Star Rae Review/Miss Burlesque Competition Interview
Written by Jemma Lanyon
Theatre In Preview
Racheal Leigh is a woman with a vision and many talents. She's an actor, a burlesque performer and, to her surprise, she's just been asked to teach a Bollywood dance class.
Last year, having been involved in the Brisbane theatre scene for over a decade, she noticed a distinct lack of paid work for actors and decided to do something about it. She subsequently gave up full time work and started a theatre company. Star Rae Productions was born.
Star Rae Productions is a company with a twist. Not only is it home to Australia's only Miss Burlesque competition (think feathers, fans and Moulin Rouge. Leigh describes Burlesque as 'the art of the tease'), but it also has a branch called 'Star for a Day'. This is an entertainment service that provides you with 'paparazzi', a mob of rabid fans and anything else you need to feel famous and/ or make a scene. Perfect for generating publicity, making an entrance at parties or just parading down Queen St. Mall. Leigh eventually intends extending this side of her business, but for now she's concentrating on the Miss Burlesque competition. This has been run in conjunction with the Star Rae Review. If you go to a show, you'll get to see some professional local cabaret performers, followed by a few of the Miss Burlesque competitors.
This coming Sunday October 25 the Star Rae Review has a Halloween theme and Brisbane singee/ songwriter Brianna Carpenter (best known for making the top ten of Australian Idol, 2007) is headlining. Her performance will be followed by heat four of the Miss Burlesque Competition. Leigh isn't giving much away about these acts (mainly because she hasn't seen them yet) but she can promise they will be alternative and quirky with a bit of gothic-punk-cabaret thrown in for good measure. To give you an idea of what to expect, past acts have included fire twirling, drag queens, fan dances, folk music and musical theatre. As Leigh says: “The show's about having something for everyone.”
So, for bloody burlesque, vampy vampires and cabaret from the crypt, don't miss Star Rae Review/Miss Burlesque Heat Four. Feathers will fly and it's guaranteed to be a scream.
Star Rae Review/Miss Burlesque Heat Four is on at the Brisbane Arts Theatre, Sunday the 25th of October at 8pm.
