The British seaside town of Margate is seeking to recapture the era of saucy postcards by putting on a burlesque show. The Sassy Seaside Show, hosted by “Miss Behave”, promises to “thrill, titillate and astound” audiences in Margate, Kent.
Thanet district council, which is spending £30,000 on the event, defended the racy nature of the show, which takes place in Margate’s historic Theatre Royal next month, saying it was “no worse than page three”.
Is Burlesque performance art or just glorified stripping?
In the UK a proposed Policing and Crime Bill could see burlesque categorised as sexual entertainment. Many burlesque clubs are already coming under pressure to apply for sexual entertainment licenses.
A clan of scantily-clad saucepots are planning a march on London’s Camden Town Hall at the end of the monthin protest ta the new ruling. Nipple tassles will be twirled in protest against the Council’s decision in April to require any venue offering a burlesque show to apply for the Sexual Encouter Entertainment Licence, which is normally the purview of peeler bars and lapdance clubs. The peaceful protest is being organised by the Burlesque Women’s Institute, who say that Camden are effectively trying to ban a practice they don’t even understand, though their description of burlesque as “theatrical satire” might be stretching credibility a little. The Council claim they are only following national guidelines. The protest takes place on 30th July.
So what do you think ? Is burlesque art or just stripping?