University honorary alumnus lifts the curtain on life with legendary Lindsay Kemp

A University of Wolverhampton honorary alumnus has published a new book offering a fascinating first-hand account of life on the road with legendary dancer, mime artist and choreographer Lindsay Kemp.

Dr Kinny Gardner's We are the Monsters: On the road with Lindsay Kemp draws on his memories of 27 years performing as a principal guest solo artist with Kemp and his company, touring some of the world's great opera houses and theatres.

Gardner, an actor, singer, dancer, theatre teacher and cabaret artist, was Kemp's second leading man and second leading lady and performed in productions including Flowers, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Big Parade, Cinderella: A Gothic Operetta, Variete and The Last Dance of Elizabeth the First.

Part memoir and part homage, the new book recalls the creativity, eccentricity, hard work and humour of life within the Lindsay Kemp Company and the remarkable group of performers who took its distinctive theatrical style around the world.

Kemp became one of the most distinctive figures in British performance, with his approach to theatre influencing major cultural figures including David Bowie and Kate Bush.

Gardner is also the only person permitted to recreate a Kemp company work outside Lindsay Kemp's own company, having restaged Variete, with music by Carlos Miranda, for Youth Music Theatre UK.

Dr Kinny Gardner said: "Lindsay and the company were an enormous part of my life, and this book is my opportunity to celebrate the extraordinary world we shared.

"It was a world of wonderful performers, unforgettable characters, hard work, laughter and creativity. We travelled together, performed together and created some remarkable theatre, and I wanted to capture something of that spirit and preserve those memories.

"Lindsay's influence reached far beyond the company itself, and I hope the book gives readers a sense of the person, the artist and the extraordinary creative family that surrounded him."

Neil Reading, Artistic Director of the Arena Theatre at the University of Wolverhampton, said: "Kinny has enjoyed a remarkable career in performance and has a wealth of stories from his years working alongside Lindsay Kemp.

"This book provides a personal window into an extraordinary period in British theatre and celebrates the creativity, originality and sheer theatricality that characterised Lindsay Kemp and his company.

"We are very proud of Kinny's association with the University and delighted to see those memories brought together in this new book."

We are the Monsters: On the road with Lindsay Kemp by Kinny Gardner is available in paperback.