Burlesque Performer Spotlight: Imogen Kelly

This Burlesque Performer Spotlight is on Australia's Queen of Burlesque: Imogen Kelly.

A breif History:
In 1995 Imogen completed a BFA at The College of Fine Arts NSW majoring in Performance Art and Sound. In 1997 she moved to the UK and ran away with the circus, where she was trained on trapeze and other performance arts by Romanian Gypsies.

Imogen returned to Australia in 2000 where she co-founded and produced renowned performance troupe Gurlesque. She has since performed across Australian and the world. Notable performances include the launch of The Sydney Opera House Studio, The Adelaide Cabaret Festival, Music for the Eyes, she assistant directed Close your Little Eyes at the Sydney Festival, she performed in Edinburgh in 2004, in La Clique and during 2005 she toured with Go Go Burlesco at the Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh.

Imogen is the co-producer and performer of Tarnished, winner of Best Physical Theatre Show, Adelaide Fringe 2007. Tarnished has just completed sell out seasons in Brisbane, The Gold Coast and Lismore.

Imogen was selected as 2007’s face of the Edinburgh Fringe for the second year running. In the same year she also toured the USA, conquering NYC Burlesque Festival and Tease-o-rama.

In 2008 Imogen was wed as a part of the Sydney Festival opening in front of tens of thousands of people in a public wedding that stopped the city! She burst out of a giant cake before tearing off her gown to say “I Do!”.

Whats next for Imogen?
Imogen's new show is an hour length theatre show called The Undressing Room, it will be featured at The Melbourne Fringe Festival this year (Sept 24 - 29th).

The Undressing Room brings the back-stage on stage as Imogen Kelly invites us into the dressing room for a witty exploration of the art of quick dressing versus slow striptease. She takes audiences on a roller coaster ride through her 20-year career, visiting many of her characters whilst also chatting about her career. From Notorious Queen of the Sydney Underground to becoming Australia’s internationally acclaimed Queen of Burlesque. Imogen will be performing acts from her repertoire including her world famous UV puppetry striptease and Marie Antoinette satire “Let Them Eat Cake”.

The Undressing Room also includes a quick-change act, nose flossing, props costuming, pole dancing, puppetry, highly skilled fan dancing, stunning aerials, Animation, interactive projections, disintegrating ladies and cake desecration.

Imogen discuses showgirl versus house wifery, how to wow in true showgirl fashion- what is a four-finger smile? Ways to keep the mafia onside when the cops breeze through on a raid. Most importantly how a mixture of eyelash glue and egomania can help a glamour-puss survive any situation.

We can't wait to see the new show, it sounds fantastic!

For more on Imogen Kelly check out her website: www.imogenkelly.com.au