Our Press Officer Steve Pratt caught up with Freida Nipples ahead of the new Studio season, as we transform the performance space into The Old Paint Shop! Freida kicks off the season by returning with her cabaret, burlesque performance. To book tickets and find out what over events are taking place visit: https://www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk/the-old-paint-shop/
She was a sociology and politics student whose career choice might have been very different had it not been for the chance sighting of a poster advertising a burlesque show.
It was the day before her 20th birthday when the woman now known in the burlesque world as internationally-acclaimed performer Freida Nipples – and who chooses not to reveal her real name – spied the poster. Having made no other plans to celebrate she suggested to friends that a night out at a burlesque show would be fun.
It was love at first sight, an instant reaction that made her want to become a burlesque performer herself. She was lucky with that first show as it introduced her to what is termed in the burlesque world as her “burlesque mother”, namely Lady Wildflower.
They didn’t speak to each other on that occasion but Freida remembers Lady Wildflower was like “thank you for coming” although admits her other thought was ‘oh, she’s wearing a lot of make-up’ – “and now I wear that much make-up”, she adds.
Lady Wildflower is one of the best in the burlesque world in Europe and much sought after not just to perform but to tutor would-be burlesque artistes. There are schools too that teach the art of burlesque. Freida has leant from the best as she’ll reveal at two shows at York Theatre Royal’s new nightspot The Old Paint Shop (housed in the Studio) on October 5 and 26.
No-one should underestimate the skill of a burlesque performer. Yes, there is bare flesh (“a lot of bare flesh” Freida concedes) but there’s also humour and a story behind their acts.
As Freida sums up: “It’s all just art basically, it’s not all about taking your clothes off”.
Freida says her burlesque audiences are around 75 per cent women: “Maybe it’s about seeing a version of themselves on stage. Perhaps it’s seeing their body type on stage. That’s part of it – body positivity. There aren’t many places you can go to see a lot of different body types. A lot of people find that very refreshing.
“Gay guys and and couples are regulars too. Men on their own are a rarity. In eight years of performing I don’t recall seeing a men’s group in the audience,” she says, adding – wearing her audience-seeking producer’s hat – “But literally everyone is welcome”.
Freida Nipples appears in a number of guises, including a nun, in an act best summed up by the following review: “This glamorous Tease Queen will remind you of old school bump and grind but serve it with a side of comedic flare, blurring the line of Classic and Neo Burlesque and inviting you to explore a fantasy world where glamour and humour live fabulously together.”
As well as performing, Freida produces burlesque shows with regular shows in Leeds and one-offs elsewhere including recently The Crescent in York and a charity show at a Selby working men’s club. There are more intimate private gigs too which can be a challenge and ‘very exposing ‘. And, of course, there are shows in London at venues with names Goddess Temple of Love.
Learning the art of burlesque is one thing, finding a name is another. It’s the most difficult thing, according to Freida, especially at the start when a beginner will find many suitable names are already taken.
Freida worked under several different names at the start of her career. One was a variation on De Ville. 101 Dalmatians villain Cruella De Ville has a lot to answer for. As Freida points out, she has a De Ville in both of her Old Paint Shop shows.
After attending a burlesque workshop in Sheffield, she was on her way home by train when the talk turned to using Janet in a name but she dismissed it, saying “That’s not giving me glamour”. Freida, her sister and great aunt’s name, was considered more glamorous. “Then when I realised the name Frieda had the potential to be wordplay on ‘free’ I realised it had to be ‘nipples’ for the other part of the name. Frieda Nipples, burlesque performer was born.
Freida Nipples presents her favourite burlesque, drag and cabaret artists from across the UK and beyond in The Old Paint Shop at York Theatre Royal on October at 8pm and in a Hallowe’en themed show on October 26 at 6 & 9pm.
Box office 01904 623568 | yorktheatreroyal.co.uk
