Profiles

Yes, the idea of Burlesque might be confusing to those who have never been to a modern burlesque show.  Luckily Staffordshire has been exposed to modern burlesque by stars such Scarlet Fever, who has brought her shows to clubs and pubs in Stoke on Trent.

But will 2009 be the end of her form of burlesque? Some councils want to re-classify it as a form of pornography.

Anna Fur Laxis and friend

Revival

It seems to me that burlesque is more than just stripping off.
The performances have to be well thought through, and it takes a lot of self-confidence to be able to do it.  Performers always have at least a minimum of clothing left on. As someone has said, it’s more about the tease than the strip!

Theatrical burlesque flourished in the vaudeville era in America, and versions of it were seen at the great pre-war theatres of The Moulin Rouge and The Windmill. This approach has been inherited by the modern over-the-top drag acts.  It’s all about a great show – about exaggeration, fun, outrageous clothes, humour – and yes, sexiness… but, surely not pornography?

The art-form was really popular until the 60s - when hard-core strip clubs took over, and the ‘art’ declined.
Now, it has been revived thanks to the Channel 4 programme, Faking It, and it seems to be really taking off.  In America, the modern form is called neo-burlesque.
Stoke-on-Trent’s very own Scarlet Fever was one of the contestants on Faking It – and she has continued with the art, making a career out of it.

Scarlet Fever

Scarlet told me: “I think the burlesque is popular today because people are demanding more from a night out. A lot of people see the burlesque as a new thing because it has been forgotten about. There is something for everyone and nobody has ever left feeling disappointed.”

“My parents were from Bradwell in Stoke-on-Trent, but we now live in North Wales. We moved away so that we could get work around the Corby Steelworks.
But I have been returning often to Stoke-on-Trent to hold burlesque shows and workshops. These workshops are for people with body confidence issues. You don’t have to be a slim and young person to be able to be a burlesque performer.
I think this why the burlesque is a tradition definitely worth preserving. It is all about having confidence in who you are.”

In fact, many of the women who do burlesque are bigger than the usual models, and are more mature in age. I am reminded of the musical, ‘La Cage Aux Folles’.  Remember the words? 

“I am what I am, I am my own special creation, So come take a look, Give me the hook or the ovation. … Life's not worth a damn, 'Til you can say, "Hey world, I am what I am."

Sex Licence

But is the revival really being greeted with open arms? The truth may be different.

The London borough of Camden have taken it upon themselves to reclassify burlesque events as "Sex Encounters", and performers in the area will have to apply for the kind of licences that up until now have only been required for sex shops and cinemas (under the Licensing Act 2003). In fact, any performance where any item of clothing is removed will require licensing.
If every UK borough follows the actions of Camden Council, burlesque in the UK will cease to exist. People are worried because Camden has always been famed for being a very diverse area.

One person who will suffer because of any licences change is Stoke-on-Trent burlesque performer Lauren Cherryfox, a Staffordshire University graduate who recently changed her surname by deed poll to her stage name.
She is part of the next generation of burlesque performers and has become increasingly involved with the British burlesque scene over the past four years.

She was hooked when she first saw 1950s pin-up Bettie Page.

I have confidence in me

Lauren is not just an average performer. She got a first-class degree, and has written books.
Her routines are super-cool, performed to soundtracks by Lou Reed and The Cure’s Robert Smith, and from bands such as The Cowboy Junkies, and Dresden Dolls.

Lauren says: “What we do in the UK has a lot more to it than people expect. It’s more about the idea of a show – it’s got anything & everything, including a compere/comedian, singing and bands, acting and circus performances – it’s not just about stripping and showing skin. When I say that to people they’re often surprised because they don’t realise the variety involved.

It is an artistic endeavour and its popularity is growing across the Midlands, especially in Birmingham, and it’s pretty big in Manchester too.”

However, after a run of shows at The Leopard in Burslem in 2008 and early 2009, burlesque shows have been recently absent from the north Staffordshire scene, though Lauren does continue to run a regular members-only night in Burton.

I think that Scarlet and Lauren are very brave. It must be hard to strip in front of large audiences.
I went to see ‘The Calendar Girls’ pre-West End tour at the Regent Theatre in Hanley. The highlight was when they were stripping off for the calendar. It must have been really scary for the actors, having to deliver the comedy and all the time praying that the objects covering them would not fall over.
Shows like this are comic as well as difficult - and I think that everybody should try and see them. I take my hat off to all in the business!

But – I know you may not agree. Please use the messageboard below to put your opinions. I’d like to see them.

RB

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Scarlet Fever has a movie, entitled ‘Murder of Crows’, coming out in 2010 on DVD and in cinemas.
To book a place on one of her workshops in Stoke-on-Trent, visit www.scarletfeverburlesque.co.uk. Scarlet is always willing to add dates to the list.