Dressing up to bare all: Freya Finch’s slow burlesque

A Slow Burlesque is a work that has been on Freya Finch's mind for almost a decade. Freya's interest in burlesque first started at John Bolton Theatre School. A four-month intensive course in Melbourne, Finch describes it as a boot camp-like experience, performing newly devised work every week. The training has a particular focus on mask, Bouffon, clown and vaudeville styles and it was here, Finch realised their love of the absurd. The new Silo Theatre show, now at The Basement in Tamaki Makaurau, Auckland is a variety show with various exaggerated characters including a has-been diva, a Miss European style MC, a punk Yorkshire poet and even, a rat. All the characters question and explore the experience and the many masks worn by trans people. The theatre is physical, comedic and involves light audience participation as Finch changes and moves through her various costumes while on stage. Freya Finch spoke to Perlina Lau of Culture 101. A Slow Burlesque is at Basement Theatre in Tamaki Makaurau, Auckland until 19 October.