Athlone's burlesque festival to return for fourth year this September
By Rebekah O'Reilly
The Heart of Ireland Burlesque Festival is returning for its fourth consecutive year this September.
The festival is taking place from Friday, September 11 to Sunday, September 13, in the Dean Crowe Theatre in Athlone.
Athlone native Michelle Jinks is the brains behind the festival, and has been performing the art of burlesque under her stage name Miss Memphis Shell since 2017.
A series of events will take place across the weekend, from the Sionnan Spirit Award, The Gala Night where performers are in with a chance to be receive the 'Heart of Ireland' award, and the Viking Boat Cabaret Drag Show Tour.
The festival prides itself on providing a safe and inclusive space where any form of discrimination such as racism, homophopia, sexism, body shaming, ageism has no place.
On the first night, a newcomer competition for the rising stars of burlesque the Sionnan Spirit Award will take place, with fresh faces vying for the chance to be crowned the Sionnan Spirit.
Competitors include Prague-based bearded burlesque drag queen Eva Lunch, New York City's Leona Ferocious, Parisian performer Velvet Queen, Northern Ireland's Garnet Fury, Vancouver's Jalebia, Elle EssDee from Indianapolis, Belgian burlesque artist Herr Kull, London-based burlesque artist, cabaret singer and producer Kiki Noir, French performer Dilly Toll, and Cheshire's Roxy Revamp.
On the second night, the main event the Gala Night for the Heart of Ireland Award will see the best of the best compete for the title of Heart of Ireland.
Those battling for the title include Waterford native queer and disabled artist Numi, Perth's Miss Flo Jangles, South Korean and New Jersey based performer Joona Bae, Netherlands-based genderqueer performance artist Z, German artist Rosi Rabbit, Canada's Tomboy Selleck, Nova Scotian performer The Lady Corbeau, and Dublin native autistic burlesque performer Scarlett Van Tassel.
Throughout the weekend, attendees can expect an array of burlesque performances, workshops, and social events.
Also returning this year is the Memphis Market, which will see traders with handmade, vintage, art, fashion, and wellness products offering their goods over the two awards nights in the Dean Crowe Theatre.
Workshops and details of the Viking Boat Cabaret Drag Show Tour are yet to be announced.
Weekend tickets for the festival are available for €45 each, while tickets for individual nights are priced at €26 each.
Fore more information, or to book tickets, go to: https://www.heartofirelandburlesquefestival.ie/events-tickets/