Perth International Burlesque Festival 2012

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Posted 2012-05-20 by Kimberley Fulton ⇒ follow

Festival season in Perth brings a unique and youthful vibe to our sometimes-sleepy city. However once the spiegletent has been dismantled and we've managed to pick the last of the white feathers from our hair, we can be left with a severe case of festival season comedown. For those of us who are not quite willing to let go of that euphoric festival feeling, the inaugural Perth International Burlesque festival offers a cheeky solution.

Kicking off on May 24, the very first Perth Burlesque Festival is a four-day frolic that will showcase the talent of local and non-local burlesque performers in a number of specialized shows, performances and workshops.

The event immediately precedes the successful Australian Burlesque Festival (which does not tour to WA), and offers Perth audiences an opportunity to see performances by interstate and international acts that they may not otherwise have an opportunity to see.

The line-up boasts a bevy of international acts from far corners of the world including Italy, France, UK and New Zealand. There are also a number of acts from performers across NSW, Victoria and Tasmania. As well as being a cavalcade of locality, the line up offers a variety of performance styles; from 1950's cheesecake, male magicians' mind boggling contortion to dark and sensual cabarets.

Punters inspired by the shows and aspiring burlesque performers alike are encouraged to participate in a number of workshops that will be run throughout the festival and facilitated by visiting performers, catering to the absolute beginner crowd through to the established performer. If dancing isn't really your thing there are make-up and magic workshops available also.

If you like things sexy, offbeat, contemporary and a little bit dark be sure to grab tickets to the dark of the cabaret show. If you're after something a little more lighthearted, glittery and giggly, check out the Glitter, Garters and Tease show. For those interested in discovering what kind of burlesque Perth has to offer on a regular basis, it might be worth going along to the Burlesque Battle to see the all local line up.

The increasing popularity of burlesque has seen Australia develop its own unique and thriving scene, however being the most isolated city in the world has meant that Perth often misses out on significant parts of the national counter-culture, including touring showcases. Though this hasn't been completely disadvantageous. The isolation has seen the development of Perth's own strong brand of burlesque entertainment. Shows by burlesque-centric troupes such as Sugar Blue Burlesque and Lady Velvet Cabaret have proven to be popular with a wide WA audience.

If you've never been to a burlesque show before, the variety that the Perth burlesque festival offers might be a good place to start. Audiences are advised to approach the shows with a sense of humour and the ability to giggle in spite of themselves. Burlesque is best enjoyed when not taken too seriously. Don't be afraid to make noise, stomp feet and cheer. Outside of a football game, a burlesque show is one of the few places this kind of spectator enthusiasm is not only tolerated, but highly encouraged.