Triple Crown at the London World Burlesque Games 2012 - The Floridita

The much anticipated World Burlesque Games 2012 finally opened its doors at the Floridita, in the heart of Soho, on the 8th May, with the Triple Crown show.

Chaz Royal chose a fantastic venue for this show, ensuring all odds were on his side. The Floridita oozes glamour, with a grandiose decor, perfect for a burlesque cabaret.

Celebrating its 6th birthday, the London Burlesque Festival still tops the A-list of burlesque cabarets in London, judging by the crowd present. Personally, I was awaiting these acts with great expectations.

Chaz Royal and 'Secret In Lace'

Chaz and Betty D'Light


Greeted by some gorgeous performers modelling the Secret In Lace lingerie line, we all took time to enjoy the prelude. Chatting, drinking, posing for the amalgam of cameras present, it was a pleasure for all. My time to ask questions and find out about various acts and future development in the burlesque milieu; all important information for the Burlesque Map London.

Betty D'Light

This year, Chaz organised the festival with the help of Betty D' Light, a talented performer with a smile that would refresh and vivify the most miserable soul...! A perfect ambassador for the Burlesque Games...!

After much precious time dining and socialising, the audience was still buzzing, anticipating and expecting the best of burlesque tonight. The judging panel ready now to enjoy and observe, and the papparazi out in force, all eyes on the stage.

Miss Behave, compère extraordinaire, witty, saucy and theatrical, she is a natural at engaging the crowd. Confident and vibrant in her demeanor, she owns the stage with brilliance. An accomplished performer, Miss Behave never tires to impress us. A good compère makes all the difference; we can enjoy the journey to each act as a full part of the show.

Miss Behave


The Games opened with a most impressive Anna the Hulagan. Her hula hoop act, her agility and her originality wowed the crowd who couldn't stop cheering and raving. As she sets fire to the hoop, her body sensually teases the fire while performing a striptease revealing her acrobatic body. A first class act worthy of the applause and the acclamation it attracts.
Excellent brilliance from a saucy, salacious 'hulagan'...!

An act difficult to follow, or so you might think.

Kiki Lovechild brings a different kind of burlesque to the stage accompanied by his hand puppets. A wonderfully entertaining performance, Kiki, and his ostrich puppet, sends the crowd into a wave of laughter and finishes with an 'encore' - a true performer and entertainer, with his parody of tease and strip, he is worthy of a first place...!

Two acts so far, and the night promises to be filled with first-class acts, so I am not sure how on earth the panel is going to choose a winner if all performances follow this high standard we have witnessed so far...!

Anna the Hulagan

Kiki Lovechild

Showcasing performers from the UK, Australia and the USA, the night provides us with a mixture of parody, satire and wit presented in an entertaining, funny and daring manner. The many faces of burlesque attract and enthral a varied public, all expecting to be amused by a lot more than just a variety show. Unquestionably, the tease and the strip are all part of it, together with acrobatics, fire breathing, story telling; a true burlesque performer is more than just a dancer or a tease, it is a skilled 'showman'.

While most acts are undoubtedly burlesque, Tango Manga leaves us wondering what the connection with burlesque is, as their routine is merely a lap dancing number for a man who has very little significance in this performance except looking completely lost. Pleasing to some eyes, no doubt, but burlesque? Not really...!

Great costumes are as much part of the act as the performance itself. Tonight we have been delighted with some great attires.
Lexi Sexx with half her face covered in a mask, her eccentric act consisting in some masochism, burning her tongue and a nail and hammer...! Finishing with wax poured over her body...! Madness, eccentricity with a touch of exoticism.

Of course, there is no doubt that the striptease and tassel twirling are a complete part of many acts, and the audience would be highly disappointed if they were not teased to the full. Bunny Pistol brings a tassel twirling act of her own...! Her bottom cheeks provide the entertainment as much as the rest! Turning from back to front, showing us how she controls her assets...! A great cheer from the crowd who enjoys a good twirl with a difference.

