It’s World Burlesque Day on 26 April so who better to speak to than Burlesque star Isabella Bliss who is performing in An Evening of Burlesque, arriving at City Varieties in July.
Isabella strips away the many misconceptions surrounding the content of the age-old artform, explaining how burlesque changed her life (and made her the proud owner of a 5ft-tall champagne glass).
Written by Gary Mac
About Burlesque
Do you know much about the history of burlesque? Has it changed much over the years?
Burlesque has always had the power to change and re-invent itself – that’s how it’s survived. From what began as low-brow mockery of traditional high-brow theatre, it has grown and evolved endlessly. We saw the rise of the British Blondes dance troupe – who took America by storm – and the development of women singing bawdy songs in Victorian music halls. There have been the trailblazing burlesque striptease queens of the 40s and 50s, to the modern wave and revivals since the 90s, led by Dita Von Teese.
In recent times burlesque has proudly become the most diverse art form, it’s for everyone – all genders, all sexualities, all body shapes, all story tellers. Burlesque is now the greatest melting pot of a community I have ever seen, and that makes me so very proud.
Comedy and burlesque often enjoy their greatest popularity when the country is going through its hardest times. Do you think burlesque’s current renaissance was inevitable?
Of course, we all need escapism from the challenges and trials of life. Vaudeville and cabaret have always been that escape for people: the chance to slip into a world of glitz, glamour and comedy is the perfect mental break for people from the pains of life. I would most certainly say that having everyone locked up for so long has given people a new-found appreciation of going out to see a show.
Isabella Bliss in her Champagne Glass from her act for An Evening of Burlesque.
Are there any common misconceptions about burlesque?
That it’s all just stripping and boobs! I think sometimes people can be really prudish about it because they think it’s going to be sleazy in some way – when, in fact, burlesque is a very broad creative and complex art form. Its roots are built in music hall and variety and it’s always so much more than people expect. Burlesque challenges the viewer, takes them on a journey. Show a little more or show a little less, it’s always a fun-filled show of skill and talent.
A performance from An Evening of Burlesque.
What would you say to someone who may be a little nervous about coming to see the show?
Be brave. . . get out and see it. We don’t bite! There’s truly nothing to be afraid of unless you’re afraid of having a good night and letting your hair down and having a laugh. We welcome you with open arms and a good heart, and we truly all do our best as a cast to make sure you leave feeling good with a smile on your face. Wonder at the side show, be in awe of the magic, sing along with our host and marvel at the spectacle of burlesque in all its glory as an art form – all wrapped up with some tongue-in-cheek humour.
The curtain call of An Evening of Burlesque at City Varieties.
A cast selfie for An Evening of Burlesque onstage at City Varieties.
Becoming a burlesque star
You’ve been a burlesque performer for 11 years. It’s not your average profession so how did you become a star of burlesque?
I trained a little in ballet, tap and modern as a kid briefly and then went on to do majorettes and became a carnival queen for Pitsea and Vange. I think it was clear I enjoyed performing as a kid and having fun with costumes and dressing up. I also studied belly dancing for a few years and pole dancing for fitness. I have also competed in beauty pageants internationally and hold titles such as Miss Universe Essex.
The first burlesque show I ever saw was actually An Evening of Burlesque at the Cliffs Pavilion and it was like falling in love at first sight. I was blown away by the mixture of comedy, glamour and vaudeville skills and I was like ‘wow, that’s a bit of me’. It opened up my world. I went home and instantly did as much research as I could about the history of burlesque and the stars of the eras and how they were such empowered women who did amazing things. It was great to read how pioneering they had been in a time when women did not have as much freedom as we do now – even at a time when showing an ankle would get you arrested.
Isabella Bliss performing in An Evening of Burlesque.
It is often said that burlesque empowers women. Would you agree?
Totally. It’s a way of owning who you are on stage – and the freedom of the way you can express yourself though your act and engage with other people. Lifting the energy of a room is like magic. It’s powerful being up there giving it your all and knowing people are there with you having a ball. The empowering bit is not really in the strip but in sharing with others what you have created as an act – but, also being unapologetically yourself and proud in your own skin.
