Burlesque used to mean a parody or caricature of a very serious subject by nonsensical treatment.

Victorian burlesque as written by WS Gilbert, Planche, or Bryon, was witty, erudite and wildly funny although critics complained about ‘the display of attractive women in scanty clothing often in travesty roles’.

Modern burlesque has become a saucy variety show, full of glitz, sparkle and glamour although not obviously relating to anything serious, let alone literary or operatic.

On stage in the Thistle Ballroom were a series of acts designed to launch the first Brighton Burlesque Festival and very entertaining they all were.

Various scantily dressed girls twirled around doing interesting things with feather dusters or in removable Arabian costumes to vibrant recorded rock.

Between the acts the audience was entertained by interviews with the stars and a selection of appropriate stalls, which focused on the ‘neo burlesque’ category - or fun with dressing up in vintage scanties, whacky hats and weird bedlinen.

Brighton is a natural home for burlesque and Ticketplanner Events UK has all the ingredients there: all it needs is a push, a polish, a faster speed and watch it grow into the snazzy cabaret style of Gipsy Rose Lee or Liza M.