EdFringe who? Burlesque is back this August!

1) We can say that with certainty, as one of the most iconic and recognisable burlesque performers of today (Dita von Teese) is launching her new show in London this summer.

2) The release of The Last Showgirl, starring Pamela Anderson, also brought renewed recognition to burlesque’s era of Vegas showgirls.

3) Good news comes in threes, and this year sees The Scotland International Burlesque Festival relaunching to run alongside the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, from 1st – 24th August.

Alongside the variety of burlesque shows running during the Fringe, The Scotland International Burlesque Festival will bring a run of 5 shows per night across The Caves, Bijou (Assembly Rooms) and Piccolo (Assembly George Square).

“The Scotland International Burlesque Festival will bring a run of 5 shows per night across The Caves, Bijou (Assembly Rooms) and Piccolo (Assembly George Square).”

It seems very typical of Edinburgh in August to have another festival overlapping – alongside the Edinburgh International Book Festival, Edinburgh International Festival, the Edinburgh International Film Festival…

But an artform-specific festival is sometimes easier for audiences to explore.

The Scotland International Burlesque Festival

The Scotland Burlesque Festival stems from the London Burlesque Festival, which ran for 14 consecutive years, from 2007-2020. The Scotland International Burlesque Festival launched in 2018 as a ‘one-off’, drawing over 1,200 spectators with a line up of local, national and international performers.

Produced by Majestic International, who have been producing international cabaret shows since 2002, the festival responds to burlesque’s surging popularity.

“The demand for a larger burlesque festival in Scotland became evident after the Fringe in 2024, seeing a major increase in burlesque productions staged at the Fringe, as well as an increase in major mainstream productions across the UK. The resurgence and popularity of the artform continues to grow and the Scotland International Burlesque Festival aims to showcase the diversity across the international community.”

“The resurgence and popularity of the artform continues to grow and the Scotland International Burlesque Festival aims to showcase the diversity across the international community.”

Inclusive and diverse

Audiences are promised a festival that showcases all genres of burlesque. Classic stripteases, comedic parody acts, alternative circus, vaudeville variety and more are in the programme.

The variety of burlesque today is truly astonishing. While the artform is generally understood as a glamorous striptease, perhaps with some sparkly costumes, the neo-burlesque era sparked a new wave of creativity. Artists became spectacularly innovative and used the artform to create acts that were political, historical, modern, about their bodies or not at all.

The range of shows in the Scotland International Burlesque Festival, coupled with the diversity of burlesque, will add an exciting new thread to Edinburgh this year:

All-Stars Burlesque is a celebration of bodies, tradition and inclusivity, pushing the boundaries of the artform. Winners from the World Burlesque Games are billed alongside international show-stoppers.

Best of Cabaret returns for the fifth year as a round up of the finest cabaret acts in Edinburgh this August. A diverse, rotating cast of international artists, including vocalists, variety, circus, comedy and burlesque.

Best of Burlesque: Iconic is in the opulent surroundings of the Bijou Spiegeltent, which gives the show an elegant flair. Best of Burlesque is the longest-running burlesque show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, boasting 5-star, sell-out runs since 2013. With international headliners, innovators, showstoppers and ‘ICONIC’ tributes to legends in burlesque’s history, this show is a chance to see how the artform has been a celebration of bodies, tradition, acceptance and inclusivity.

After-Hours Burlesque Club is a new production billed as a late night sultry burlesque party where anything goes. Sizzling strip tease and alternative variety will run in the intimate ‘Fancy Room’ at the historic Caves. This show asks audiences to leave inhibitions at the door…

Sexy Circus Sideshow 2.0 introduces exotic acts that connect alternative circus with the dark arts of underground burlesque and cabaret. Sexy Circus Sideshow brings a carnival cavalcade of saucy showgirls, sideshow stunts, novelty and variety at its very best!

So if you’re in town, or even if you live here all year long, when August arrives and you’re looking for something a bit spicier than a punchline, you know where to go!

Featured Image: A burlesque dance pictured at After-Hours Burlesque Club – provided by Scotland International Burlesque Festival