Em Brulée

"Some memories I'd like to share are of my time performing at 'Sub Culture' in Leeds which was an alternative/goth club owned by Sarah Orange and had become a burlesque hotspot when I started out.

I did my first vocal performance there at one of Bella Besame's shows (Slippery Belle?) and met a lot of brilliant northern performers/producers there of that era such as Bella, Anna Fur Laxis, Rosie Lugosi Ginger La Rouge, Freya Fox, Dalia Hawley, Adelina Le Shay..... the list goes on.

What I loved about it was at that time burlesque hadn't quite emerged into mainstream culture the shows at sub culture had a real edge and represented many diverse styles of burlesque, you'd see gothlesque, gorelesque and fetish performances amidst fan dances, bump n grind and comedy acts.

It was a thrilling time and I really fell in love with burlesque there. Whilst I love the diversity, sophistication and polish of a lot of modern shows I miss the alt performances and audiences of 'Sub Culture' even with tiny backstage space and sticky floors!"