Spicy, yet stylish, Saucy Pear are giving an even steamier twist to burlesque. Tim Hughes investigates

FIERCE, frisky and funny – the Saucy Pear Cabaret put on a show unlike any other.

Or, at least, that's what their two leading ladies Ginger Tart and Jupiter Jove tell me.

The duo have a reputation for leaving audiences loosening their collars with a steamy show which sits the right side of tasteful – but still stylishly titillates.

The show takes place next Saturday – August 27 – and because it is designed to get pulses racing has been dubbed "OxPHWOARd!"

"We will be presenting an electric evening, featuring some of the most exciting burlesque performers in the UK scene," says Ginger – the show's producer and host.

"Not for the faint-hearted, OxPHWOARd, features both male and female burlesque performers of all shapes and sizes in strong, silly and sexy routines."

Burlesque, as an art, has a long history, they tell me, pointing out that its original meaning was 'to parody'. It took the form of risqué entertainment in Victorian music halls, initially mocking bourgeois culture.

It grew steadily more risqué before evolving into striptease – initially on the other side of the Atlantic.

Ginger insists it is not about sleaze though. "Since that point, it’s undergone another facelift," she says. "It's no longer just about feather fans and coy smile, it’s an incredibly diverse art form which encourages performers to express their own individual style as boldly as they like – whether that be comical, gory, classical or political."

Ginger insists that variety is the key to good burlesque – and there's no shortage here with all shapes, sizes and styles represented.

“In this show we have everything from a gorgeous traditional dancer to someone stripping as Queen Elizabeth I!" she says.

"Burlesque is a fantastic opportunity to showcase performers’ creativity while being an altogether empowering and positive experience.

"We take on all genders and all different shapes and sizes; so long as they can make us say ‘phwoar,’ we’d love to have them on stage!”

Headlining is Rubyyy Jones: the Queen of Queerlesque. Self-described as “Part Las Vegas showgirl, part Broadway baby and part drag queen”, she is regarded as an innovator in the field of burlesque – woted the fourth best burlesque performer in the country and 23rd globally (according to the unassailable 21st Century Burlesque Magazine).

"Burlesque, for me, is about expressing myself and exercising my freedoms," says Rubyyy. "That and helping people feel something, through making them laugh, shocking them a bit or showing them a different kind of body or beauty.

"I've been called the Queen of Queerlesque and that's a nod to my signature blend of glamour, glitter and politics."

Ginger says: "Rubyyy is known for her fiercely unapologetic burlesque style, queer and feminist themes and powerful dance moves.

"Having performed on some of the best stages in the UK, The Saucy Pear are delighted to be bringing her to Oxford."

She adds: "I love exploring the surreal, camp and grotesque elements of burlesque. I love taking something that should be beautiful and sexy and exaggerating it to the point that it's just silly and comical. The idea that I can be nude on stage and not feel obliged to be sexy or beautiful is incredibly liberating.

"That's why I love the cast for this show. They each use their bodies to express so many different facets of themselves, whether they want to be fierce and sexy, or over the top, or silly. There really is something for everyone and demonstrating that burlesque has more to it than feather fans is so important.

"You can expect powerful and sexy performers, you can expect beautiful and elegant performers, you can expect fun and character-driven performers.

"It's a very theatrical show."

The Saucy Pear Cabaret Presents OxPHWOARd takes place next Saturday, August 27, at The Bullingdon on Cowley Road, Oxford.

Doors open at 7.15pm and tickets, priced £7-£15, are available from saucypear.co.uk/oxphwoard. The show contains strong language and nudity and is therefore for ages 18 and above.