Biography of Claire Benjamin
Claire's grandmother was a tenor saxophonist, singer and accordionist, she played with Archie's Juveniles. Later she had a musical act with her sisters, they were known as the Three Sloane Sisters. She played tenor sax with Ivy Benson’s all girl band, touring with ENSA and appearing for 12 nights at The London Palladium. Her stage name was Pat Sloane. Claire is very proud of her family history of entertainers, her great grandmother was an actress and a contemporary and friend of Stan Laurel, and her great grandfather a popular music hall comedian in the northern circuit named Tom E Sloane he was also part of the Eight Lancashire Lads, a clog dancing troupe that Charlie Chaplin was in.
Claire's mother Leanne O'Neill took up acting and had a career in ATV and Granada television in the 1960s. Previously she was a member of Derby Repertory theatre. On Claire's father’s side her grandfather was a professional singer and he and his two brothers formed the Sam Raft Trio, they used to sing on radio. Claire's cousin is the West End, Broadway and Television star and original Nancy in Lionel Bart's Oliver! The late Georgia Brown.
For over a decade Claire has worked the London and UK clubs and venues as a musical character comedian and a singer, singing jazz and show tunes. Performing at many venues in the UK with plans to tour internationally too. Here are some of the venues Claire has performed in, The Battersea Arts Centre, The Buxton Opera House, Albany Theatre Deptford, The Astor Theatre Deal, Birmingham Hippodrome, Marlborough Theatre Brighton, Theatre Royal Stratford, The 100 Club London, Leicester Square Theatre with her solo show. Claire is also a regular at the famous historical variety pub The Royal Vauxhall Tavern and has toured with Frank Sanazi and his comedy troop around the UK. Claire currently has jazz residencies at pubs and clubs in London.
A renowned singing compère, Claire has hosted The London Burlesque Festival, Best of Burlesque at the Assembly Gardens in Edinburgh and many of other events around the UK.
Claire is passionate about the history of Variety theatre and Cabaret and is currently creating a new variety show that re-creates and pays homage to historical acts and routines, collaborating with some of the industries top performers of the moment.
Claire is a qualified teacher of Drama, she entertains the elderly and those with dementia and is also a children's entertainer.
Claire's grandmother was a tenor saxophonist, singer and accordionist, she played with Archie's Juveniles. Later she had a musical act with her sisters, they were known as the Three Sloane Sisters. She played tenor sax with Ivy Benson’s all girl band, touring with ENSA and appearing for 12 nights at The London Palladium. Her stage name was Pat Sloane. Claire is very proud of her family history of entertainers, her great grandmother was an actress and a contemporary and friend of Stan Laurel, and her great grandfather a popular music hall comedian in the northern circuit named Tom E Sloane he was also part of the Eight Lancashire Lads, a clog dancing troupe that Charlie Chaplin was in.
Claire's mother Leanne O'Neill took up acting and had a career in ATV and Granada television in the 1960s. Previously she was a member of Derby Repertory theatre. On Claire's father’s side her grandfather was a professional singer and he and his two brothers formed the Sam Raft Trio, they used to sing on radio. Claire's cousin is the West End, Broadway and Television star and original Nancy in Lionel Bart's Oliver! The late Georgia Brown.
For over a decade Claire has worked the London and UK clubs and venues as a musical character comedian and a singer, singing jazz and show tunes. Performing at many venues in the UK with plans to tour internationally too. Here are some of the venues Claire has performed in, The Battersea Arts Centre, The Buxton Opera House, Albany Theatre Deptford, The Astor Theatre Deal, Birmingham Hippodrome, Marlborough Theatre Brighton, Theatre Royal Stratford, The 100 Club London, Leicester Square Theatre with her solo show. Claire is also a regular at the famous historical variety pub The Royal Vauxhall Tavern and has toured with Frank Sanazi and his comedy troop around the UK. Claire currently has jazz residencies at pubs and clubs in London.
A renowned singing compère, Claire has hosted The London Burlesque Festival, Best of Burlesque at the Assembly Gardens in Edinburgh and many of other events around the UK.
Claire is passionate about the history of Variety theatre and Cabaret and is currently creating a new variety show that re-creates and pays homage to historical acts and routines, collaborating with some of the industries top performers of the moment.
Claire is a qualified teacher of Drama, she entertains the elderly and those with dementia and is also a children's entertainer.
