Gwendoline Lamour
Gwen Lamour on: Camden Council and burlesque
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Sexual encounters of the Camden kindAs I am sure you are all aware, Camden, once that hip and swinging epicentre of cool is in the process of twinning itself with the Daily Mail.
Crusading councillor Don Williams has vowed to ‘protect the public, especially children, from harm’ by clamping down on striptease in the borough and insisting that all venues in which any form of striptease is performed obtain a Sexual Encounter Licence. This, however, presupposes that all forms of striptease are the same, attract the same kind of audience and create antisocial behaviour in the neighbourhood. Clearly Williams has reckoned without burlesque, which he admits to never having seen, and it is the burlesque community that is suffering. Feature continuesAdvertisement
The Lillith Report on Lap Dancing and Striptease in the Borough of Camden identifies legitimate areas of concern:
‘… 00.20am… a large group of approximately 18 males left the club and hung around outside, making lots of noise, shouting and singing…
‘Touts were overheard offering to take people who have left the club or passing by, to other strip clubs to see girls.’
(From a report by the director of Camden’s Environmental Health Department, March 28 2002.)
Concerns of residents of Camden:
• Antisocial behaviour
• Fear of crime
• Safety of female residents
Concerns of visitors to Camden:
• Safety at night
• Safety of female visitors
However, the aggressive male posturing referred to here is typically engaged in by elements of the male population who delight in attempting to assert themselves through the intimidation of others from within the safety of a gang. To an extent the locale is immaterial, whether spilling out of pubs, nightclubs, lap-dancing bars, or football matches, it is the unsophisticated brutishness of the social group that is the problem.
Having more in common with cabaret than lap-dancing or the old-style pub strip shows of yesteryear, a burlesque show attracts an entirely different clientele; one does not attend a burlesque show for a ‘sexual encounter’. It is theatrical entertainment attracting a mixed audience: gay, straight, men and women. To this end I have never, in eight years of performing, seen a burlesque audience presenting a danger to the public weal, except perhaps by rendering them somewhat speechless in the ‘dressed up to the nines’ category.
By exercising such a total lack of discrimination, Camden Council is penalising a perfectly respectable and well-behaved aspect of the city’s nightlife, disenfranchising venues and performers and leaving yet more room for the yob culture to thrive and flourish.
The final irony, of course, is that in these cash-strapped times burlesque is one of the few boom industries. Well done, Camden for closing it down.
Gwendoline Lamour’s burlesque show ‘A Night of Lamour’ is on Fri May 15 at Madame JoJo's. See listings.- Add your comment to this post
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1 comment
Gwendoline Lamour;s last paragraph reads:
"The final irony, of course, is that in these cash-strapped times burlesque is one of the few boom industries. Well done, Camden for closing it down."
An irony indeed, if burlesque fans travel to The London Borough of Croydon next Wednesday, 3rd June 2009, they will be treated to a burlesque spectacle at The Clocktower, thus:
"High Tease Revue Featuring scenes from Victorian Values. An uproarious medley of bawdy burlesque, musical comedy and razor wit. A celebration of the traditional Variety and Music Hall style show, delivered with 21st century sass, glamour and sophistication. High Tease takes Brit Wit in to the modern era with award-winning international performers, the daring antics of exiguously attired showgirls, the sultriest of sirens and the edgiest comic-cabaret masters. In celebration of the Croydon Clocktower’s own 19th century heritage, this special show also features scenes from the Victorian Values burlesque series - a rejuvenation of the quintessential style of British classical burlesquing which sends up the eccentric morals, ethics and values of Empire - then and now. Absurdly wonderful, this is a unique homage to our whacky comedy heritage."
There are five sponsers to this show, the first of which is none other than: Croydon Council.