What would be your advice to anyone contemplating taking burlesque up as a profession?
There are not enough shows any more, sadly, to just be a burlesque performer – most of us are multi-skilled so we can make a career out of it. But, that’s also a fun challenge to keep trying to add new skills to what you can do as an act or artist. It has taken me years of dedication to get here so don’t be under an illusion you can build it overnight. Dedication is key.
Find your niche and work with that as your passion. Also do your research and don’t copy other people’s acts or ideas. Yes, what we do is fun and creative, but it also requires the same level of professionalism and business savvy as building a brand and a business. But, if you have drive, passion and a business mind, anything is possible.
A showgirl act from An Evening of Burlesque.
A fire-breathing act from An Evening of Burlesque.
Isabella's stiletto shoe from her act Stiletto Love, originally produced for Sexhibiton Manchester for the After Dark Cabaret.
Isabella’s Act
Can you describe your act and how it has developed over the years?
My signature acts on the show currently are my Champagne Showgirl Glass act and, also, my Marilyn Monroe Singing Comedy act.
My Marilyn Monroe singing comedy act has developed over the last seven to eight years. I began doing Marilyn tribute work after I dressed as her as a joke at a friend’s birthday party and sang Happy Birthday in Marilyn’s famous style. People just kept asking me to do it – I was so very flattered as I had always loved Marilyn. I owe her so much – she helped me find my singing voice and helped me discover comedy and comedy writing. I was always terrified of singing – even in the shower – so, to now have a full singing comedy act is a massive achievement in facing my fears and proving to myself anything is possible.
I have a whole, one-woman Marilyn Monroe comedy singing show and the act you see me perform on An Evening Of Burlesque is an outtake from that show. I feel it’s really fun and light-hearted and my way of bringing the audience in and inviting them to be a part of the show.
Isabella Bliss as Marilyn Monroe.
Tell us more about the 5ft-tall champagne glass in your act.
I wanted to do my take on a classic martini glass act, so mine was made and designed to look more like a 1950s champagne coupe glass. I adored the idea of looking like a Hollywood siren bathing in champagne as that seemed like the epitome of luxury and glamour to me.
The giant champagne glass was actually made by my dad, who’s a metal engineer. My Dad has a great mind for understanding how things work technically and in the 90s he made props and worked on a touring Guinness World Record-holding escapologist’s act, so he was thrilled (albeit a little confused) to work on such a fun prop together.
The idea was for it to be big so it looked impressive but also have perspective and the dynamic to look in proportion to my body shape so I wouldn’t look too big in the glass, or too small. It also had to be able to be broken down easily and transported for each show. We take it on the tour bus with us, but I have been known to pack it in the back of a three-door Fiesta like some next-level Tetris game on occasion!
Isabella's Champagne Glass act.
Similarly, a giant stiletto shoe forms another part of your act. Whose idea was this and how was this created?
I was invited by British burlesque legend Good Time Mama Jo King to create an act for a show she was producing for Sexhibiton Manchester for the After Dark Cabaret. So, I got my thinking cap on and decided a giant shoe was a good nod to shoe-lovers and a fitting theme for a fetish exhibition.
I set about purchasing one, again the right height and dimensions for my body, and took the whole thing apart and re-upholstered it to make it uniquely mine.
Choreographing the act was hilarious. I was trying to work out how to climb over it and make it look sexy and seductive while not falling off the thing. I honestly laughed my ass off trying to work it out. At times, I looked more like a seal trying to cling on for dear life rather than the polished act you see now.
Isabella's Stiletto Love act.
An Evening of Burlesque
See Isabella Bliss and many other talented acts in An Evening of Burlesque at City Varieties from 7-8 July.
A scintillating night out of sparkling entertainment, the UK’s longest running Burlesque show is back touring the nation and it’s bigger than ever.
City Varieties Music Hall Building Fund
The City Varieties Music Hall is the gem in Leeds’ crown. As the city’s oldest theatre, we want to ensure that Britain’s longest, continuously operating music hall is here for future generations, making it more accessible, sustainable, and comfortable. All donations will be fully invested in the building and equipment and will enhance your experience as a customer.
