MORE than 700 people have flocked to see a saucy show in Kirklees.
And just one person has complained about the cheeky burlesque cabaret performances at Dewsbury Town Hall this year.
The show – by Slippery Belle Burlesque – will also be performed at Cleckheaton Town Hall next month.
But Newsome resident Rose Bridger has slammed Kirklees Council for promoting the shows.
Ms Bridger, who has an internet blog, said: “It’s outrageous for Kirklees Council to be supporting and promoting this company.
“The council is sending a dangerous message to female performance artists that removing their clothes is something to be admired and will attract support from the local authority.”
The council has promoted the show through its Kirklees Together magazine, which is distributed to households.
A Facebook page promoting the event promises: “A night of vintage glamour, retro decadence and old fashioned debauchery.
“Prepare to be seduced by our burlesque performers, enamoured with our cabaret singers and shocked by our cheeky comperes.”
Despite having not seen the performance herself, Ms Bridger was shocked by the content on the performance artists’ website where she viewed women stripped down to their underwear or less.
She said: “The performances might be less blatant than the company’s website suggests.
“But Kirklees is associating itself with and promoting this performance firm.
“Any activity that could be construed as portraying women as sexual objects should not be supported by government.
“Kirklees is using taxpayers’ money, council premises and publicity to support stripping.”
Ms Bridger is now calling on the council to scrap future performances.
But a council spokeswoman defended the show, saying that it has received no other complaints about its nature.
She said: “Kirklees Council is currently expanding its entertainment product by introducing more comedy nights, live bands, musicals and cabaret style events and the burlesque performances are an element of the programming.
“Burlesque is an art form which encompasses both male and female performers and is currently very popular.
“Routines range from comedy sketches and ‘vintage’ through to musical performances.
“Since February more than 700 people have attended such events.
“These customers come from varying age groups – 18 to 80 plus – and backgrounds.
“The events are very popular with couples, groups of friends, company and as birthday celebrations. More than 70% of the customers are female.
“Other town halls across the country have already introduced burlesque evenings.
“These profitable commercial events are self financing through box office ‘percentage splits’ with the promoter and therefore have no financial impact to the KMC council taxpayer.”
