Big in Japan Cabaret Preview

In the aftermath of the 2010 Fringe, which heralded both the arrival of burlesque within the performance establishment and the first stirrings of a critical backlash, Big in Japan is perhaps the first opportunity for Glaswegian audiences to examine the evidence. The line up not only features the aristocrats of Scottish burlesque, but includes acts from the parallel cabaret scene. Anyone interested in the current state of the Scottish burlesque community could do worse than catch this bargain benefit for Gorman’s visit to Japan as cultural ambassadors.

A big shift in West Coast cabaret happened in July 2009, when the polished and restless Rhymes With Purple produced their Cabaret Festival. Apart from bringing up big names from London for solo shows, and introducing Frisky and Mannish before their Fringe triumph School of Pop, it attempted to integrate the neo-burlesque revival into a broader cabaret tradition. Big in Japan continues this process, pitting Gorman’s majestic rock alongside Rufus and Ben’s manic double-act, chanteuse Lucille Burn and cabaret’s current break-out act, The Creative Martyrs. However, it is also a bill heavy on the burlesque, a snapshot of the current scene.

There is a strong sense that the last year has seen a consolidation of burlesque talent, alongside constant changes in its presentation. Big nights have fallen by the wayside, new approaches have replaced them, and it is now easy to make a distinction between the burlesque and cabaret scenes. Big in Japan is a fusion of the two. When Chris Gorman, singer songwriter and sometime musical partner of Lucille Burn, was given the opportunity to take his band to the Far East, it is an expression of his status within cabaret that he has been able to pull together such a diverse line up.

For non-burlesque fans, the presence of Lucille Burn and The Creative Martyrs is the real draw. Both acts have developed solo shows that demonstrate the possibilities of cabaret as theatre, taking the aesthetic and extending it over an hour. On the burlesque side, Daiquiri Dusk has been exploring a more aggressive approach, matching her love of dirty rock, American striptease and provocation with her earlier, more frilly and sweet routines.

As an introduction to cabaret, Big in Japan is ideal: it has a cast that crosses the various areas of the community and has a wide enough remit to cover the full range of Scottish styles and approaches. It also marks a good point for a summing up of the current state of play, while burlesque gets ready for its next development.

Glasgow Art Club, 22 October 2010. Doors 8pm

Hosted by Rufus & The Not So Impressive Ben