The cosy studio space of York Theatre Royal, with its multiple lampshades suspended from the ceiling and its cabaret style seating is the perfect venue for an intimate burlesque show. The stage is low, small and entrances and exits are made through the audience, adding an extra frisson of excitement when each act enters as part of their routine. More of a variety/cabaret show than strictly burlesque, internationally acclaimed performer and producer Frieda Nipples has created The Exhibitionists to showcase some of her favourite and most fabulous performance artist finds across the UK and further afield.
The audience are treated to six artists across the evening, each with a different style and narrative to their performance. There are whoops, cheers, glamour, giggles and a lot of flesh on show – as is to be expected from Burlesque.
Compere Whiskey Twist, a Geordie showgirl who has been performing herself since 2016, pitched her jokes and asides perfectly throughout. Sexy and glamorous, with a fabulous vintage voice, she had the audience with her within two minutes and whipped them up into the frenzy that was needed for the entrance of each act. There was even a treat in the second half as Twist got up to do a turn herself, with a brilliant take on Meatloaf’s Anything for Love. Not your usual burlesque number, and it worked well.
The other acts were, for the most part, excellent. Coco Deville showcased her tiger stripes as well as her ethereal side in two separate pieces, moving dynamically in her decadent costumes. Her headpiece in the second half was a sight to behold and she moved with grandeur as if she truly owned the stage.
Cherie Bebe, an actress and Burlesque artist from Manchester, where she has her own residency, has been performing for 16 years and her experience really showed. Sequins, beads and 1920’s glamour were the features of her first performance, while Cabaret’s Mein Herr was the inspiration for her second piece, and the star turn of the show. Perfectly alluring and in keeping with the song, she oozed sex appeal and the audience loved it.
It wasn’t all nipple tassles and corsets, however as rising star Loxie Tocin popped in to give an hilarious lesson on contraception complete with glittery props. Hattie Go Lucky, who runs Burlesque workshops on unleashing your inner diva performed two pieces, one based on Charlie Chaplin and one about a Granny on a rollercoaster. Twist introduced them as quirky, and this was certainly the case. Whether it was the close proximity of the act (who used both rollerskates and a chair on wheels) or that it was vastly different from the other acts, Go Lucky wasn’t perhaps as successful as the others.
The final act was Freida Nipples herself, decked out in giant red lips and corsetry, with a masterclass on de-robing and literally leaving everything on stage. It was a fantastic end to the evening.
The night went quickly, almost too quickly (each half was barely 45 mins, with a 20 minute interval) and the standard of Burlesque was generally high. Barring Twist there was very little audience interactivity, which is a shame given the nature of this venue, nevertheless it was a fun evening’s entertainment. Frieda Nipples produces events in and around York, so it is worth following her work to see where she pops up next.
Reviewed on 8th February 2025.
The Reviews Hub Score
Sexy quirky fun
