Life is a Cabaret

If you’ve had your fill of actors prancing the Royal Mile, getting sore feet from walking miles around Edinburgh trying to find that little “out there” venue and just plain fed up of being a magnet to a whole assortment of flyers and bits of paper, then I highly suggest taking a step back into a more glamorous side of this years festival, and book yourself in for an evening of variety, bohemia and glamour. And we’re not short of choices of events to fulfil that criteria.

Choose the Ministry of Burlesque and Blond Ambition Events’ High Tease for “an uproarious revue of razor-wit and frisky burlesque”. A sit down event, or some might say a “supper club” High Tease comes with all the glamour a night of traditional 21st century Burlesque promises. Prepare to don your best frocks for a slick evening in this tried-and-tested formula where rising stars can brush shoulders with the burlesque elite whilst you whoop and cheer to your delight. With a wide range of performers over the run of this show, there’s something to please most – including performances from Kittie “the Governess of the Ministry of Burlesque” who has lead the revival of the classical burlesque and Viva Misadventure – not only Dance Base’s resident and highly renowned burlesque dance teacher but former international showgirl who brings her high kicks and “Broadway spectacle” to the capital.

For the more alternative and underground of us, there’s Rockaburley (for one night only on Aug 27th at 10.15pm) to appease your tastes. The popular Glasgow based event has temporarily relocated to the heart of the Fringe, in the Bongo Club to give us an evening which feels more like “an underground party that anything can happen at” combining rockabilly music with tongue in cheek sensuality in the true spirit of burlesque and cabaret. Run by Cat Aclysmic and Daiquiri Dusk since May 2008, this will be Edinburgh’s chance to see what they’ve been missing with a host of performers from the Rockaburley favourites, past and present.

But if it’s a real sense of vaudeville and bohemian cabaret you’re after, then back to the Bongo Club you should go. Not for the faint of heart, and certainly not the place to go if you’ve just seen Britain’s Got Talent and want to see what this “burlesque” is all about, the Bongo Club Cabaret with Rhymes with Purple Productions is the rebellious cousin of its more glamorous counterparts. Self proclaimed, this night proudly shouts “A Busby Berkley musical we aint, so bored housewives seeking glamour in their lives; better throw an Ann Summers party”. With a show most nights throughout the festival period, there’s a different line up to keep the appetites truly whetted for more, and hosted by Dusty Limits, Miss Behave, Chris Cresswell and Lucille Burn.

There’s a thought amongst some that ‘variety’ should stay in the past, only a memory for the few who were lucky enough to witness its conception. I say that with vaudeville, burlesque and modern cabaret of this standard and diversity how can anyone not find something to fit the most extreme or otherwise of tastes. Inject a bit of variety into your festival experience this year.

High Tease is at Voodoo Rooms until Aug 23 (not 17 or 18), 10pm, £15

Rockaburley is presented by the Bongo Club Cabaret at the Bongo Club on Aug 27, 10.15pm (1hr 15mins), £8 (£7)

Bongo Club Cabaret is at the Bongo Club until Aug 30 (not 21), 10.15pm (1hr 15mins), £8 (£7)