Page 9 - RYAN'S GIG GUIDE DECEMBER 2014

RGG December 2014 - p.9
Embraced Burlesque is a monthly Burlesque Cabaret show held
at Wolverhamptons’ Newhampton Arts Centre Now entering
it's fifth year of successful and well supported shows it suggests
there may be more to Burlesque than big boobs basques and
bearded men It's a hard earned tenner entrance fee and the
venue is situated it has to be said in what has never been
considered the quaintest part of the City There’s no doubt that
reluctance and apprehension are to be expected Weirdo and self
confessed freak Bash Funkadelik (a former Wolverhampton
University Art Student) who hosts the show admits It's probably
not for everyone It's an adult show a little risqué and yes it has
Burlesque striptease but there is also Live Music Comedy and
flamboyant charm “We create a buzz a focus and a warm
welcome unlike anywhere else in the City and our regular crowd
is usually female We book creative charismatic Burlesque
performers both male and female from all over the UK and
beyond ”
The forthcoming Christmas themed show ( th Dec) will be
unique and wonderful just like every monthly show The
organisers rely on the good word of those that attend to tell
others who they may deem offbeat and open minded enough
Long gone are the days when Bash stood outside rival clubs
handing out flyers The word took some time to get around he
admits “After shows in / I was practically begging
people to come but then we had a breakthrough I booked a
friends Band (Shatter Effect) and they bought a few small
business owners Tattooists and Hairdressers etc who excuse
the pun embraced it They bought new people to the show each
month and it just grew and grew I’ve always been customer
service driven We book tables for groups let them know they're
welcome provide table service and put on a fun packed three
hour show that they are involved in We give away bottles of
wine for best dressed audience members and find excuses to
involve everyone whenever we can ” Embraced has evolved as a
show over the past years and gets better every show Yes there
are cock ups and the odd costume malfunction but it's all part
and parcel of the Cabaret Anyone coming to a show should be
warned before hand it's filmic and theatrical it goes against the
grain and is a happy alternative nightlife Sit down applaud and
laugh dress up to express and impress be entertained and never
underwhelmed Embraced Burlesque