Dame Margot Hamilton

To book direct please go to the Booking page for contact details.  

We are delighted to announce that rehearsals have begun for Dame Margot's long awaited return to the theatre!  After her acclaimed portrayal as Lady Bracknell in "The Importance of Being Earnest" during the 2003 Brighton Festival, Dame Margot returns to the stage and indeed the festival in 2008 as Queen Elizabeth I in a new comedy written by Rick Martin. 

"Kiss My Ring" (An Elizabethan Tryst) is loosely based on George Bernard Shaw's play "The Dark Lady of the Sonnets" (1905) a parody of the the Great Bard's literary style and exploring the many facets of his rumoured private life!  The performance will take place at the recently refurbished and revived "Aquarium Theatre Bar" on Steine Street in Brighton at the end of the official Festival Programme as an "unofficial Fringe event".

Performances: Mon 26, Tues 27, Weds 28 May 2008 from 9pm
Entry FREE optional charitable donations.

07/02/08 Dame Margot Hamilton narrowly missed out on winning the Friday Upstaged live on BBC interactive TV performance slot... BUT is still up for the vote for Monday's slot!  If the current champions the folksinging "Carrivick Sisters" win again today (Thurs) making their fourth successful day in the studio, they will not be able to continue on Friday and Dame Margot will take their place!

SO... Please keep voting on www.bbc.co.uk/upstaged for Dame Margot!

06/02/08 In an amazing turn of events Dame Margot has been fast-tracked to be voted onto live broadcast by the BBC on their interactive channel for the talent competition "Upstaged".  Radio 1 DJ, Scott Mills chose Dame Margot as his "Wildcard" contestant for the chance to win the coveted performance spot on live TV for 6 hours!

"I entered the competition without really understanding quite what it was all about... then last night I receive three telephone calls from the programme researchers about being chosen as Mr Mills' wildcard and it's all been a whirlwind since!" 

Indeed the wheels of networks of all kinds have been turning to raise awareness of Dame Margot's campaign to win a spot on live TV... "I'm not too daunted about the prospect of being stuck in the studio for 6 hours, let's face it, I can't stop once I get going!"  Dame Margot said.  Certainly the ability to keep performing for six hours straight has been a challenge to the shows contenders, though the current champions who have managed to stay "on(/in) the box" for three days have managed ok so far it seems... "I'd quite like to play opposite the Carrivick Sisters; I'm allowed out of my studio for five minutes of every hour and would like to pop over to their stage and say "hi" and "well done"!"  The Dame said.

Emails, Facebook Groups, Professional Network sites and mobile texts have been flying around the country encouraging people to help the Dame seize this unexpected opportunity to entertain the nation!  But there are still votes to be cast and time to cast them as voting doesn't stop until Midday today!

"It would be nice to think the online voters might like to go for something outside the norm of their usual entertainment genre...  We'll just have to see, but it's very exciting isn't it!"

To vote for Dame Margot visit www.bbc.co.uk/upstaged voting closes at Midday on Thursday 07/02/08

09/05/08 Dame Margot supported by the Brighton & Hove (Actually) Gay Men's Chorus in concert during the Brighton Festival at St Andrew's Church, Waterloo Street performing some very special arrangements of Gilbert & Sullivan, Ivor Novello and other favourite classical and operetta pieces! 

23/03/08 Fans of Dame Margot will be able to catch the Countess perform at two events this Easter Sunday 23 March 2008! 

"Easter Sunday Lunch" at The Fountain Tavern, Plumpton Green with Dame Margot and the "Richborough Trio" (piano/drums/bass) from 1pm.  Enjoy a traditional Roast Lamb luncheon with friends and family in this delightful country pub in the small village next to the famous Plumpton Race Course.

"Dame Margot & Chorus" at The Aquarium Theatre Bar, Steine Street, Brighton at 5pm.  Dame Margot with members of the Brighton & Hove (Actually) Gay Men's Chorus perform some of their favourite repetoire together in this popular city theatre bar in the heart of Brighton. 

04/11/07 We are delighted to announce that Dame Margot and her nephew Jerome Lloyd will both be appearing with David Raven and the legendary Maisie Trollette in cabaret at the Joogleberry Playhouse, Manchester Street on Sunday November 4th.

"Let's Switch" will be a unique collaboration comprising two "living legends" sharing their memories and presenting their amazing vocal prowess accompanied by the recently formed "Richborough Trio" [Keyboards - Piano Trick; Drums - Matt Jones; Guitar/Bass; Chris Thom] three of Brighton's best musicians!  Also supporting will be members of the Brighton & Hove Actually Gay Men's Chorus with wonderful arrangements of popular Show songs topping and tailing this two-Act show!

Table service, freshly prepared to order Tapas and the wonderful surroundings and sound of the Joogleberry Playhouse will ensure the comfort and exciting experience this show will be for the lucky audience members.  As Dame Margot and Maisie together with Jerome and David perform songs and share nostalgia and witty stories of their pasts!

