Theatre and Dance

When people hear the word "burlesque", very often they take it to mean female strippers strutting their stuff to a grinding beat. However that image only really fits the form in its declining years of the 1960s. Originally burlesque was a mix of music, comedy and titillation that kept audiences entertained from the early days of the 1840s through to the decline of the 1960s.

Although many dismissed burlesque as the bottom (no pun intended) rung of the show business ladder, its influence reaches through the development of popular entertainment into the present day, and over the last decade or so burlesque has once again become a popular form of entertainment, and some claim it as a form of empowerment for women.

Slinky Sparkles

Although it encompassed skits on everything from Shakespeare's plays to the social mores of the day, together with bawdy, 'near the knuckle' comedians - legendary comics such as Jackie Gleason, W.C. Fields, Phil Silvers and Bob Hope all got their start in burlesque - the main attraction was always the array of ladies in various states of disrobing that got the tills ringing.

In Victorian times when respectable women were covered from head to toe, the glimpse of a shapely leg was considered risqué, and over the years more and more liberal attitudes led to more and more flesh on display until the sauciness seemed outdated in the midst of sexual liberation in the 1960s.

However, recent years has seen an explosion of interest in the form, and the organisers of local night 'The Wet Spot' talked to us about how Leeds has regained its taste for a little naughtiness!

Cat Aclysmic heats things up!

Performer and compere, Ryvita Von Cheese (not her real name funnily enough) had become interested in burlesque as a natural continuation of her interest in vintage clothing and DJing - spinning tunes from the 1940s/50s/60s. Together with DJ partner Kev Grey, she organised a one-off night in May 2007 and the response was so good, the decision was made to make it a regular event, first quarterly and eventually monthly.

"We went monthly in July 2009 as there were so many people trying to get in to the nights. Some nights we turned away nearly 200 punters! I think people are always looking for a night's entertainment that differs from the usual pub and club atmosphere. People are encouraged to dress up and make a real night of it - suits, frocks, smoking jackets.... whatever!"

"It's almost like going back to an age of innocence - maybe a reaction to the overt sexuality and pornification that's happened over recent times. Some people may expect our audiences to be stag parties and dirty old men but that's far from the truth. Our emphasis on the theatricality means that people see it as a bit of fun, and there are just as many women in the audience as men!"

Honey Lulu - Refreshing cuppa, anyone!?

"We have cabaret performers, contortionists, a raffle and the girls - we try and work in tributes to old burlesque stars and cheesecake models like Betty Page. The music includes novelty records as well as rumpshaking beats from the 1940s to the 1960s, and the audience gets a chance to shake their thing as well. Each performer is a character, so for the food-obsessed we have Cherry Shakewell and Sherry Trifle, plus Anna Fur Laxis is guaranteed to give you heart trouble!!"

"There's a narrative to the performances - the whole thing has to mesh together with a cogent theme. We try and rotate the dancers as often as we can so there's always something new about the show, and if anyone's worried about the boundaries, you can rest easy - my mum's a regular!"

The Wet Spot Burlesque & Cabaret is on the third Saturday of each month at The Wardrobe, St Peter's Square.