A magnificent crowd for a brilliant show, but sadly not all can be winners.

Anna the Hulagan took first place whilst Kiki Lovechild came second. Although it felt, by the applause they attracted, both acts were worthy of first place. An opinion I easily share; both wonderfully entertaining in their own special and different way.

Anna the Hulagan - crowned winner of the Triple Crown Games



A splendid night at a perfect venue with glamour all around. A night to remember...!
Bring on the next one, Mr Chaz Royal...!


Eva Lamour


SOME PHOTOS FROM THE TRIPLE CROWN BY JAMES DRURY

Clara Cupcakes

Lexi Sexx

Missy Fatale

Bunny Pistol

Betty D'Light and Duke de Milo

Twisted Cabaret - London Burlesque Week 2011

Benjamin Louche

 Madame Jojo's hosted Chaz Royal's London Burlesque Week 2011 'Twisted Cabaret', showcasing a list of bizarre, eccentric and grisly acts. A show where theatrical cabaret met the dark, alternative burlesque entertainment.

Benjamin Louche, with his theatrical grandeur and eerie stare, was the perfect compère for this unconventional cabaret show, promising to take you beyond ordinary burlesque parody.

A rendez-vous for the weird, unusual and creepy, the audience anticipated this spectacle with much ardor. For those whose only experience of burlesque was limited to the vaudeville entertainment, light comic stage play, they were in for a real surprise.

And surprised the audience was, at the entertainment value of some of the bizarre acts. The Monsters of Schlock had us in waves of cheers and ghastly 'wows', with their most bizarre and eccentric 'condom' act, and others such as their mouse trap or should I say, 'head trap' act.

Whilst Vivid Angel had the audience screaming with her hilarious 'squirting vagina' that she, so generously, directed at the crowd, at the end of a witty, parodic sexual raunchy act.

But for weird, Big Chief Random Chaos performed some fire act in one of the oddest ways, setting fire to his mohican, and finishing amongst the audience for his finale, taking everybody by surprise, not knowing what he could possibly do next.

Yes, the 'Twisted Cabaret' was fabulously weirdly performed with some of the most eccentric acts in burlesque entertainment... A night not for the fainthearted! 

The Monsters of Schlock

Vivid Angel

BigChiefRandomChaos

Eva Lamour

London Burlesque Week 2011 - Opening Gala 26/4/11

Chaz Royal's London Burlesque Week 2011 opened its doors at the HMS President on Blackfriars bridge on the 26th April, promising to be a week of vaudeville entertainment, parodic humour and wit.

A time to mingle with the performers prior to the show, gave us, the Burlesque Map London team, quality time to chat and find out a bit more about each one, anticipating them on stage during the  week.

With a showcase of international performers, the show tonight 'Around the world in 80 minutes' brought pleasure to all the senses. Music, colours, costumes, humour, it had it all, true to a burlesque variety show.

The performances were powerful and entertaining, producing a well deserved response from the crowd, who, from where I was sitting, sounded delighted with the show.

We travelled from Spain, to the USA, Mexico, the Far East, passing through Egypt and onto Indonesia, with an array of superbly performed acts. Siren Stiletto, with her Mexican theme, and Tequila 'skirtrise'  injected a dose of Latin passion with songs performed by her accompanying Mexican musicians. No wonder the audience roared at the end with big applause...

The crowd was fantastically responsive on that first night, enjoying all the entertainers and without a doubt, our fabulous host and compère Ivy Paige.

Miss Paige, with her soft spoken voice, nonchalant disposition and dirty mind, entrances the audience and interacts in her very special way. A great act of her own!

Last year's LBW newcomer's winner, Ginger Blush, gave an outstanding performance, finishing with a brilliantly tassel twirling number, which attracted a well deserved applause and some standing ovation.

A much enjoyable first night, which has now set a high standard for the rest of the festival...!!

London Burlesque Week 2011, here we come...!!


Eva Lamour

Siren Stiletto

Ivy Paige and the Performers

Ginger Blush and her tassels!