The Queen of Ballymun: Dame Stuffy to perform at the Civic

The star contestant of RTE’s ‘Last Singer Standing’, Dame Stuffy, played by 98 FM DJ Karl Dawson, is delighted to take her show to the Civic Theatre!

She cannot wait to perform with her live band! The ‘Queen of Ballymun’ has been around for thirteen years, with a history of delivering pantomime performances, stand-up comedy shows, and Christmas shows at the Red Cow.

Among those singing her praises are Nadine Coyle from ‘Girls Aloud’, Samantha Mumba, and Joey Fatone from ‘NSYNC’.

‘An Evening of Music, Glam, and Giggles with Dame Stuffy’ performs at the Civic Theatre on September 1 and 2 at 8 p.m. in the Main Space.

Tickets can be bought for 25 euros.

One can also get a meal deal by paying 46 euros for a ticket with a two-course meal.

In this week’s edition, Karl chats with The Echo about this show as well as the history of Dame Stuffy.

How much time is dedicated to a performance like this?

I’ve been in rehearsals for the show for quite a while; getting a band together and arranging sheet music can be quite a time-consuming task.

Also, keeping my comedy set up to date with current affairs is a full-time job.

There’s not a day that goes by when I don’t do something in relation to my act or the show.

When did the idea of creating the character of Dame Stuffy first come about?

Dame Stuffy was born on the stage at Axis Ballymun about 13 years ago.

She started out in pantomime, and about 6 years into it, I realized that people needed to laugh more than once a year, so I started doing my own cabaret shows, which evolved into stand-up and doing Christmas shows at the Red Cow.

In the last couple of years (NOT COUNTING COVID), Dame Stuffy has just continued to evolve.

What kind of work is involved in preparing for a performance like this?

There is a lot of work that goes into any show before it’s even announced, including liaising with venues, booking the band, and arranging the music and content.

It’s a lot of work, but work that I enjoy because it’s all aimed towards the goal of making people laugh, bringing a smile to someone’s face, and helping them get lost in the magic of theater for a couple of hours.

What are your future plans after the performance in the Civic?

I’ve got shows planned at the Abbey Tavern in Howth and the Crescent Concert Hall in Drogheda, and sure, Christmas is just on the horizon, so I’m delighted to be back at the Red Cow with my Christmas shows and Panto this December, and over to the Axis Theatre in January for another panto.

Who would you like to thank for helping you get to this point?

Every single person who comes to my shows is helping me.

Without support, I could never do these performances.

My family also has a lot to do with it; my father is my musical director, so without him putting together the sheet music, it would be a very different show!

My mother looks after my backstage changes and front-of-house bits, and my sister is my stage manager, so you could say it’s a family affair.

I also have to mention my wonderful partner, who is the most supportive human being on this earth.

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