Iestyn Edwards

Location: Saffron Walden, Essex
About me...

As heard on BBC Radio 4’s Saturday Live, Loose Ends, Woman’s Hour and Midweek.  An Olivier Award winning performer, I was voted the New Millenium ‘Busker of the Year’, and my memoir about entertaining troops in Iraq and Afghanistan topped the Amazon charts.

About my entertainment...

I am stand alone.  I will tailor timings to your night, though my talk usually lasts fifty minutes

Fee:

For the tiny WIs and other societies, I charge £50.00 plus travel.  Otherwise, my fee starts at £100 – fully negotiable depending on the size of the attendance – plus travel.

My Contact Details:
Phone:

07791 565 173

My Tutu Went AWOL

Drawing on material from my best-selling memoir, My Tutu Went AWOL, and making full use of my background in vaudeville, I talk about being the Combined Services Entertainment ‘experiment’, sent out to entertain British troops in Iraq and Afghanistan during the conflicts. Wearing what 42 Commando Royal Marines nicknamed a ‘frock of many doilies’…

What people say about my presentation

‘Spreads a bow wave of happiness and silliness.  A unique and fabulous diva with the voice of an angel.’  Dame Joanna Lumley

‘Only the divinely unique Iestyn Edwards could be in a tutu in war-zones and tell about it so perfectly. Fascinating, moving and completely hilarious.’ Miranda Hart

‘Iestyn Edwards is brilliant. In My Tutu Went AWOL! he displays a mix of talents that left our audience laughing and moved in equal measure. They would have been happy to hear the whole session again.  Part stand up, part story teller, and a dancer and a singer with an incredible and surprising voice, Iestyn’s story of his journey to troop entertainer in Iraq and Afghanistan and of the deep and lasting friendships he made there is a great piece of theatrical entertainment that I recommend heartily in every meaning of that word.  Also it was a wonderful start to our Autumn season.’

   Peter – November 2023

‘Iestyn (or should I say the Madame) mixes irresistible charm with total tomfoolery and high class talent. The result is a bewitching brew which had me in stitches and wanting so much more. Maximum joy!’

    James – October 2023

‘We had Iestyn to entertain our Veterans group in Oct 2023.  He was so good.  Certainly different.  But so funny.  Sang.  Dressed amazing.  If you want someone different, please try Iestyn. You won’t regret it.’

      Liz – October 2023

 

Testimonials & Reviews

 

‘A stone-cold highlight of my festivals. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Iestyn!’ Ben DeVere @ Mamaco

‘A rare and perfect synthesis of art and larkiness.’ The Times

‘Achingly funny.’ Daily Mail

‘Extremely funny – and fascinating.  An enchanting and unlikely mixture of showbiz memoir, war reportage and bromantic comedy.’ ***** Piers Torday

‘A story unlike any other. Totally mad, very funny and highly recommended. ***** Adam Kay, author of This is Going to Hurt – the Nation’s Favourite Book (Guardian)

 

“I cannot recommend Iestyn’s talk/show with Madame Galina highly enough. At our literary festival, it brought old-fashioned, childish, belly-laughing hysteria which alternated with sobering glimpses of reality for a soldier at war, along with some dazzlingly virtuosic ballet. And his singing, goodness me! This after dinner one-off is the definition of a great night out.”

Julia – November 2023

 

“Iestyn Edwards is brilliant. In “My Tutu went AWOL” he displays a mix of talents that left our audience laughing and moved in equal measure. They would have been happy to hear the whole session again. Part stand up, part story teller, and a dancer and a singer with an incredible and surprising voice, Iestyn’s story of his journey to troop entertainer in Iraq and Afghanistan and of the deep and lasting friendships he made there is a great piece of theatrical entertainment that I recommend heartily in every meaning of that word. Also it was a wonderful start to our Autumn season.”

Peter – November 2023

 

“Having experienced seeing The Divinely Madame Galina, The Prima Ballerina, it can only be said that seeing is truly believing! A tutu in a warzone! A tank! A truly unique, laugh out loud and moving, wipe a tear away experience. So good was Iestyn that I have booked to perform at one of my local WI meeting in 2024.”

Gwen WI – November 2023

 

“I recently had the pleasure of seeing Iestyn in his presentation titled ‘My Tutu Went AWOL. Iestyn (or should I say Madame Galina) was fantastic! He was funny and entertaining, telling anecdotes of his life during his visits to worn torn countries. Because he was so good, I have now booked Iestyn for one of our forthcoming WI meetings.”

Jill WI – November 2023

 

“Unbelievable pipes!
The Vicar Of Bray was my favourite.”

Oliver – November 2023

 

“And now, ladies and gentlemen, I give you something completely different – please welcome Madame Galina, the Forces’ Sweetheart!” – aka Iestyn Edwards, pirouetting onto the stage or into your meeting hall in his much travelled costume tutu. What follows is his very amusing account of touring the battlefield camps of Iraq masquerading somewhat improbably as the Sugar Plum Fairy entertaining Royal Marines a sharing some of their dangers. His dancing skills are eclipsed by his beautiful singing voice but above all he is friendly, extremely amusing and is in a class of his own. Are you ready, ladies and gentlemen, for a show not quite like any other?”

Stansted U3A – November 2023

 

“Iestyn (or should I say the Madame) mixes irresistible charm with total tomfoolery and high class talent. The result is a bewitching brew which had me in stitches and wanting so much more. Maximum joy”

James – October 2023

 

“Iestyn visited us earlier this year with his talk ‘my tutu went AWOL’.

Our ladies experienced every emotion with Madame Galina, but I can certainly say, the hall was filled with laughter from start to finish.

A fine performance of ballet dancing, opera singing, and memoirs from camps, Iestyn had us all on the edge of our seats.

A really fabulous evening – hilarious, fun, and very thought provoking! If you haven’t booked Iestyn yet, please do! Highly recommended by the ladies of Terling WI.”

Terling WI – October 2023

 

“ I help run a veterans group. We had Iestyn to entertain our group in Oct 2023.
He was so good. Certainly different. But so funny, did a bit of singing. Dressed amazing. If you want someone different. Please try Iestyn. You won’t regret it.”

Liz – October 2023

 

“When I booked Iestyn edwards to come along and entertain our group of Sainsburys vetrans in Ipswich, little did i know he would make such a magnificent entrance in full tu tu and had eveybody laughing and interested in his story telling. Also he has a lovely singing voice.Thanks for a great afternoon.”

Carole – September 2023

 

“Iestyn entertained our audience here at Fairycroft House, with his fantastically humorous and engaging account of his mischief and antics whilst entertaining the troops in Iraq.
The audience loved it, and we hope to book him again soon, by popular demand.”

Lee – July 2023

 

 

Iestyn Edwards Contact Details:
Phone:

07791 565 173

Send a message to Iestyn Edwards