Thousands flocked to Margate last weekend, Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 August for the Dippers and Dunkers Festival of New Variety and Burlesque.The weekend played host to a variety of events, including the ‘Sideshow Illusions’, in the Old Town and over 3,000 visitors viewed the ‘Headless Women’, ‘Girl in a Goldfish Bowl’, ‘Electra’, ‘The Living Half Lady’ and ‘The Mummy, all of which have been restored for a new generation, after originally being viewed at Dreamland in the 1960’s.
On Friday 21 and Saturday 22, the Theatre Royal, Margate hosted the ‘Sassy Seaside Show’, produced by Sword-swallowing 'Miss Behave' and Professor Vanessa from the National Fairground Archive, University Sheffield. With a full house both evenings, the crowds were entertained by Fred Bear & The Bears, Kalki the Hula Girl, Amy G, Amber Topaz, Matt Henham and Bruce Airhead, just to name a few and included magic, acrobatics, aerial displays, glamour and burlesque.
After Saturday night’s performance, the crowd headed down to the Westcoast Bar, for the Balkan Bar Burlesque - a late night-club with a difference, which featured alternative acts for those seen earlier in the evening; featuring the Bears, Madame Galina, Diva Hollywood and Amber Topaz.
Also, as part of the festival for those that have always wanted to try their hand at being a 'Burlesque Performer' beginners workshops were available for men and women, as well as Street Magic Workshops, for the young Derren Brown wannabes. Also available are Circus Workshops, which continue this week until Wednesday 26 August at 10am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-4pm, at The Community Pharmacy Gallery, 16 Market Place, Margate Old Town. All ages warmly welcome, it’s never too late to run away with the circus.
Over the weekend, The Skin Deep Tattoo exhibition, provided by the National Maritime Museum, in the former Rosebys shop, displayed the history of the tattoo and showed local tattoo art, as well as inviting visitors to have their own tattoos photographed.
Heather Sawney, Arts Development Officer said: “The Festival has been an incredible success, with thousands of people flocking to Margate. The Sideshow Illusions were really popular with visitors, as they haven’t appeared in Margate for 50 years and it was great to have them all together for the first time to entertain a new audience generation. The Sassy Seaside Show was packed, with guests raving about individual acts. This was a just a taster – next year will be a week long event, and plans are already underway.
For more information, visit http://www.dippersanddunkers.org.uk/ or call 0870 264 6111
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