Looking for glitz and glam this Valentine’s Day? How about some humour and heart? Get that and more with Cheesecake Burlesque Revue!
The Victoria-based troupe brings their award-winning variety show to Courtenay on Friday, February 14. Presented by the Sid Williams Theatre Society’s Blue Circle Series, audiences will be in for an unforgettable ride, according to co-founder and producer Champagne Sparkles.
Known as “The Head Cheese,” she describes Cheesecake Burlesque Revue as a dynamic blend of singing, dancing and comedy all centred around the art of striptease.
“We style our performance as sort of a vaudeville show with shorter skits, about four to six minutes each, in which we tell a story or have a theme to go along with the music. We do a lot of comedic performances and then some more classic striptease – the kind with a beautiful lady in feathers and sparkles.” Mixing solo, small group and large group performances, even the emcees join in the fun, weaving humour and ukulele interludes into the lineup.
For this Valentine’s Day-themed show, the ensemble is celebrating love in all its forms. “Not just romantic love,” Sparkles emphasizes, “but also love for your friends, family, community and especially yourself.”
Self-love and body acceptance are central to the Cheesecake mission. “We want our audience to feel represented and good about themselves in the bodies they’re in right now,” she says.
Over the years, the troupe has shifted their messaging from “body positivity” to “body acceptance,” acknowledging that nobody feels great about their body 100% of the time. “It’s about accepting your body as the vessel it is for you.”
This commitment to embracing and celebrating individuality also extends to the troupe’s collaborative process. Just as they respect each performer’s unique relationship with their body, they draw on each other’s diverse skills and experiences to create their acts.
“We have a feedback process to help each of us develop our acts and to draw on the skills within the troupe. So, for example, if I have an idea for an act, I bring the concept to our group, I'll act out and talk through what I’m thinking, get a bit of feedback, go away, work on it, come back, and the work will evolve over time that way.”
This spirit of collaboration reflects the troupe’s diversity. With 14 members, 11 of whom will be at this show, there’s a range of professional backgrounds. “We have several moms, we've got people who are government workers, consultants, social workers, scientists, as well as some performers who have professionally studied dance and theatre. So, we all bring our backgrounds and skills to the stage.”
The troupe’s journey began in 2006 with a workshop that grew into small performances for friends, then occasional special events before evolving into full-fledged productions. They honed their craft in a variety of venues, from intimate cabaret spaces to community fundraisers. A turning point came at Courtenay’s own Sid Williams, which helped the Cheesecakes transition into larger, more formal theatre spaces.
“The Sid Williams was the first big theatre that we ever performed in,” Sparkles recalls. “In 2008 we did a Halloween show there. That experience really propelled us onto the trajectory we’ve been on since then. Performing in theatres gives you the space to fully realize your vision, which can be challenging in smaller venues, especially with a group.”
Nearly two decades in, the Cheesecakes have faced their share of challenges. “We’ve been through personal challenges, injuries, loss, divorce – life happens. And of course, COVID forced us to pause for a while. But those experiences brought us closer together. We’ve always tried to support one another with everything.”
Through trials and triumphs, the Cheesecakes refined their artistic and philosophical vision, embracing empowerment and inclusivity as core values. “We realized the effect we were having. Audiences kept telling us how much it meant to see people like them on stage. That’s when we really leaned into body acceptance and creating a space where everyone feels included.”
As their mission to celebrate diversity and body acceptance grew, so too did the Cheesecakes’ visibility. Their compelling performances have taken them around the globe, wowing crowds in Las Vegas, New York, New Orleans, Paris, Berlin and beyond.
A recent milestone cemented their status in the burlesque world: winning at the Burlesque Hall of Fame, essentially “the Olympics,” in Las Vegas. “It was very exciting and satisfying,” Sparkles says. “We were completely shocked when they called our name. Being recognized by your community for what you do is an amazing feeling.”
As Cheesecake Burlesque Revue prepares to dazzle Courtenay, Champagne Sparkles hopes the audience leaves feeling joyful, empowered and inspired. “We want people to have fun and feel good about themselves,” she says. “We want everyone to feel like they’ve been part of something special.”
Don’t miss your chance to experience the sass and celebrate the sizzle of Cheesecake Burlesque Revue. Some lucky audience members may even have a chance to participate and, of course, they’ll meet and greet after the show.