Cabaret / 60 min / £15(£14), £10(£9) / 14+
Showing @ Underbelly Bristo Square, 1-27 Aug (not 15), 23.15
Once upon a time, burlesque meant parody. In more recent times, the term has become synonymous with striptease. Whilst there is plenty of flesh on show here, Briefs offers plenty of the satire that lies at the heart of true burlesque. Gender roles, traditional notions of sexuality and even racial stereotypes are lampooned through a combination of dance, comedy, breathtaking circus skills and yes, through striptease. The collusion between performer and audience that defines cabaret is also much in evidence here, from the roaming be-suited performers who sit and chat with spectators as they arrive to one very bizarre private dance. Briefs is nouveau burlesque that stays true to its raucous roots.