Feathers, rhinestones and rebellion: Nighttime Nostalgia brings the sexy history of Burlesque to Brunswick Picture House

NATALYA Alessi and Porcelain Alice have long been fascinated by the enduring allure of the showgirl.

From the scandal and spectacle of legendary fan dancer Sally Rand – whose performances saw her repeatedly arrested for indecent exposure – to the neon-lit glamour of Las Vegas and the timeless elegance of Paris, the pair have drawn inspiration from the women who transformed vaudeville, cabaret and burlesque into an art form.

Now they are bringing that rich history to life in Nighttime Nostalgia: The History of a Showgirl, coming to Brunswick Picture House next month.

Filled with rhinestones, feathers and larger-than-life characters, the production takes audiences on a journey through the evolution of the showgirl. Stops include New York City in the late 1930s, when mayor Fiorello LaGuardia banned burlesque, the dazzling revue stages of Las Vegas, and Paris, where audiences will discover why Josephine Baker donned her iconic banana skirt.

The Sydney-based duo first staged the production as a two-person show in 2023, but it has since expanded to five performers, allowing them to delve deeper into the stories that shaped the art form. The Brunswick Heads performance will also feature special guest Zelia Rose, who will join American burlesque star Dita Von Teese on her Australian tour following the show.

“We wanted to show how the showgirl came to be what we know her as today and as we started researching individual stories we realised how many incredible characters there are within this lineage,” Alessi said.

“We couldn’t possibly include them all so for now we have gone with the most impactful moments in time, places and people.

“For me, showgirls have always had this ability to turn anything into a mesmerising spectacle, despite where they had come from and what they have experienced. With love and joy or pain and grief they left it all on the side of the stage to create beauty and encourage optimism. They worked extremely hard and many came from very difficult backgrounds. In a time where women were silenced they snuck through the cracks of a patriarchal system appearing for the male gaze all while eventually creating a safe art form for women to exist and explore.”

Alice’s introduction to the world of burlesque came unexpectedly when a friend asked her to step in as a backup dancer during a stage performance, and she instantly fell in love with it.

“We wanted to unpack the complex global politics that have impacted women on stage in modern history and celebrate how burlesque has reinvented itself time and time again as a resistance, counterculture and glamorous storyteller,” she said.

“We both love the nostalgic visuals of burlesque from the 1920s to 1960s and elements from each of those decades is featured in the show – every piece with an abundance of hand-crafted sparkle.

“If you love dance or elaborate showgirl costumes or are curious about burlesque I think you will absolutely enjoy this show. It’s a rather sexy history lesson.”

Nighttime Nostalgia is at Brunswick Picture House on Friday 31 July. For more information and tickets, visit brunswickpicturehouse.com