The 2024 Wales Burlesque Festival debuted at Chapter Arts Centre, with Friday’s Future Icons Show & Competition seeing performers from around the world competing for the title of WBF ‘Future Icon’ 2024.
Magnetic host Mercury (Alexander Luttley) launched straight into action with a heidi-heidi-ho-hilarious rendition of Minnie The Moocher. By my reckoning, the majority of the sellout audience were seasoned burlesque viewers – they brought foot-stomping energy to the room and insatiable hunger for some performance slap’n’tickle.
The competition’s judge panel consisted of burlesque goddess – and this festival’s producer – FooFoo Labelle, alongside Cardiff socialites and radio hosts Wyburn and Wayne. Burlesque artiste Miss Sugar Rush was also on the panel, alongside Leighton Rees Milan of the Royal Iconic House Of Milan – oh, and Cleopantha, only the UK’s number one burlesque performer!
First to shimmy across the stage was London-based Donna Poderosa, sporting a blue feather boa snaked around her tantalisingly tasselled body (as a result of which I learnt about ‘assels’). Floral sensation Purris Stilton from Nebraska followed, teasingly plucking petals from her rose-shaped headpiece: hers was a classy and unique take on the striptease, as every move gracefully provoked mini rose petal explosions everywhere.
Take me to the chokey! I must say that I was not prepared for Petit Pois’ sidesplitting Miss Trunchbull performance. Trunch began by hurling a poor puppet dolly of Lavender Brown into the audience which sent the audience into fits, before stripteasing to reveal a saucy side of Trunch that I don’t remember from the books.
Next came Dominus Von Vexo who performed an Elton John tribute medley in a towering multicolour feather headpiece to I’m Still Standing, which was so good I wasn’t by the end. Next was Elena Candela’s high camp 1960s outer-space sex set, featuring a conspicuously large tentacle (I think) and iconic metallic go-go boots.
Bunny Von Batternburg and Mimi Sugarpill brought us a post-interval sugar rush, with Bunny’s delicious tribute to Marie Antoinette and a performance from Mimi inspired by Maya Angelou’s poem Phenomenal Woman. Peeking out from under a sparkling wide-brimmed hat surreptitiously dipped below one eye, every polished movement reflected shimmers off her gilded girdle, illuminating a contagiously ecstatic crowd.
And then Queen Bee Ginger Miss Demeanour arrived to pollinate the audience (and the blow-up anatomical flower on stage) with her bumblebee-themed schtick, which could only be described as pure chaos. Travelling showgirl Haughty Hazelnut made her feather-fluttering European debut, roaming across the stage like an expensive cat stalking its prey as the reflection of a thousand sequins bounced off her corset. Finishing us off was Aurora Divine, Ireland-based showgirl whose sultry poising surpassed logical feats of flexibility.
Before the winner was announced, we were entreated to a surprise performance from Cleopantha – whose CV includes a performance at Cardi B’s birthday party, and who certainly brought some WAP energy to the stage, enthusiastically jumping into splits multiple times. After a hilarious mishap which involved the crown going flying before it made it onto the stage, Haughty Hazelnut was crowned with the title of WBF’s ‘Future Icon’ with Elena Candela as runner-up.
Having kicked off at around 7.30pm and finishing at around 10.30pm, the show was an exhaustingly entertaining evening of copious enjoyment. And particular kudos to stage manager Flossie Smalls who, upon being questioned about her sheep-themed outfit, remarked that she “wanted to wear something Welsh”.
Choosing to expose your body on stage runs the risk of judgement or criticism – whether from society or the audience. But burlesque champions the power of opening oneself up publicly whilst dictating how much the audience sees. Friday’s Future Icons show at Wales Burlesque Festival proved this artform is not just about titillating the audience or crowning a winner, but celebrating the uniqueness of one’s body and artistic self-creation.
Wales Burlesque Festival: Future Icons Show & Competition, Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff, Fri 23 Aug
words JULIA BOTTOMS
