Good Girls Do Burlesque

Not your ordinary burlesque show...

Good Girls Do Burlesque was created collaboratively to explore and deconstruct themes of burlesque and cabaret. Playing with the aesthetics of failure, we attempted to create a burlesque show, complete with dance routines, a talent roulette and stand up comedy; despite having no previous training in any aspect. In this attempt, we transformed a regular theatre studio into a burlesque club with cabaret seating, to create an immersive, interactive and highly visual performance.

My roles in the process included directing, dramaturgy and performance. The devising process was approached with sound as a starting point, as we experimented with foley and creating our own live music, which became an integral part of the performance. This was an ensemble piece and rehearsals were structured around games and play as a way of generating and developing material. We each also took on a burlesque 'persona', each with our own talent to showcase that we had never attempted before. As a performer, I played the part of the MC, who orchestrated different elements of the performance. The show was created collaboratively over 4 months with background research into environmental and immersive theatre and burlesque performance.

The piece was originally performed in January 2024 and is currently being developed for upcoming performances, as part of the Manchester School of Art degree show in June.