The internationally acclaimed The Empire Strips Back: A Burlesque Parody is now showing at Riverside Studios. BOOK TICKETS.
A Long time ago, in a Sydney bar far, far away, Star Wars got sexy in a very unofficial yet loving way by celebrating the burlesque tradition and the creativity and brilliance of the universe created by George Lucas. In 2011, creator Russell S. Beattie booked a small performance space in Sydney for what he originally envisioned to be a one-off run of three shows; fourteen years later, The Empire Strips Back has played to eager crowds of Star Wars fans and interested punters in over forty cities worldwide, and now its finally arrived in London at Riverside Studios.
Celebrating burlesque traditions that date back to the 17th century, The Empire Strips Back is a loving parody incorporating the American Burlesque tradition popular in the early 20th century. However, first and foremost, it is a celebration of Star Wars, its characters, its creatures and its worlds, joyously subverting iconic imagery into a celebratory cabaret where Tauntauns dance, Vader gets jiggy with his loyal Stormtroopers and Jabba and his henchmen watch Leia gyrate around them, chains in hand. The Empire Strips Back is a show that lives by Yoda’s famous line, “Do. Or do not. There is no try.” As a result, it delivers laughs, fun, audience interaction, and unbridled creativity as your stand-up comedy guide (The fabulous Pete Anderson at my performance) introduces each act while keeping the energy high and the humour flowing.
Featuring a superb ensemble that includes Brogan Paris, Ema Steindl, Freja Nicole, Cass Tattersall, Jolie Ponchetti, Oakleigh Briscoe, Samantha Ho, David Devyne, Dennis Anin-Badu and Savane Boisleveau, producer Neil Gooding said: “Bringing The Empire Strips Back to London for the very first time is a dream come true. This show started life as a small passion project in a Sydney bar, and now, after touring across the U.S., Australia, and beyond, we’re finally arriving in a city with one of the greatest theatre heritages in the world – and the place where much of the first Star Wars movie was shot!”
With music ranging from the Backstreet Boys “I Want It That Way” to the White Stripe’s “Seven Nation Army”, and the Miley Cyrus hit “Wrecking Ball”, which accompanies the most memorable dance routine of the show, and one that you won’t forget in a hurry, The Empire Strips Back proudly asks it’s audience to “Laugh it up” while empowering its 97% female cast to interpret our favourite characters in a whole new way through dance. So, for anyone who believes Star Wars and burlesque aren’t a match made in heaven, I have one thing to say: “I find your lack of faith disturbing.”
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