Learn about the history of burlesque ahead of Dita Von Teese’s new London show ‘Diamonds and Dust’

The Queen of Burlesque is bringing her famously seductive entertainment to the West End – and it nods to the art form’s glorious past.

Get ready for the most fabulous display of tantalisation courtesy of the one and only Dita Von Teese. The internationally celebrated Queen of Burlesque, who has revitalised and returned the glamour and wit to striptease, is bringing her latest Wild West-themed show Diamonds and Dust to a new West End venue, the Emerald Theatre, for a smoking-hot summer run.

Ahead of your trip, get to know all about the venerable art of burlesque and how Dita Von Teese is both honouring its roots and updating it for the 21st century, bringing the perfect amount of naughty fun to London.

Check back for Diamonds and Dust tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk.

What is burlesque?

Burlesque was originally a literary term coined in the early 16th century, meaning a comic imitation of something serious – for example, the hilarious play-within-a-play in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which sees an am-dram group attempt to stage a romantic tragedy but accidentally turn it into farce.

In Victorian times burlesque became a major theatrical force, often as a parody of a well-known opera, ballet or play. This comic pastiche mixed in music hall and revue turns – a bit like the modern pantomime. Burlesque was a mainstay of London venues such as the Olympic Theatre, the Royal Strand Theatre, and the Gaiety Theatre.

The latter in particular was renowned for its innovative burlesques in the late 19th century, with productions like Robert the Devil, Blue Beard, Ariel, and Galatea, or Pygmalion Reversed. They featured original music by composers such as Meyer Lutz and Osmond Carr and libretti by the comedian Fred Leslie, delighting audiences with their humorous pastiches of famous work.

How did burlesque grow into striptease?

The American theatre produced its own take on burlesque, which was hugely popular in vaudeville in the early 20th century. It similarly mixed comic sketches with singing, magicians, acrobats and more, and the grand finale was often an exotic dancer.

That striptease element became increasingly in demand, and began to supplant the singers and dancers who might wear suggestive costumes, but didn’t actually lose any clothing. The 1930s saw the rise of striptease stars such as Gypsy Rose Lee (who musical theatre fans will know from Gypsy), Sally Rand, Tempest Storm, Blaze Starr, and Margie Hart.

Prohibition put an end to that era of uninhibited entertainment, but in recent decades burlesque has made a comeback. New clubs began springing up in New York in the 1990s, headlined by striptease artists such as Julie Atlas Muz and Dirty Martini. Many acts, including Dita Von Teese, pay tribute to the originals in their shows.

How does burlesque differ from cabaret?

There is definite overlap between the two styles of performance. Both tend to consist of multiple, varied turns within a show, in the music hall or vaudeville tradition, rather than one cast focussed on an overarching narrative. They also tend to take place in more intimate spaces: the audience is invited to drink, relax, and enjoy an evening of sophisticated entertainment.

However, as we understand them today, cabaret tends to be more song-focussed and usually takes place in a club setting, whereas burlesque is more theatrical, dance-based and risqué. The modern variety of burlesque usually combines sensuality with humour and spectacle – whether using witty props and costumes or incorporating circus skills like aerial silk.

Modern practitioners of burlesque have reclaimed it for women, too. It’s no longer about titillation for male viewers, but fun for all – and a form of sexy self-expression.

What burlesque shows can you see in London?

As well as Dita Von Teese’s new production (of which more shortly!), there is plenty more burlesque fun to be found in the capital.

That includes a seductive new show called Sabrage at the King’s Cross venue Lafayette: the title refers to the ceremonial practice of opening a bottle of champagne with a sabre, so this promises utter decadence. The show features cabaret and acrobatic talent from around the world, serving up vintage French glamour and bewitching acts as well as high-end spectacle.

There are other London shows such as Glitter and Titter Cabaret at The Albany,Secret Burlesque Society at Haus of Cabaret, and House of Burlesque at Sway Bar.

You’ll also find elements of burlesque in musical theatre, including the fabulous West End productions of Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club and Moulin Rouge! at the Piccadilly Theatre. Plus London will soon be getting a stage version of the movie musical Burlesque, which starred Christina Aguilera and Cher.

Who is Dita Von Teese?

Known as the Queen of Burlesque, Von Teese has helped to put the spotlight back on this ravishing art form. The American performer grew up adoring Golden Age Hollywood pin-ups like Betty Grable, Mae West and Marlene Dietrich – an early love which inspired her vintage style.

She trained as a ballet dancer and as a costume designer, combining the two as she moved first into glamour modelling (including for Playboy) and then, in the 1990s, into performance. She has said proudly that she “puts the tease back into striptease” in her alluring shows, and she references many icons of her genre – such as doing a feather fan dance in tribute to Sally Rand.

Her 1930s and 1940s-referencing productions involve imaginative props and elaborate costumes. Her signature set-pieces include the use of a carousel horse, a clawfoot bathtub, a powder compact, and most famously a giant martini glass in which she splashes around.

Von Teese has toured the world with her legendary revues, and she also has a stellar screen career. She has appeared in music videos such as Taylor Swift’s “Bejeweled”, playing the singer’s “fairy goddess” (Von Teese even teaches her the martini glass routine!), in TV shows ranging from CSI: Crime Scene Investigation to Queer Eye and The Masked Dancer, and in the 2022 Harry Styles-led movie Don’t Worry Darling.

What can we expect from Diamonds and Dust?

This sparkling show is set in the Wild West and centres on a notorious card dealer, Kitty LeRoy, who is trying to boss it in a man’s world. But for that she will need to tame Lady Luck, played by Von Teese – who also makes her debut as a theatrical director.

Diamonds and Dust mixes Old West lore with vintage casino stylings and thrilling stunts – plus you can add a three-course dining element, and there are specially curated cocktails, a speakeasy atmospheric, and late-night DJ sets (“Emerald After Dark”) to keep the party going.

This is also a must-see for fashionistas: Von Teese’s costumes are designed by Jenny Packham, and her shoes by Christian Louboutin.

Diamonds and Dust is the jewel in the crown of the new Emerald Theatre, which is on Victoria Embankment, in the heart of the West End – or should we say the Wild West End!

Check back for Diamonds and Dust tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk.