"More Cellulite,
  Less Sequins!"

    with

    at The Theatre in the Dockyard
    2 November 2001
MORE CELLULITE, LESS SEQUINS! is Dianne Chandler's latest cabaret show. It's broad-minded and it's fun. She takes a light hearted, humorous dig at her life and career as an entertainer, much married lady and mother of two. She keeps the show bang up date, reels off plastic surgeon email addresses and lets slip one or two victim's names. Plus, she still performs the songs which made her a house-hold name. To try and compartmentalise Dianne's style is futile as she is able to change her style and presentation depending on the song, place and audience. Take some of the best songs ever written, a set of highly tuned vocal chords, a wicked wit and viola - Cellulite & Sequins. This show won the award for Best Solo Cabaret Performance of 1997 in the Eastern Cape.

Born in Yorkshire, Dianne Chandler grew up in a musical environment. By age 8 she was learning piano and by 12 was performing with her two sisters, singing, dancing, playing piano, alto saxophone and guitar. A few years later she started playing the drums which she featured in one of her many shows on South African television. She arrived in South Africa in 1974 initially for a 9 week cabaret tour of the Crazy Horse circuit. Spotted by television talent scouts whilst playing the Top of The Carlton in Johannesburg she was offered two 60 minute specials which firmly launched her career in this country. During her fifth visit (within 12 months) she made South Africa her home.

During the 70's and 80's Dianne worked continually in television and theatre, and landed the much coveted role of Eva Peron in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Evita in Pretoria. Then came Jerry's Girls for Pieter Toerien, featuring all the hit songs from Hello Dolly, Mame, and Cage Aux Folles. This production allowed Dianne to explore her flair as a comedienne.

In 1985 Dianne devised a show around and songs which gained popularity during the Second World War. This show, probably more than any other, put her firmly on the map in the eyes of South African theatre audiences. Thousands of people, young and old, flocked to see We'll Meet Again, a show that evervone knew, but didn't know how they knew it. It ran for six years from 1989, in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban.

During the run of We'll Meet Again, Dianne devised another show linking together all the hit songs written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and friends. She called this show No Big Song & Dance.

CELLULITE & SEQUINS highlights Dianne's love of comedy. It won her an award from the Eastern Province Newspaper Group when she was voted the Best Solo Cabaret Performer of 1997.