bases raising troop morale in Iraq and Afghanistan with his cabaret act in a tutu.
And became the Woman's Hour Forces' Sweetheart.
‘What an illuminating performance - I also had no idea I would be thrilled to learn what I have. In such a beguiling presentation - not to mention bloody funny. I hear we were his first Probus? May he get many more bookings. And congratulations on that voice!' Chair, the Chapter Probus Club, Bury-St-Edmunds
‘A rare and perfect synthesis of art and larkiness.’ The Times
'Unmissable. A force of nature. So glad we could see it!’ U3a Chepstow
‘We gave the talk an A grading – Excellent. Highly informative, hilarious – and a friendly speaker. And that voice!’ U3a Hadleigh
‘Hilarious...wonderful bass-baritone...he wowed us!’ U3a Leigh-on-Sea Newsletter 2/22
‘Achingly funny.’ Daily Mail
Views: 992 | Enquiries: 9'A rare and perfect synthesis of art and larkiness.' The Times
Performances for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, singing "Tom Bowling" as one of Joanna Lumley's Desert Island Discs choices, appearing in the Olivier Award winning C'est Barbican.
I started out touring in variety shows around the UK as a child with my country and western singer father and stage psychic mother.
I trained at Guildhall as an opera singer, and while I was there created my cabaret persona Madame Galina Ballet Star Galactica. So, they asked me to leave.
These days, I am an international cabaret headliner, opera singer, after dinner speaker and the best-selling author of My Tutu Went AWOL.
In my talk - which includes excerpts from my west end shows - I tell how I accidentally went on tour dancing Sugar Plum around the war-zones of Iraq and Afghanistan, raising the morale of British troops. In a tutu.
MoD reports described it as an honourable exchange when a fuming Royal Marines Commando hoicked me offstage by my tutu under-wiring to stuff me in a tank’s hull.
Just as the insurgents started shelling.
‘Achingly funny.’ Daily Mail
'He is essential viewing.' Evening Standard
'A story unlike any other. Totally mad, very funny and highly recommended. ***** Adam Kay, author of This is Going to Hurt. The Nation s Favourite Book (Guardian)
‘Extremely funny - and fascinating. An enchanting and unlikely mixture of showbiz memoir, war reportage and bromantic comedy.’ ***** Piers Torday
‘Only the divinely unique Iestyn Edwards could be in a tutu in war-zones and talk about it so perfectly. Fascinating, moving and completely hilarious.’ Miranda Hart
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