VE Day 80 Knees Up

8th May 1945 - Churchill announced Germany’s surrender marking Victory in Europe Day. ✌🏻 🇬🇧

8th May 2025 - marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day.

I was so stuck for ideas of how I’ll celebrate whether that’ll be a living history object handling session or demonstration or hosting a tea or street party. I liked the idea of a wartime singalong karaoke session to overcome my vocal insecurities as an actor, but why not do a mini drag performance for my autism group with some costumed interpretation?

The original idea was Home Guard or British Tommy, but finding a uniform was not only mega expensive, but also difficult to find the right size as the measurements of the outfits I looked at would be too big for me (surely there could be one out there equivalent to a modern day XS or S in men’s size or uniform designed to fit a teen boy soldier or a solider of a small build).

I stumbled upon a Civil Defence ambulance women’s uniform, so I then had an idea of playing an air raid warden that would go about screaming “PUT THAT LIGHT OUT!” Civil Defence volunteers were both men and women and thought this outfit would be perfect although it’s designed to fit a woman, and the best part? It came with a pair of trousers AND a skirt! You can pick and choose but because the uniform was the same design (but different fitting) as men’s, it’s gender neutral!! 😍

The uniform also came with a beret (except the badge was missing) and a Brodie helmet marked with an A for ambulance.

I was also missing a tie and some historically accurate shoes but my DM’s had to do! My OCD was set off with overthinking historic accuracy. I bought a blank unmarked Civil Defence Brodie helmet from a militaria fair in a local village as I didn’t want to confuse both my audience and myself.

For a good old wartime singalong number, I thought I’d start with Who Do You Think You Are Kidding Mr Hitler? (Dad’s Army theme song) in honour of my late grandfather who was a war kid and this was his favourite TV show, as well as my great grandfather (grandmother’s father) who was Home Guard on fire watch assisting the Civil Defence volunteers, Auxiliary Fire Service and the fire brigade. Followed by Run Rabbit Run by Flanagan and Allan, Lambeth Walk and finished with Knees Up Mother Brown which my audience found hilarious to join in with.

I was looking forward to performing Vera Lynn and the Andrew’s Sisters in my White Cliffs of Dover-inspired dress from Lindy Bop (pictured here):

It had to be cut short due to technical issues; the microphone and sound system I hoped to use produced great acoustics and volume wouldn’t turn on properly so I was stuck with a little pink microphone that cut in and out then malfunctioned in the middle of Lambeth Walk. My audience could still hear me which assured me I was projecting my voice well, not only had teaching myself some vocal basic paid off but it was quite a breakthrough because as an actor (especially when I first started when I was 15) with a shy and quiet personality, I was often corrected for this!

It so worth the performance and was given the opportunity to perform to the age group below where I FINALLY got to perform Vera Lynn and the Andrew Sisters songs I had been practicing in that dress, then yet another drag act, but this time I was a sailor from HMS Belfast.

This drag performance consisted of a medley of The Fleets in Ports Again, What Shall We Do With The Drunken Sailor and Anchors Awaiegh (the US Navy’s version of Heart of Oak), Sink the Bismarck by Johnny Horton (mind that this is from the 60’s but it’s still relevant) and All The Nice Girls Love a Sailor with this WW1-era music hall favourite being my big finale.

I was lucky to have purchased the HMS Belfast hat (‘pork pie’ in Jackspeak) off Vinted and the ratings white shirt off another seller that was used as a theatre costume. The trousers were from Voodoo Vixen but the button have been replaced with anchor gold buttons for better historic interpretation although real brass buttons are more of an officer thing.

I brought Frankenstein with me as not only was he the ship’s cat or chief mouser on the Belfast, but I also thought I could use him as a puppet sidekick to add some comedy.

So that’s how I celebrated the 80th anniversary of VE Day on the official day, I also came to an ex-RAF airfield’s event but there will be a post on that very soon!

GOD SAVE THE KING 👑 KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON 🇬🇧