High-flying show wows students

One of the headline acts of the 2010 Dunedin Fringe Festival got some higher education yesterday.

Burlesque as You Like It - Not a Family Show performer Eve Gordon wowed the lunchtime crowd at the University of Otago with an aerial performance.

"It's called a silks performance and it's a big part of circus arts," Gordon told the Otago Daily Times.

The show, which includes trapeze, acrobatics, dance, singing and film, had to be moved from the Fortune Theatre to the Regent Theatre to accommodate all the high-flying action.

"The show was a lot bigger than we realised," festival director Paul Smith said.

"The Fortune just couldn't cope with nine aerial points. It was just too big. It's going to be fabulous to see how it looks in there. It shows how important the Regent is to Dunedin. There was no other venue in town that could handle it.

Gordon said: "It's a very sexy show. It's titillating, salacious and seductive. But it's infinitely accessible for everyone and there's a point to it. There is nudity in it and it definitely pushes the boundaries. It's probably more suitable for people 16-plus. But it's a lovely and gentle show."

Burlesque as You Like It - Not a Family Show is at 8.30pm tonight and tomorrow night at the Regent.

• It will be a trip down memory lane at the Cellars Bar tonight when the Troubadours of Mercury reunite.

The band will also finally release its album, A Bit of Magic, which was recorded in 1999 but only mixed this year.

"It's been 10 years since we played together and the Fringe just seemed like a good opportunity to do it. It's been wonderful getting back together," guitarist Phil Corfield said.

Vocalist Josephine Skipper plays at the Cellars Bar at 8.30pm tonight, followed by the Troubadours at 9.30pm.

• Funny man Raybon Kan steps out tonight.