Perth International Burlesque Festival brings regional roadshow to Geraldton’s Queens Park Theatre

A night of pink frills and belly laughs will hit Queens Park Theatre next weekend as the ninth annual Perth International Burlesque Festival takes in Geraldton on its regional roadshow.

The performance will bring burlesque, cabaret and variety performers to the QPT on Saturday, October 15.

Tease director Jessica Gough, aka The Sugar Duchess, said the show was a fabulously fun and great night out and performers were excited to be visiting Geraldton again.

“We’re hitting the road with a lot of show girls and show boys,” she said.

The burlesque team’s sweetheart of strategy Cosmo Enchantee, visual vixen Wild Kat, socials secretary Lyra Lark, admin angel Misty Falls, merch mistress Delza Skye and costuming mistress Miss Violet Rose make the show come together.

The festival aims to support local burlesque artists and businesses by creating a world-class platform encouraging the Perth burlesque industry to flourish internationally.

Last year, it held seven shows and finished with performances in Geraldton and Kalgoorlie.

Gough said burlesque was about empowerment, pride and equal rights for women and originated from a time when it wasn’t acceptable for women to perform on stage.

“In the 1800s, women weren’t allowed to play in theatre. It’s about shattering the glass window towards empowerment for all people,” she said.

“You can come from all backgrounds — comedy-theatre, costume or dance — it comes from passion, drive and making it your own.”

Gough said there was a competition for best burlesque dress and urged the audience to put their best costume on and be frilly on the night.

“People should get their burlesque on because there will be a prize for best dressed,” she said.

Gough said PBIF was an industry highlight and it was about celebrating being human, feeling sexy and having fun.

“I grew up in regional WA for part of my life and I know how inaccessible the arts are sometimes regionally, especially burlesque that celebrates every gender, every body, every age and every cultural background,” she said.

“We’re the best of the best in the west and we absolutely love bringing this sort of entertainment to the regions.”

A teaser peep show will be held in Perth at the Court Hotel on October 7 before the team make their way to Geraldton for the regional roadshow.

PBIF will host its opening night, The Tease Factory, gala event Club Burlesque and after party Glitter Crash in Perth the following weekend.

For tickets, visit the City of Greater Geraldton website.