Join Celine Hispiche as she pays homage to one of the most exotic residents of Brompton Cemetery, Marchesa Casati, by channeling her spirit with stories and songs.

A colourful heiress originally from Italy, Luisa, Marchesa Casati Stampa di Soncino was a muse and a patroness to the arts during the early 20th century.

The Marchesa was a true eccentric and a famous society lady all over Europe. The stunning and extravagant hostess to the Ballets Russes, she was considered something of a legend to her contemporaries. She astonished Society with a pair of leashed cheetahs and wearing live snakes as jewellery.

She captivated artists and literary figures. In 1910 she took up residence at the Palazzo Venier dei Leoni on the Grand Canal in Venice. Her parties were legendary, her servants were dipped in gold and she would arrive at the Palazzo in decadent outfits via gondola with her cheetahs at her feet.

Her home was a menagerie of exotic animals and it was here that the most talked about parties happened. A muse and patron to fashion designers Fortuny and Poiret, she was painted, photographed and sculpted by artists including Man Ray and Augustus John. By the 1930s she had exhausted her fortune and died in London in 1957.

Celine Hispiche pays homage to this legendary lady, channeling her spirit for one night with stories and songs. At the end of the performance the departing audience will be invited to lay a rose on her grave to pay respect and appreciation to this remarkable and historical muse.

Celine Hispiche
Celine began her career as a featured writer at The Royal Court Theatre. Moving to New York she toured the East Coast with fellow comedians from The Saturday Night Live Show, headlining at Rodney Dangerfield’s Manhattan club and performing at Caroline’s on Broadway. From star appearances on the main comedy stage at Glastonbury to supporting Harry Hill at the Hackney Empire Celine has worked on an array of shows at venues such as The Victoria & Albert Museum, The Café Royal, The Theatre Museum, The Old Vic and Wilton’s Music Hall to name but a few.