Lesburlesque

Lesburlesque is a British troupe of over thirty burlesque performers that perform on the cabaret circuit. They are notable for being the first and only burlesque troupe in the UK that performs lesbian burlesque. Following on from the success of Los Angeles-based girl band and dance troupe, the Pin Up Girls, Lesburlesque appeared on the burlesque scene in September 2010. They came to wider public attention in 2012 for having performed at a former church and continue to incorporate traditionally lesbian specific cabaret entertainment, such as drag kinging to broadening its appeal to the wider cabaret circuit.

Lesburlesque
Lesburlesque & Drag Kings
GenreBurlesque
Show typeLesbian Cabaret
LocationManchester, London, United Kingdom
Creative team
FounderPixie Truffle
Co-FounderKitty Liquor
CompèreRosie Lugosi
Original MembersIsobella Lash, Mona Von Chrome, Twiggy StarLust, Willow Rose, Delilah Cherryblossom
PerformersKhandie Khisses, Diva Hollywood, Marnie Scarlet, Mia Merode, Lady Wildflower, Aurora Galore, Fifi Fatale, TeTe Bang, Chocolat the Extraordinaire, Nanny Dora, Laureat O'Hara, Penny Bizarre, Tottie Spon Sills, Luna Rosa, Glorian Gray, Emerald Ace, Daria D'Beauvoix, Heidi Bang Tidy, Lily La Fox, The Wonderful D, Bella Besame, Ruby Moon Voodoo, Fever Blister, Kitten De Ville
Other information
Drag King PerformersJack The-Lad, Alex Valentine, Juan Kerr, George de Michael, Gent Lee Duzzit, Jack Toffington-Spiffingfellow, Rusty Chrome, Dixie Shuffle
Official website

History

Lesburlesque is a British burlesque and dance troupe, founded by lesbian cabaret performer Pixie Truffle in 2010. The troupe began as a duet burlesque routine idea, but following favourable responses from established burlesque performers Kitty Liquor, Mona Von Chrome, Isobella Lash and March Violets vocalist Rosie Garland, aka Rosie Lugosi, Pixie dedicated herself to making Lesburlesque into a fully fledged cabaret group.

The press in Manchester seemed supportive of their efforts to expand the concept of burlesque to the LGBTQ community and to render sapphic art forms such as drag kinging available to a larger audience.[1][2]

The troupe continue to use established drag king performers The Dyke Kings and Juan Kerr. Lesburlesque and Pixie continue to spearhead the rise to equality of drag king performance art.[3] In an exchange between Pixie and actress and feminist writer Rhona Foulis, Pixie claims it is "...her personal mission to bring lesbian performances to a mainstream audience, in exactly the same way as drag queens have been accepted."[4]

Associations

The troupe continues to be associated with the Lesbian Community Project,[1][2] a charitable organisation that helps to put lesbians in touch with each other across Manchester and to provide counselling and fun activities.[5]

On their first anniversary Pixie Truffle formed a one off partnership with Bella Besame, the founder and promoter of The Slippery Belle Presents...BURLESQUE! revue in Manchester.

On their second anniversary Pixie announced a partnership with The Singapore Burlesque Club,[6] a well-known Burlesque revue in Singapore.[7] Singapore is a country with stringent controls on public nudity[8] and the Burlesque Club's stance, and association with a Lesbian Burlesque troupe, would at the very least be at odds with the state of women's rights and gay rights in its native Singapore.

Performances
  • Grrrl Meets Boi, The Lesbian Community Project, Manchester (February 26, 2011)
  • The Slippery Belle Presents...Lesburlesque! (March 2, 2012)
  • Lesburlesque Presents Sapphic Pride (August 25, 2012)
  • Lesburlesque Presents... In Association with The Singapore Burlesque Club ....INTERNATIONAL ENCHANTRESS NIGHT with Burlesque Legend Kitten De Ville (October 13, 2012)

References
  1. Ponticelli, Francine (2012-02-10). "Lesbian burlesque act to grace Fallowfield's Platt Chapel". Mancunian Matters. Retrieved 2012-09-07.
  2. Glendinning, Amy (2012-02-07). "Lesbian burlesque troupe to perform at former church in Fallowfield". Manchester Evening News. MEN Media. Retrieved 2012-09-07.
  3. Akhtar, Nadeem (2012-08-26). "How 'drag kings' are taking the standup world by storm". The Guardian. Retrieved 2012-09-07.
  4. Foulis, Rhona (2011-12-22). "Neo-burlesque, neo-blog". Progressive Women. Retrieved 2012-09-08.
  5. "Lesbian Community Project". Lesbian Community Project. Archived from the original on 2012-03-06. Retrieved 2012-09-10.
  6. Lim, Sue-Anne (2011-11-29). "Bring on the Burlesque!". MyPaper. MyPaper. Archived from the original on 2013-02-03. Retrieved 2012-09-10. External link in |publisher= (help)
  7. Lim, Sue-Anne (2011-11-10). "I Found A Burlesque Star In My Own Backyard". Chwenny Wordpress Blog. Retrieved 2012-09-08.
  8. "MISCELLANEOUS OFFENCES (PUBLIC ORDER AND NUISANCE) ACT (CHAPTER 184)". The Singapore Attorney General's Chamber. Retrieved 2012-09-08.
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