Afternoon Tease! at Volupte

Afternoon Tease! at Volupte is certainly the most glamorous way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Zoe and her team of glamorous burlesque performers and waitresses have been much in demand since launching 'Time for Tease' in 1996. They have wowed large crowds at Bestival and entertained Kate Moss on her birthday with a burlesque fan dance.

 

From couples celebrating their anniversary to girly birthday parties, Zoe is clearly adept in getting the audience breaking into saucy cheers and woops!

The 1920’s attired waitresses almost convinced us we were in a Parisian supper club, as they served us extremely dainty sandwiches and cakes - with cocktails on demand.

Pippa the Ripper opened the afternoon’s entertainment with hula hoop gymnastics - making everyone feel very inflexible and want to rush out and take a large dose of cod liver oil! She must have spun thirty hoops around her toned, slender frame.

Gateaux Vivants entertained us in three acts by slowly and seductively eating Danish pastries, resting, rather bizarrely, on her naked breasts, before dashing off behind a screen. One thing is for sure with Burlesque - you never know what you’ll see next…

 

The acclaimed Burlesque starlet Laurie Hagen appeared in beautifully made theatrical costumes - which naturally didn’t last long before being peeled off to reveal a body to die for! Groan.

Elsie Diamond entertained the troops singing ‘I believe in England’ before stripping off her army uniform - the audience cheering on seeing her marvellous Union Jack sequin bra & moments later some co-coordinating tassels!

It was everything I hoped it would be, jolly good fun! Normal afternoon tea will seem rather dull after this. You can currently experience Afternoon Tease! the first and third Saturday of the month and every second and fourth Sunday of the month at Volupte - a highly recommended way to end the weekend. Tickets are £42 per person - this includes full afternoon tea with a glass of fizz and the show.

This review was written for The Vintage Guide to London - an online magazine celebrating the finest vintage inspired shops, events and people!