On a dowdy mid-week evening we headed down to Volupte Lounge, tucked away in the middle of central London, just off Fleet Street. As soon as you step into the place you can smell decadence, glamour and general fanciness.

Originally burlesque started out as a form of entertainment for the working classes and as a way to ridicule the upper classes. It originates from the US and usually involves lingerie, tassels, striptease and a good ounce of comedy. Volupte Lounge has the perfect amount of all of these things!

Watching a burlesque cabaret show is kind of like being part of the Moulin Rouge or other showgirl acts. If glamour, decadence, cocktails and a little naked flesh sounds like the ingredients of a good night out to you, then I would thoroughly recommend heading down to one of the acts at the famous Volupte Lounge.

Recently London has become awash with lots of cabaret and variety shows, which claim to offer burlesque acts. Unlike some other new-wave burlesque clubs however, nights at the Volupte Lounge are the real deal, offering performances from true performers and showcasing some breathtaking acts in the club’s various productions.

Currently, Volupte Lounge is offering a variety of shows featuring a multitude of acts including afternoon tease tea parties and a murder mystery night which we both headed out to (see below for our different takes on the night).

Luke’s thoughts

The Murder! show we saw was as comical as it is was entertaining with a good variety of acts including classic dancing girls, a comedian and some amazing hoop work from the notorious Roxy Velvet. The fire-eating act alone is worth heading out on a week night for and is pretty nail biting considering the show takes place in a pretty small venue!

The pianist who helps the murder mystery unfold is pure genius, guiding you through the twists and turns of the plot, which once ladies start taking their clothes was, I have to admit a little lost on me! Especially considering they were also eating fire or hanging from the ceiling at the same time….

The Murder! show consists of acts by all the suspects of a movie star’s murder and each plead their case through the medium of dance. Highlights include a fire breathing Russian girl, a mesmerising snake charming jungle girl and a hoop dancing Spanish beauty…

Tickets cost ten pounds for seated which are worth the extra money as you get to see a lot more than standing and you should book in advance because the events sell out quickly, especially the unique afternoon tease and Ivy Paige’s Scandalous night.
If you fancy a laugh with your mates and some possible dressing up then I would thoroughly recommend checking out a night at the Volupte Lounge!

Ruth’s thoughts

Burlesque for me symbolises beauty, decadence and class – and I especially love the power these women possess over men and women alike. I’ve always admired 50’s stars and women such as Dita von Teese and the way in which she captivates an audience through sheer titillation! It was good to see a refreshingly mixed crowd of men, women, families and groups of friends, proving to me that Burlesque isn’t seedy and just for leery blokes as some might think. It’s pretty evident that girls love it too, and many were dressed up with 50’s quiffs and beautiful dresses……I wore peep toe shoes and pearls and felt quite the part. A good dose of underground alternative fun, I happily went along with the boyo, as to be honest it’s pretty much my kind of thing.

The venue was small but elegant, with the staff service excellent, and good thing too really considering the prices - prepare to pay up to £8 for a gin and tonic! It’s great that it was table service however, and really made it classy. The performers were brilliant, and I especially loved the fire eating and the live snake. The highlight for me was the tongue in cheek way in which the piano playing male narrator stripped halfway through, and a pretty impressive acrobatic stint on a hoop by Roxy Velvet!

All in all, a great night, and I’d love to see the Burlesque and Blues weekly event they have on at the moment. If you’re unsure about burlesque in general, I say head out to an event here and see if it changes your mind. You’ll soon be as hooked as I am.

www.volupte-lounge.com
9 Norwich Street
London
EC4A 1EJ

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