Al Pillay is an international star of every idiom, whose electrifying and captivating career has spanned theatre, film, cabaret, television, radio and the recording industry.
One time transexual disco diva, transgressive being, maverick soul, Channel Four's first out, loud and proud star, comic icon, movie star, children's broadcaster, voice-over queen, comedian and raconteur, Al Pillay has packed a lorry load of credits into a life that began amongst the fish heads and neon lights of Grimsby sometime in the 60s.
As soon as he was old enough to don a wig and a pair of stilletos he took the northern club circuit by storm, but Al was too big a fish for that small pond. At 18 he followed the yellow brick road (well the M1) to London, where he set about making his dreams a reality.
His first TV appearances soon followed with stints on C4's first "yoof" programme Whatever You Want with Keith Allen and Four For Tonight with Ruby Wax. A parallel career soon developed when he caught the eyes and ears of Stock, Aitken and Waterman, who wrote and produced his worldwide disco smash Pistol in My Pocket. As Humberside's answer to Sylvester, the early eighties were spent touring the world's top clubs in a whirl of sequins and feathers, PAs and limos (yes, really!). His most prominent successes were in Australia, Paris and Italy, as well as having the No. 1 spot on Brit dance floors throughout the 1980s.
When the call came from The Comic Strip Presents... Al was ready. Ready to steal the show in Gino, Susie, Consuela, and The Bullshitters. His performance in the movie The Supergrass inspired Peter Richardson to write Eat The Rich as a vehicle for Al's multi-faceted talent.
Also smitten with La Pillay was Bristol Funkster Gary Clail who invited him to contribute to his Top Ten hit Human Nature. The sight of Al on Top Of The Pops in Vegas-style headress singing 'Let the Carnival begin, every pleasure, every sin' brightened up many a Thursday night.
Several dance floor classics followed, including I Can Make A Man Out Of You and Pistol in my Pocket, before television lured him back into its bosom. As a critic for ITV's Funky Bunker, he received as much (if not more) fan mail as the show's presenter, Craig Charles.
His solo show Hello La, which was co-written and directed by Paul McVeigh, followed in 1996. It premiered at Islington's Kings Head Theatre, before a sell out run at the Riverside Studios.
Highly lucrative radio and voice-over work, as well as numerous TV appearances on everything from The Clothes Show to The ITV Chart Show have kept Al from theatre for a few years but he was back, bigger and bolder than ever with a new show. Wide Open For You played to sold out houses at the Jermyn Street Theatre in London’s West End for its three week run in 2001. This was a rare chance to see close up and intimate one of showbiz’s most thrilling and spectacular performers.
Al made a shock move into childrens' broadcasting as resident voice-over artist and guest interviewer on the BBC World Service's ground-breaking new show The Edge, having revealed Janet Jackson's tattoos to the world and discovered that Robbie Williams really does believe in angels.
AL appeared in his autobiographical play"glitter
and twisted" written by tim fountain[resident alien,julie burchill is
away,]and directed by international theatre director Matt Ryan[london royal
academy of music and drama]in new york city in 2004 were he opened the
inaurgaral manhatton musical theatre festival to great acclaim and standing
ovations at the Samuel Beckett Theatre 42nd street broadway, were it will
return in 2007 and be produced once more by Robert Silman who regularly brings
the great Joan Rivers to the uk,AL recently played a sellout performance of
his intimate and sophisticated cabaret act at londons legendary and historic
venue "cafe de paris"in the heart of theatre land,which recieved imeadiate
bookings for nyc,las vegas,and dates all over europe.so watchout again for one
of showbusinesses most glittering and unique personalities.
Welcome to the wonderful world of one of the UK's most gifted contemporary performers.
