London is awash with burlesque and cabaret shows, but they can often be rather similar. Short performances are always linked together by a compere and occasionally organisers plan the show around a theme, but this is usually in a traditional variety show format. It seems that there is perhaps room for something a little bit different.
Billed on the their website as "stories, songs and tease", new show Burlexe certainly sounds like it will fit the bill for something new and unusual. There are a variety of different types of performance in this show, but it's the theme that is burlesque. Creator Howard Wilmot describes Burlexe as:
"A unique theatrical project about the amazing, powerful women who've created burlesque. It's part-theatre, part-musical, part-burlesque show and features popstar Javine Hylton and la creme de la creme of the UK burlesque scene including Jo King,Kiki Kaboom, Fancy Chance and Dinah Might."
A cast of actors and singers perform a series of monologues, based on interviews with a variety of women who have - one way or another - found themselves on stage calling themselves a burlesque performer. The stories are as varied as the women who told them and also the performers who bring them to life. Some are serious, some inspirations, some pure comedy.
Whether or not you find the stories themselves uplifting, there will surely be enough songs and burlesque performances throughout to satisfy even the most hardcore cabaret fan. However, they're a notoriously tricky bunch to please, even when the bar's open, so will Burlexe and Javine manage to pull it off? We'll know by the end of the month.
Burlexe performances are on 15th, 22nd and 29th June at The Shadow Lounge, 5-7 Brewer Street, London W1F 0RF. Tickets are available from WeGotTickets.