BURLESQUE is the “ultimate antidote to the mundane” and “gives people total authorship over their own bodies, beauty and narrative”, says Jessica Anne Gough (aka The Sugar Duchess).
Right now, Gough is busy running the 13th annual Perth International Burlesque Festival, which builds to a climax in Perth on October 23–24.
The festival has gone from strength to strength and this year’s is the biggest yet with shows across major venues like the Heath Ledger Theatre, as well as a regional tour in Margaret River and Geraldton.
• (above) Perth International Burlesque Festival director Jessica Anne Gough.
As established music festivals and events drop like flies, the annual Perth Burlesque Festival is more popular than ever.
So, what’s the secret to its longevity?
“Burlesque is medicine for the soul wrapped in sequins,” says Gough.
“In a world that constantly tries to put people in rigid boxes, our festival is a sanctuary of absolute freedom.
“Longevity comes down to community, inclusivity, and evolution. We don’t just survive—we adapt, we celebrate diversity across every imaginable spectrum (cultures, genders, bodies and ages), and we never, ever take ourselves too seriously.”
There are some big hitters flying in for this year’s festival, including legendary Las Vegas performer Raquel Reed and reigning Miss Viva Las Vegas, Kelly Ann Doll.
Also performing will be Wiradjuri/Gamilaroi trans performer Kitty Obsidian, who specialises in slow seduction, ferocious fetish and an award-winning brand of activism.
“Performers aren’t just hiding behind a persona anymore; they are using the stage to unpack politics, poke fun at societal absurdities, express deep emotions, celebrate body positivity, and tell stories that conventional theatre wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot pole,” Gough says.
“The old stereotype of the quiet 9-to-5 worker putting on a wig to transform into a bombshell is certainly part of our rich history, but burlesque has evolved into something infinitely more profound.
“While it is still a magnificent vehicle for letting go of inhibitions, it has transitioned from becoming someone else to becoming truly, radically oneself.”
After a regional tour, the festival returns to Perth on Friday October 23 for its Tease Factory opening night, and the Club Burlesque Gala and after-party on October 24.
Participating venues include the Court Hotel and Connections Nightclub.
“We have performers and audience members spanning diverse ages, genders, and backgrounds,” Gough says.
“Burlesque belongs to everyone who dares to claim it.
“It’s less about ‘escaping’ real life and more about magnifying your inner truth until it blinds everyone in the front row.”
For more information and tickets see the festival website: www.perthburlesquefestival.com.
by STEPHEN POLLOCK