Burlesque performances full of tantalising tease, and pop-culture cosplay costumes, are two growing trends – that are are set to collide.
The Venn diagram bubbles of burlesque and nerdiness will overlap this December as Ember & the Vixens will be delivering a stage show themed around video games.
The event – called ‘Ember & the Vixens: Let the (Video) Games Begin’ – will feature music, burlesque, spoken word, comedy, circus entertainment, and more.
Cabaret and computer games
Recognising the growing interest in “nerd-lesque”, the troupe’s founder Selina Helliwell decided to host an evening which references iconic games such as Resident Evil and Crash Bandicoot.
The theme of video games has always been in the back of Helliwell’s mind. Even her stage name – ‘Ember Travixen’ – was inspired by characters from the video game Pandemonium 2, which she used to play on the PlayStation 1.
She said: “You don’t have to be a hardcore gamer to enjoy it.
“But if you are a gamer or a pop-culture fanatic, the night is going to be pretty special.”
Experimenting with different themes is part of her goal to keep the performances diverse, with past shows focusing on Valentine’s Day, Halloween, and Christmas festivities.
A misunderstood art-form?
Burlesque is a theatrical performance which can combine sexuality, femininity, and comedy. “I feel like the amount of burlesque shows and cabarets happening in the UK are booming at the moment”, Helliwell shared.
But she highlighted that those unfamiliar with the art-form are often found in two distinct camps.
Some go into a performance thinking it will be a family-friendly West End show. “People can think it’s way more tame than it is.”
And others can think the opposite, assuming the show’s artistic striptease brings an innate seediness that will make them feel uncomfortable.
She said: “People don’t give it a chance when they have one of those misconceptions
“But at the end of the day if you enjoy theatre, dance, movement, and storytelling, it’s a combination of all those things.”
A night to remember
When asked what event-goers can expect for the upcoming show, Helliwell promises “a geeky night in the best cabaret way”.
‘Ember & the Vixens: Let the (Video) Games Begin’ will be taking place at Grub Manchester (Cultplex) on Friday 6 December 2024.
Ticketing details can be found here.
Featured image courtesy of Ryan Morrison.
