The inspiration behind a cabaret Legend
Recently, I had the privilege of photographing the extraordinary cabaret performer, Dusty Limits, the cabaret star who keeps company with crows, David Bowie and Dante.
Dusty’s presence is magnetic, and their home is filled with mementoes from a remarkable career, each piece reflecting their wit, dark humour, and introspective nature. Every corner holds a story and tells something of both the artist and the artistry that surrounds them.
Dominating the flat is a remarkable portrait of Dusty by their friend John Lee Bird but look more closely and you'll spot all sorts of meaningful treasures. There are two memento mori: Daphne the skull and El Muerto, Dusty’s crow that rests prominently above their desk. Dusty explains, “I surround myself with symbols of our mortality. It keeps me alert to the beauties of life.”
Another curious piece is the sign with the Italian motto, “Abandon all hope, ye who enter.” From Dante’s Inferno, this sign is part of their “wall of ironic motivation.” It’s a brilliant nod to their cabaret style, where themes like mortality, satire, and the human condition blend seamlessly with the entertaining and often provocative performances that have made them such a well-loved figure in London’s cabaret scene.
You might also spot another inspiration, David Bowie, on the wall alongside two watercolours - one by our mutual friend, the late Lynn Ruth Miller and the other by Jeremy Richardson, of the talented Roman Ackley.
Spending time with Dusty was a rare pleasure. They're a performer who truly lives their art, filling their world with symbols and stories that deepen their connection to the themes they explore on stage, through writing and their art. One of their favourite books is At Swim-Two-Birds by Flann O’Brien. It’s intelligent, full of wit, and it doesn’t take itself too seriously - rather like Dusty.
Find out more at Dusty’s Facebook.
