Catwalk Confidential. Part fairy tale, part romance, part memoir, this funny and cautionary tale is a one woman show about a time of pride and paranoia, love and despair, from Catholic school kick pleats along Collins Avenue, Miami to the wrap bikini bong haze of the Champs d’Elysee, Paris – all for the cover of Vogue – Robyn Petersen became one of the most successful models of the 70s that paved the way for fashionista chic.
In collaboration with director, Tony Abatemarco, Robyn has written and developed Catwalk Confidential to great acclaim.
“a riveting and funny expose of the glamour, the games and the garbage of life in the fast lane.” Mary Burkin, Burbank Leader
Before there was Kate, and before there was Naomi, and before there was Claudia, there was Robyn Peterson. Catwalk Confidential tells her story. This one-woman show comes to the Arts Theatre in London’s West End straight from its UK premiere at the Edinburgh Festival. It previews at the Arts Theatre from 4 September and opens on Wednesday 9 September for a limited season, ending on Saturday 3 October.
Robyn Peterson wrote and developed Catwalk Confidential with her director, Tony Abatemarco. Part fairy-tale, part memoir, part romance, this funny, cautionary and at times moving tale tells the story of 16 year-old Robyn fresh from Miami, who gets caught up in the world of high fashion amidst the boulevards of Paris in the early 1970s. Robyn became one of the top models of the period, working with photographers such as Helmut Newton and Guy Bourdin and designers Karl Lagerfeld, Yves Saint Laurent and Kenzo. Her face appeared on the covers of Vogue, Elle and Marie Claire. Amidst this whirlwind life of glamour, sex and drugs, Robyn discovers there is one thing to fear above all else – age – there is always a younger girl waiting to step into your shoes.
Catwalk Confidential originally premiered at the Sidewalk Theatre in Los Angeles, where it played to full houses strongly peppered with celebrities.
Photos: Tristram Kenton