Burlesque an Antidote to the Recession?

Allan Sartori is staging the glamorous shows at the Rocket Club in Broad Street, Birmingham, to help depressed punters beat the credit crunch blues. Burlesque show dancers at the Rocket Club in Birmingham

The businessman organised the racy nights after researching burlesque and finding it had been traditionally popular during times of economic worry.

“Going back in history over two centuries I was surprised to see it was particularly popular in times of stress and danger and I think that’s what’s sparking a real interest in it now,” he said.

“During the Great Depression in America it was really huge as it was a form of escapism which really appealed to people.

“They want to get away from all the misery and see something outrageous and sexy, and this is just what this is.”

He added: “I was a bit nervous before the first show.

‘‘We had all these beautiful ladies from all over the country and this is Birmingham’s first burlesque show – but before we opened we had a queue of people outside the door and we pretty much had a full house.

“Surprisingly, there were a lot of couples and women here. It was not like a normal night at all.”

Dancer Vicky Butterfly added: “Burlesque can be almost anything, it’s a mixture of variety circus performance art and dance. I think there’s already a big following for it in Birmingham so it’s great that there’s now a big show here at the Rocket and more people can get to see it.”

She also agreed that the show would help put smiles back on the faces of recession-bitten Brummies

“In times of trouble people tend to come back to shows like this, and we’re more than happy to have them.”

Burlesque first started in 16th Century Italy but became more widely popular in the 17th Century. It did not traditionally feature striptease until the 20th Century in America where the strip act became the chief attraction.