The Empire Strips Back

Riverside Studios

Star Wars fans untie! This parody Star Wars burlesque is a lot of fun and best paired with a beer. Set design and choreography are fantastic... but is it empowering for women?

This review is from the perspective of an audience member that has minimal knowledge of Star Wars.

The Empire Strips back has landed in London at Riverside Studios after sell out runs in the USA, Paris and Australia. The set up is relaxed, the content is funny, and the visuals are impressive. You don't have to be a lover of Star Wars to appreciate the show or find it funny, it is a great laugh. Of course, it is also Star Wars... but sexy. Whilst the show claims to have an element of female empowerment, it plays on Star Wars sexual fantasies, there are moments that feel over sexualised and whilst the title includes 'Strips Back' moments of female empowerment feel erased by the amount of stripping. It seems there is also a significant lack of variety of body type. There is some beautiful choreography in some scenes that changes the style completely, but is then followed by a more burlesque style and this feels confusing at times. This show would thrive in a cabaret setting.

Without any doubt there are some very talented dancers in the cast of this show. Pete Dobbing is the host of the show and introduces each scene. He interacts with the audience, gets them to get involved and he is naturally very comic. Jolie Ponchetti plays Leia in one of the opening numbers and her dance with R2D2 is iconic! She has a lot of energy, like a pocket rocket and her dance skill is a high standard. She performs a lyrical style dance and then goes into a more burlesque style; the lyrical style is a deviation from the sultry style and gives her an opportunity to show her ability to perform a number of styles. It almost ruins the beautiful choreography when she goes into the burlesque style in the next moment.

The costume and set design are fantastic. Whilst the pace stops and starts, because they are filling the stage with the next setting, the host Pete keeps the audience entertained. Each scene feels like you are being taken on a journey through the films many settings. The female storm troopers are iconic. C-3PO's feminine outfit was interesting, the opening the dancer wears the whole gold outfit and the movements are robotic. The cast remove elements of the costume, and the movements become more fluid. The characters costumes being made to suit the burlesque style is interesting.

Whilst the choreography is strong, the timing and spacing isn't always the best and this is why a cabaret setting would help this show thrive. It would create the relaxed atmosphere they are trying to create and would make help the audience be more immersed. It's an experience more than a show. But whilst this is supposed to be empowering for women it feels unsettling how it is Star Wars sexual fantasies. There are such a range of numbers in the show, burlesque, more commercial dances, lyrical and it's interesting to see such a range. It's a fun show, the pace stops and starts, but it's worth it if you enjoy Star Wars.