POST Newspapers, 19 Oct 2019, SARAH McNEILL
Burlesque is not about what you take off, says Jessica Gough, it’s about how you take it off.
The Leederville burlesque producer, teacher and performer – under the name The Sugar Duchess – has taken over running the annual Perth International Burlesque Festival through her company Tease Industries.
“The festival is not about competition,” she said. “It’s about pure entertainment, and actively promoting the art of tease.”
The relaunched international festival will begin with dinner and a show on Thursday, October 24, at the Boston Brewery in Denmark.
That will be followed by The Tease Factory Opening Night hosted by Melbourne’s Ruby Slippers at the Court Hotel in Northbridge on Friday, October 25, featuring interstate and local artists.
The gala event, Club Burlesque at the Astor Theatre in Mt Lawley on Saturday, October 26, will feature international headliners and will be topped off by a Glitter Crash after-party at Connections nightclub in James Street, Perth, from 10pm the same night.
Headliners include Chris Oh! from New Zealand, a “boylesque” performer who pushes the boundaries of gender and performance art and won the Most Dazzling Dancer award at the Burlesque Hall of Fame in Las Vegas last year.
American artist Sweetpea has been billed among the top burlesque performers in the world and is described as a “sexquisite powerhouse”.
Jazida began as a bellydancer in Canberra and is now among Australia’s top burlesque performers. She was invited to perform in the Movers and Shakers showcase at the LA Burlesque Hall of Fame last year.
All three will run performance workshops during the weekend.