A raffle for the Sussex Beacon (HIV/AIDS hospice) will take place during the evening also as all participants are keen supporters of the important work this service provides to people and their carers living with HIV/AIDS.  Tickets are selling fast so DO book now!

We are pleased to announce the creation of the "Richborough Trio" three fine musicians to accompany Dame Margot. 

"Piano Trick" has been Dame Margot's regular accompanist for almost three years and is infamous around Brighton for his talented ability on the "old Joanna".  Trick performs and works with some of the City's hottest new talent and artistes in a variety of genres from modern Jazz through traditional Musical Theatre.  Most notably his work has involved studio work with some of BIMM's (Brighton Institute of Modern Music) most talented students with whom he collaborates on songwriting projects as well as recording and live performance work.  Matt Jones is a drummer, guitarist, bass player and keyboard player and studied music production at Eastbourne College of Arts and Technology.  After a successful but all too brief career as a session musician and gigging performer, Matt founded a successful dotcom business...  But has come out of "retirement" so to speak, to lend his considerable talents to the unique sound of the Trio.  Chris Thom is a student of music and regular gigger on the Brighton circuit and a hot new songwriting talent!  Chris is a founder member of the "Famous Boxcar Charity Band" and a regular collaborator on much that is good on the emerging new music talent Brighton scene.  Co-producer of the "Reinterpreting" celebrity artist shows at the Joogleberry Playhouse with Piano Trick, Chris (also the youngest) brings enthusiasm and energy to the Trio. 

The Richborough Trio will be making their debut performance in "Let's Switch!" in November...

16/09/07 Dame Margot is delighted to be appearing in this extravaganza of Elton John interpretations at the Joogleberry Playhouse with the best of Brighton's up and coming new talent!  Here's a description from the producer...

The next in our Joogleberry reinterpretation nights. Elton John’s wealth of back-catalogue will no doubt provide a great evening with an interesting collection of musicians and performers all doing their own take on some of his great hits, and some of his lesser known but nonetheless worthy tunes. Don’t expect straight cover versions, it’s far more likely that you’ll hear music that you’d never believe was even an Elton John song to start with. Some of us will be turning his material upside down, inside out, rocking it up, or folking it down, and generally making those songs our own, while still retaining respect for the original material. Performers are yet all to be confirmed but so far we have Alan Bonner, myself, Chris Thom, Nick Hudson, Jaime Regan, Mara Simpson, Dame Margot Hamilton (or Jerome Lloyd depending on availability), Trudi Styles, and there are a few more possible acts, with maybe a surprise guest or two. There will no doubt be a few comic moments, but this one’s really all about the songs themselves. I’m looking forward to it as much as I looked forward to our Bowie night (which we’ll hopefully be reprising sometime this year).

To book

08/06/07: Dame Margot Hamilton, Dowager Countess of Richborough will play host to VIP guests at the annual Brighton & Hove actually Gay Men's Chorus (BHaGMC) concert at St Andrew's Church, Waterloo St on Thursday, August 2nd 2007.  By kind invitation of the Chairman of the Chorus, Mr John Hamilton (no relation) and as Patron of the Chorus, Dame Margot will greet the new Mayoress of Brighton & Hove to this increasingly popular annual occasion.

Dame Margot is also delighted to announce that she and co-patron of the BHaGMC, the renowned operatic bass/baritone, Mr Lynton Black will give a recital in the Brighton Festival (May) 2008 with the chorus! 

Commenting on the occasion of her becoming the first artist in 100 years to perform live in the Great Banqueting Hall of the Royal Pavilion, Brighton on the occasion of the Family Law Bar Association of Great Britain's Annual Gala Dinner, November 2004.

"It was both an exceptional honour and of course a great pleasure to be asked to sing after the dinner and to be informed of my making history.  I have performed in many and varied venues through my career and on some pretty shoddy erections to boot especially during the war... but the setting was so inspiring and reception so warm, I had to accede to the invitation to perform!"

December 1st 2004

Announcing her intention to join fellow celebrities including Sir Ian McKellen amongst others on the walk:

"We are constantly told that the Second World War and the War in Iraq were fought for freedom and liberation.  The Jews and the Kurds have both been given their liberty and their land.  LGBT people only want to be given their liberty in their own country and without the need for war!  Please support me in supporting Stonewall's campagin for LGBT equality in partnership and civil rights."

February 17th 2004

About the foundation of the Lady Richborough Academy of Performing Arts and the LRAPA Network:

"I founded the Academy for two reasons: as a support structure for performing artists and as way of supporting charities.  It has never ceased to amaze me the number of artists willing to perform and who will give of their time to fundraise for good causes.  The LRAPA is a way of coordinating those efforts and at the same time providing networking opportunities for the artists involved, to meet and work with other artists and create new and original projects for production." 

December 12th 2002