A long time ago in a galaxy far far away...

The Empire Strips Back is a show unlike any other. Taking the classic characters from the beloved Star Wars film franchise and dropping them into the world of Burlesque. No expense has been spared in re-creating the details and magic of the original three films, if you are a lover of Star Wars or good entertainment this show is for you.

In 2011 Russall S. Beattie created the first run of Star Wars Burlesque in Australia. It was booked in a 150 capacity room, with the intention to run for 3 nights only. Those three nights sold out in record time, and the show has gone beyond all expections. Since then it has travelled the country and has delighted audiences of over 20,000 people. Still the show was designed for a small stage, and feeling like they had never taken full advantage of a full theatre stage, nor realised the ideas that were just a pipe dream for the original show, the producers destroyed all the props and costumes in May 2013 and started rebuilding a new show from scratch: The Empire Strips Back: A Star Wars Burlesque Parody.

Why go to that much effort for a Burlesque show? It’s important to the cast and crew that the show feels like an extension of the Star Wars universe, The Empire Strips Back taps into what makes these films special and stand the test of time, the sense of wonder – all with tongue firmly in cheek.

It takes the best things of your childhood, and naturally mixes them with the best things about being an adult.

The new show is about to embark on it’s biggest tour to date, starting on March 13th in Bathurst. So get ready to indulge yourself in a sci-fi fantasy of intergalactic proportions – George Lucas would never have dreamt that his characters could be used in such a manner, guaranteed to get some hearts racing with The Force.