I went to Birmingham's first-ever Drag and Burlesque festival - it was 'worlds away' from what we've seen before - REVIEW

While the first weekend in November marked the opening of the city’s famous Christmas Market for many attendees - it was also a historic moment for Birmingham’s entertainment sector.

From November 5 to November 8, some of the city’s most iconic venues played host to the first-ever Drag and Burlesque festival, launched by House of Allure, an entertainment collective, which was founded in the city almost a decade ago.

The event involved several cabaret-style shows, performer panels and workshops.

I’ve seen House of Allure shows before but this was on a much bigger scale than anything seen from them before - so, naturally, my curiosity was piqued enough to brave the Christmas market traffic to see all the shows involved. Here is what I thought of each one:

The Allure Games, Old Joint Stock Theatre - November 6

The Allure Games was a competition in an intimate venue space that allowed you to get close to new rising talents from across the country, hosted by the hilarious Trixie Blue. It showcased an array of talent and styles and body types - which was amazing.

As a larger woman myself, it is so rare to be able to look on stage and see someone be cheered and celebrated for their body with a similar shape to me but at a House of Allure show, anyone can look on stage and see someone who can make them feel seen, sexy and like they could get up on stage and do it themselves.

I particularly loved seeing Velma Vogue, from Leeds, who was dubbed the rising star of the show, for her absolutely phenomenal Boss B***h act - that woman can move and ooze confidence from every curve! She had my vote!

Other alluring favourites included the winner Ginger Soumise, who celebrated women’s bodies with her Defying Gravity routine - I’ll leave what she was referring to your imaginations, and teasing acts from Bunny The D’Vine and Honey Schwarz.

But while a good portion of the show is all about being racy - many were laugh-until-it-hurts funny. Stand-out comedy from drag king Randy Karma, with a scream of a call out to toxic masculinity and drag artist Ellixia Q. Valentine giving a blast from the past with a Ned Flanders performance.

The Follies Grandé, The Old Rep Theatre - November 7

The Follies Grande, which was hosted by Birmingham drag-legend Dalliah Rivers, was held at a much larger venue than I’ve seen from House of Allure in the past - the Grade II-listed Old Rep Theatre near New Street Station. I must admit, I questioned whether a larger venue would take away from the intimacy that loyal audiences love about House of Allure shows - but within minutes I was proven wrong.

The acts still engaged with the audiences, even coming out into the crowd on occasion, and Dalliah bantered well with the occasional quip from a cheeky heckler in the stands.

Among my favourite acts were the group numbers from House of Allure and Adage Angels - they were mesmerising and served face with the audiences.

In terms of solos, Benjamin Levi blew me away with his hoop routine - which was one of those insane talents that make you question how people figured out they could do that in the first place.

I also loved seeing how the likes of Donna Poderosa and Misty Lotus weaved elements of their culture into their respective acts.

This show was pure artistry - showing forms of Burlesque and drag blended in multi-cultural beauty - a true mash of what makes Birmingham’s entertainment industry what it is and proved once again what I declared in a previous House of Allure review - they are the drag and burlesque powerhouse of the West Midlands.

Worlds Away 2.0, Eden Bar - November 8

Finally, we come to the World’s Away 2.0 show - which was hosted at Eden Bar, the famed bar in Birmingham’s Gay Village, which hosted House of Allure’s first ever show almost a decade ago - so while the finale may have been out-of-this-world in theme, it was very much a return home for the collective - even if the bar has relocated a few times.

The show opened with the charismatic Locques LaRoux at the helm. I’ve said before that he is the perfect blend of talented poet, comedian and flirtatious with his audience that kept Burlesque fans and so-called 'Burlesque virgins' enthralled for the whole night - whether it be poetry about how what he looks for in a man or performing musical numbers - and I stand by that statement.

Throughout the night, we were treated to many space-themed performances. Coco Deville in particular stole every nerdy heart in the room with her Star Trek-themed strip and Tristan Treble had the room roaring with their Back to The Future act!

But the comedic star of the night without a shadow of a doubt was Lily Snatchdragon - from her massage routine to hilariously bizarre Ewok fantasy strip. I was crying with laughter in my seat!

Overall, the festival was a raving success and was a testament to the work put in by Dominous Von Vexo and the rest of the team. Now, there’s just one question lingering in my mind - will it be back? I sure hope so.

FIVE STARS!