Ivy Wilde

"I started performing in May 2008, at the first ever Red Rocks in Birmingham, which was an all ed head burlesque show and a complete riot! My burlesque career spanned 6 years and in that time I performed at shows all over the UK, highlights included The West Spot, Kinky & Quirky, The East Coast Tattoo Expo and The Missy Malone & Friends Burlesque Review. My last performance was in Dec 2014 at Dr Sketchy’s Nottingham.

I started the North West Burlesque Society with Ginger La Rouge and Glorian Gray, a place for performers and fans alike to learn more about the history of burlesque, find support, socialise and try out new acts. I loved organising these events for the community – we had a tonne of guest speakers and workshops over the years, and even after I finished performing I still ran the society along with Ginger for the next 2 years. Community is one of the most important things to me in terms of burlesque. In place to lift the others up around you and help you find your feet when you’re first starting out, and to make connections with like minded people which carry you through your career.

I wrote various articles for 21st Century burlesque after my retirement from performing and then worked as Assistant Editor for a while before my (then) toddler and a house renovation and new job swallowed up my time and I needed to step back.

Burlesque was such a big part of my life, and I have made lifelong friends (shout out Havana Hurricane, Trixie Passion, Ginger La Rouge & Em Brulee) who I still see and count as amongst my nearest and dearest."