The force is with London this May. Following sell-out success in the USA, Paris, Australia and Mexico City, hit burlesque parody The Empire Strips Back has shimmied its way onto a stage at Hammersmith’s Riverside Studios, promising a spicy night of stripteases, dazzling choreography and comedic banter, all, of course, unfolding in the much-loved universe of Star Wars. While I don’t think George Lucas envisioned a slut-dropping Darth Vader and gyrating Greedo when he created the franchise, it seems that the sci-fi lends itself well to steamy spectacle, maybe it’s the fantasy element? Intrigued, and not knowing quite what to expect, we headed over to witness it for ourselves. Here’s our review of The Empire Strips Back in London…
Where exactly is The Empire Strips Back?
Like most places in London, the best way to get to Riverside Studios is by tube. The Piccadilly, District, Circle and, funnily enough, Hammersmith and City lines all stop at Hammersmith, and then it is just a short five-minute-ish walk straight down to the performing arts theatre. If you can get there early, and the weather is on your side, you could always grab a drink beforehand and take in some unexpectedly picturesque views of the Hammersmith Bridge and rippling Thames.
Now, I think maybe it’s best to do a disclaimer that I am not exactly what you’d consider a hardcore Star Wars fan, I’ve watched the films, and some of the spin-off series, so I know my BB-8 from my R2-D2, but I’m pretty clueless about some of the lore and expanded universe. I don’t think that effected my enjoyment of the show, but there were a few niche references that sailed over my head faster than the Millennium Falcon. Lucky for those of us in the dark, there was plenty brought into the light, in more ways than one.
The Empire Strips Back has done their best to maintain their mystique. No filming or photos are allowed (aside from during the finale) so we went in with only a rough idea of what to expect – and honestly what we expected only really scratched the surface. So my next dilemma; avoiding spoilers in this review. I think I’m going to follow the example of the performers and try and stick to more of a tantalising tease…
An unfortunate Tauntaun, a hip-thrusting Han-Solo and some scantily-clad Stormtroopers…
Don’t worry, all your favourites get their time in the spotlight at The Empire Strips Back. Though we do see a bit more of some than others, if you catch my drift. Winking, tongue-in-cheek fun is the name of the game here and the talented performers are definitely in on the joke. One moment you’ll find yourself cartoonishly blinking as a impressively giant (no, not like that), tongue waggling Jabba The Hutt raps along to Notorious B.I.G, the next a spinning C-3PO is stripped for parts, literally, by dancing Jawas.
There’s moments of humour in the tone switches as well. Like where an elegant Leia spins and toe-points along the stage in an only mildly suggestive ballet-style performance, all before loosening her belt with a cheeky smirk towards the stage, prompting a bewitched R2-D2 to fire out a fountain of banknotes. Later, there’s also a surprisingly shudder-inducing turn from Emperor Palpatine and a wrecking ball, where the concept of suggestiveness is practically thrown out the window and fired into space. I’ll let you witness that wince-inducing wonder for yourself, though.
The comedy is also injected by compère Pete Dobbings, who engaged the audience with some Star Wars wit, reminds everyone this is a burlesque, not a strip club (despite what R2-D2 clearly thinks), and was happy to see some fellow follicly-challenged comrades sitting front row, perhaps a comfort when dealing with a slightly more muted Tuesday evening audience. There were a few attempts at Chewbacca growls from the audience and some more confident fans shouting out answers to his seeking questions, but Pete had his work cut out a tad, especially faced with the lethally awkward combo of being British and, let’s face it, probably on the nerdier side.
Lights, Costumes, Action…
As I’m sure is the case for many droids, the show is nothing without its parts. From the almost hypnotising light displays which compliment the swaying dancers, to the captivating costumes which play their own role in each thigh-flashing dance – while keeping faithful to each character’s film-famous look.
A particular highlight, no pun intended, for a suddenly buzzing crowd was a sultry Jedi on a darkened stage, her ethereal moves illuminated only by the green glow of a lightsaber. The visuals were striking, and the appearance of the lightsaber paired with the haunting tones of Angel by Massive Attack seemed to stir something in a suddenly transfixed audience. While a mesmerising watch for myself, I do feel that the more dedicated fans likely derived even more joy from it.
Whether it’s comedic or on the more sensual side, there’s a confident physicality in each performance which reminds you of the choreography and skills that lie behind each dance. The group dances in particular stood out, especially the synchronised moves of the Stormtroopers who went down a storm with the audience – particularly when a sheer catsuit-clad Darth Vader emerged. The thigh-slapping masked villain appeared to be an even bigger hit than Leia, so much so it had me wondering if there’s a secret fan fantasy I wasn’t aware of? Whatever the case, The Empire Strips Back is clearly a collaborative effort and it thrives in these moments – Chewie and Han for one showed why they’re the perfect duo in every universe.
There’s a few wobbles (again, not like that), some dances could be more polished, the women do most of the skin-baring (aside from a brief pant-flashing Han Solo), and while I get the point of the helmets, I am a fan of seeing facial expressions. But hey, The Mandalorian made it work so this could just be personal preference.
To conclude this The Empire Strips Back review, I felt like I had tumbled down a wormhole and experienced a spice-induced fever dream. At times bewildering and others bewitching, it is a welcome dose of silly fun, with a love for the world they’re parodying at the heart of it.
The song choices are solid (you won’t be surprised to know Nicki Minaj’s Starships is on the setlist), the lighting is basically a character in itself and all the performers have an infectious energy that gives the show its unique charm. There’s references galore, and a basic knowledge of the story adds context, but it’s not necessarily needed when you’re watching Boba Fett bump and grind to Guns N’ Roses. Ultimately, you don’t need to a fan to enjoy the intergalactic antics, but I think it probably helps.