Realwheels Theatre
SexyVoices: A Burlesque Theatre Cabaret

Dates and Venue Thurs – Sat May 12 -14, 2016 at 8pm | The Roundhouse Performance Centre, 181 Roundhouse Mews

Director Rachel Peake Set Design Jayson McLean Costume Design Jenna Erickson Lighting Design Adrian Muir Burlesque Choreography Jenny Magenta Stage Manager Katy Schroeder

Reviewer John Jane


The craftily titled SexyVoices is advertised as a Realwheels production of burlesque theatre cabaret. In fact it’s more than that, offering elements of spoken word, mime and slam poetry. The fifteen member cast is not only comprised of artists with varying levels of performance experience, but also entirely consisting of individuals with some form of disability.

The show’s prime focus is to bring awareness, and perhaps encourage discussion about sexuality and how it impacts those with special physical challenges. Surprise, surprise! It turns out that those in the disabled community have similar libido and carnal desire as those of us who consider ourselves to be able-bodied.

While sitting in my seat patiently waiting for the show to start, I was tacitly hoping that it wasn’t going to be too weird. I needn’t have worried. While some of the physical comedy was a little puerile, none of the cast really took themselves seriously.

The poster image of the show belongs to UBC graduate Alexis Chicoine, who refused to feel sorry for herself after a car accident left her quadriplegic fifteen years ago. She got plenty of audible encouragement from a vocal audience for her singing and performing Jenny Magenta’s choreography from a wheelchair.

Special guest Greg ‘Spokes’ Labine opens the show delivering his unique version of rap from a power chair. One of the cleverest solo acts is a more traditional burlesque performance by Kristina Shelden to the Peggy Lee song “Is that all there is?” with wittily modified lyrics.

While there were inevitable inconsistencies in performance standards, neither the cast nor the audience lacked enthusiasm. The show certainly went some way towards dispelling the myth that the disabled think differently about sex and sexuality.

© 2016 John Jane