Burlesque performer, Miss Glory Pearl, has long been a friend of Burlexe. She has both contributed her story to our theatrical burlesque show and performed her Ethel routine in the first run of Burlexe. Now she’s pushing her own and burlesque boundaries forward with a brand new show, The Naked StandUp.
Miss Glory Pearl’s Naked Stand Up
Miss Glory Pearl is a very modern multi-talented burlesque artist and much, much more, including hostess, ex-pole dancer, poet, (naked) stand up and vintage hat aficionado.
We first got to know her when she provided the inspiration for one of our Burlexe monologues – and we’ve since become firm friends as she also featured in both Burlexe and This Is Burlexe, in different guises.
She’s a comedy chameleon who can pretty much turn her hand to most formats and hold an audience to boot, but is famed for her classic old lady-to-burlesque artiste routine and recently her work as the Naked Stand Up, where she literally does what it says on the label. In between pant-wetting gags and poems, she peppers her act with insightful comment and helps the audience overcome their very own circles of shame. A feelgood show at its best.
Yet, that description hardly reflects the intelligence and wit she has in abundance. Hopefully our interview here helps deliver more of that picture.
She’s already been interviewed in the Daily Mail and the Evening Standard among others. She spoke about her background as a teacher and how its informed the show.
Miss Glory Pearl said, “I kind of am a teacher at heart. I want people to feel better, be the best they can be and in a sense the show is saying that. Don’t spend all your time and money on your waistline.”
She added, “So often after performing one of my burlesque routines (where I usually end the act in some state of undress) women come up to me and tell me how brave they think I am. I wanted to write a show that asked ‘What’s so brave about being naked, and why are so many of us ashamed of our bodies?’
“I figured that if I was going to stand on stage and say that I thought that there was nothing wrong with being naked, really I should put my money where my mouth was. So I decided I would perform the whole show in the nude.”
“Being naked has a really interesting effect on the audience dynamic. After the initial stunned silence peppered with a few stifled sniggers, the audience seem to really relax into it.
“It’s like my nakedness creates a blank canvas for the material and almost gives them permission to let themselves go and open up. No one is trying to imagine what I look like under my clothes for a start, so we can just get on with having a good laugh…. with my boobs out.”
Glory continues to speak on the subject of nudity and continues to evolve the shows as well as hosting Naked Girls Reading.
Miss Glory Pearl Films
Miss Glory Pearl has both starred in and been the inspiration for Burlexe and our short films. As an actress, she’s performed monologues inspired by Phyllis Dixey while the Ginger Blush performed an intimate story of depression and resurrection inspired by Glory. Enjoy a taster below…
Miss Glory Pearl Interview
Describe yourself in five words? Witty, unconventional, kind hearted, mercurial.
How did you get into burlesque? I got into burlesque through pole dancing. I wanted to perform pole dance professionally but didn’t want to perform at Stringfellows so I decided to find another art form I could incorporate pole dancing into and I chose burlesque.
Burlesque hero/ine? The living performer I admire the most is Catherine D’lish because she’s incredibly beautiful, sexy and talented. She’s one of the most down-to-earth people you could meet and she doesn’t take herself too seriously.
Favourite burlesque routine? My Old Girl, New Tricks routine, which features a little old lady character, Ethel Musskitten. The reason I like the act so much because the character seems to really resonate with audiences because they seem to really connect with her, get behind her and are rooting for her by the end. It’s really good that audiences support the character in such a positive way.
What’s been your most triumphant moment to date? Probably getting a standing ovation at the Paris Burlesque Festival. Yes, that was awesome.
What does burlesque mean to you? Creative freedom and funny women.
Motto in life? Suck it and see.
Stay in touch with her via her Facebook , Twitter or her Instagram – where you can check out her adorable ‘Prat in a Hat series’!
(Main image Copyright – Bill Mackellar)
