Comedian, Edinburgh Children's Entertainer, Edinburgh.

About Our Wee Gladys

This Magical Entertainer; real name,
Baroness Collins of Thorntoune ! Yes it's true ! Inherited, not Bought;
Was born and raised in ' Diddy Dunbar ', Home of chilblains and sun burn! She first appeared on the Variety stage at the age of 3, wearing a stunning snake-skin suit. After a magician's python swallowed her ! This multi tallented young woman has been thrilling audiences all over britain since 1996, with her on-going tour of Hospitals, Hospices, Rest homes and Town Halls. Her christmas tours coverover 2,000 miles. And THE "ONE WOMAN VARIETY SHOWS" are tailored to suit all ages.

With some shows known to last up to ""3 hours !!""

The journey into the MAD world of comedy for Doddy's apprentice, started over 25 years ago.when at the age of 5, she started writing to 'Jimmy Savile'. To try and get him to fix it for her to meet Ken Dodd and his little "Diddymen". And to visit the

"JAM BUTTY " mines of KnottyAsh.

Over the next 5 years she wrote over 100 letters ! And never got one reply !!!
So broken hearted she gave up on her dream.....

Until 1996 that is !

While on a visit to Blackpool, walking through the town. She noticed a large poster on the wall of the "Grand Theatre".

"KEN DODD'S HAPPINESS SHOW. EVERY SUNDAY. FEATURING THE
DIDDYMEN OF T.V. FAME."

Her eyes lit up. She had thought that he had given up performing after his harrowing tax trial in 1989:

Of which he was correctly cleared.!!!

But here he was large as life !!
She bought tickets and for the first time saw the KING OF BRITTISH COMEDY perform live. The excitement brought back all her childhood dreams. And for the next 7 months she laboured hard and often long into the night To create a replica of "DICKIE MINT", Foreman of the Jam Butty mines. Famous of Knotty Ash. Eventually he was finished in November 1997. And her Mother persueded her to use him at a Pensioners Xmas Party that year.

And She eventually achieved her goal in 1997. Of meeting Ken Dodd. And now,

With His Permission.

Does charity shows all over Britain
With her little "Dickie Mint"

When asked if she was after Ken's record for marathon shows? Gladys replied,

" Not quite yet. I haven't got the quality needed to do that. And to build a quality act you need experience. I've only been in the business for two and a half years now. I've got alot of learning to do. I'm looking 5, maybe 10 years into the future before I try a challenge like that ! Yes I have ben known to do 3 hour shows. But it isn't all stand-up like Ken's. I haven't the experience of audiences or repertoir of gags as he does. At present my shows comprise of some stand-up, magic, ventriloquism, some bagpipe music and singing. It changes all the time and improves too."

Anything further to say on Ken Dodd?

" Only a very BIG THANKYOU for starting me off on this wonderful journey all those years ago. And allowing me to use Dickie Mint at my shows.!

And what are your aims and ambitions for the future ?

" Well,, To do a show in a theatre in Blackpool is my present goal. And eventually a season at the Palladium in London. But first and foremost I must strengthen my act."

So what's on the cards for this year Gladys ?

Well I've a very busy year ahead. Variety SHows, Kids Parties, Charity Functions and the like. But I would like to do more theatre this year.

And of course we hope to be doing more shows South of the Border this year.

Will you be touring This Year ?

Oh Yes !! Doing over 20,000 miles a year, We are constantly getting requests from homes for the eldery, hospitals and local organisations in Scotland. And have had a few from the Borders And England. We have 200 Shows on the books so far, and more coming in. So we will be pretty busy this year. If the booking keep coming in like they did last year, then we're looking at around 300 shows again.


I hear you are now Incorporating a Drugs Awareness Programme now ?

Yes we are, the DRUGS AND STRANGER DANGER magic show.
We haven't quite got it off the ground yet. But basically it is a magic show for Primary Schools, in which we advise the kids and make them aware of the dangers of drugs, drink, smoking and strangers.

Do you think a magic show will get the message accross?

Most definately ! When a teacher tries to tell youngsters about the subject. Most ofter the kids will approach the subject as,... " Oh God, not another bloody lesson !!" And will automatically switch off. Therefore maybe missing a vital part of the information.
At out show the kids are kept alert by the fact that the show is exciting, interactive and fun. You always learn more when you are enjoying it !

So when are we going to see you on the telly ?
When Philips can make one stong enough for me to stand on !

No seriously. I want to do my craft if you like, to real live audiences. I feel now a-days the quality of live entertainment is being lost beacause very few entertainers have had the experience on performing LIVE infront of a large crowd. By that I mean a hall of between 200 - 3,000 people. If you can hold that audience all by yourself for at least an hour. Then you are an entertainer. There is no better feeling in the world than standing infront of a large audience and watching them wriggling about their seat with laughter. You have to give yourself to your audience and in return they will trust you with their minds. A wonderful sensation. Something you can't get when performing infront of a camera. So I hope to be doing the live stuff for a while yet. Then eventually some sort of television / radio envolvement.

For Bookings and Enquiries

JUST CALL US AT....

Gladys Enterprise

TEL / FAX ; +44 (0) 1368 840 326 MOBILE ; +44 (0) 07971 946 708

gladys@chucklebutty.co.uk

Member of the
International Brotherhood
of Magicians.

Member ofThe
Edinburgh Magic Circle

Full Member of the World Famous
Blackpool Magic Club

Member of
Equity