A Scarlett Ritz was hosted at Volstead Lounge in Perth, just a short walk from free parking at CPP His Majesty’s (thanks City of Perth for making Fringe more accessible!). What a cool venue hidden down a grungy alley.

A Scarlett Ritz is an ‘immersive experience’. When I first heard that I did think ‘what the? They want us to join in? If I’d have known I’d have worn different underwear!’ but thankfully no, we didn’t have to join in. It was immersive in that audience members were invited to remove gloves or undo (or attempt to) corset laces or perhaps they were draped in a discarded stole, glove or bra.

The room was an unusual one with no stage and the performers moving around the audience. We weren’t sure where to sit and when we asked the advice was ‘oh just sit anywhere down that end [toward the entrances]’. So here is my tip, if you want to be fully immersed and an active participant then sit at the centre line of couches or on the bar stools behind. If you are more of a voyeur and just want to sit back and enjoy the show with little risk of being targeted, I mean attracting the attention of, the performers then the booths might be more your style (FYI the curtains for the booths are annoying as they did block the view but they really do look good and add to the aesthetic of the place).

A Scarlett Ritz was put on by Perth’s own school of burlesque ‘Scarlet Bell’ and I would hazard a guess that seven of the eight performers are students with the final performer the director, Elle Entice. The school welcomes students of all ages, sizes, shapes and abilities and last night the performers were body positive with performers of a range of ages showcasing that burlesque really is for everyone, which was brilliant to see.

In true burlesque style there were sequins and pasties galore, tassel twirling and shimmying that got the audience members to their feet! The audience members were in fine form, clapping, cheering, and air butt slapping and otherwise demonstrating they were having a ball.