Heart of Ireland Burlesque Festival returns for second year

Rebekah O'Reilly

The Heart of Ireland Burlesque Festival is set to return to Athlone for its second year.

This year the festival will take place from September 20 to September 23 in the Dean Crowe Theatre in Athlone.

Festival Producer Michelle Jinks, known in the burlesque world as Miss Memphis Shell, couldn't be more delighted with the expansion of the festival.

"I started thinking of planning the festival five years ago," Michelle said, however, it was only last year when it finally came to fruition, with the first rendition of the Heart of Ireland Burlesque Festival taking place in the Dark Horse Bar & Kitchen in Athlone.

"A couple of years ago, I decided to take the leap, so I started off small with the first festival," she explained.

Michelle was blown away by the response the festival got last year, and is looking forward to offering a larger platform for local performers during this year's festival. She said: "Athlone's ready for it - last year I didn't think it was going to go as well as it did. Even weeks after the festival people were still talking about it, and there was a buzz about town."

This year, the festival is back and even bigger than before. When asked how she felt about moving to a bigger platform, Michelle said it was "very, very daunting" for her.

"When I started the festival last year, I didn't think I would've gotten the Dean Crowe Theatre this year. For burlesque perfomers, the stage in the Dean Crowe Theatre is like a Rolls Royce - so [we're] not getting ready in a toilet with our suitcase - which is normally the case."

A trifecta of amazing events are set to place across the weekend, including the Sionnan Spirit Award, a gala night, and workshops with internationally renowned burlesque performer and teacher Gina Sterling.

Gina's workshops are to take place in the Boat House in Sean's Bar, which is also the first place Michelle ever performed as Miss Memphis Shell, bringing the journey full circle for the festival producer.

Speaking about the festival gaining traction in the interational burlesque scene, Michelle said: "Last year was very daunting reaching out to people about a festival they'd never heard of before.

"I reached out to a performer [Margo Mayhem] who was travelling in the UK, and she came to perform as the headliner for the Friday night last year."

The festival will also be host to six newcomers who will compete for the Sionnan Spirit Award. Performers are flying in from France, the UK, the US, and Canada for the festival, however, it is the local talents that Michelle is most proud of showcasing.

She said: "Our first ever headliner was Miss Bonnie Boux, who is the reigning Miss Burlesque Ireland, and we had another headliner, Bella Curve, who was Miss Burlesque Ireland the year before.

It was very important to me last year that I actually had one of our main headliners to be an Irish performer - because it's great getting in international performers - but my festival is about trying to support and to have a big stage for our local and Irish performers."

The festival is all about championing local business and local talent - and Michelle has a plan for how she wants the festival to develop annually.

"I have a five-year plan," Michelle said. "I want to introduce more workshops, and I want to include more local businesses."

When asked what the biggest challenge has been in setting up the ambitious project, Michelle stated: "Getting sponsorship together can be the most challenging part."

However with the backing of local businesses, the performer has been able to see her vision come to life: "Athlone has been great - loads of local businesses wanted to get involved."Last year's festival was backed by Westmeath County Council much to the delight of the producer. She said: "It was great, because it finally recognised burlesque for what it is - which is art.

"The Irish are known for their storytelling - and burlesque is tongue in cheek, and it's the art of the tease - but it can be so many different things, and it is a form of story telling. That's why I wanted to have this festival smack bang in the middle of Ireland."

Whilst the support of the county council was huge for Michelle, the support of local businesses is also of huge importance to the performer. She said: "There's so many businesses that have supported the festival. The Dark Horse Bar & Kitchen hosted the first festival, and are sponsoring this year. Arch House B&B are hosting the performers. Other local sponsors like Love My Hair, FINE coffee, The Venue and CJ Maintenance have been amazing.

"The Viking Tours Ireland are even getting involved by hosting a burlesque and cabaret show on board on the Sunday evening of the festival."

The burlesque star doesn't want to give it all away as she said: "I have a plan of where I want it to go - but I hold my cards close to my chest! People will have to keep watching to see how it will go."