Sexual Overtones, an Ottawa Vaudeville Troupe

Sexual Overtones is a performance troupe from Ottawa that places itself nearer to vaudeville than to classic burlesque. Its shows are described by the group as playful, sex-positive and open to everyone, and its stage has been used to raise money for community causes. This profile reflects how the troupe described itself during its early years and may differ from its present form.

Why it began

The troupe was formed by a performer with a background in drag, burlesque and vaudeville who wanted a group matching a queer and feminist outlook. The typical burlesque persona felt like an awkward fit, and a non-profit setting built around fundraising seemed preferable to a commercial one. Like-minded performers gathered over the following months.

Growth

A handful of people grew into a larger company of performers backed by volunteers. The group described its shows as well attended, which it presented as a sign of local interest in volunteer-run variety performance.

A variety-show approach

The troupe works the way a vaudeville bill does, so each act starts with the performers. Founders sorted the material into a few broad types:

• acts that challenge mainstream ideas about what counts as sexy;
• pieces that twist pop-culture images of sex and gender;
• numbers carrying a political charge;
• routines made for the pure fun of treating sexuality lightly.

The programs mix classic and modern dance with juggling, hula hooping, physical comedy and musical sketches. Storylines are often inventive, and themes are borrowed from many eras. Where the company lacks a skill, guest stars from other groups fill the gap. The troupe has said its work rides the seam between burlesque, physical humour and vaudeville.

Mandate and fundraising

The stated mandate is quality entertainment that is body-positive, female-positive, sex-positive, playful and inclusive. Its shows have been described as raising funds for community causes, including sexual health work. Organizers framed their events as evenings where people who value sexual freedom and diversity could gather in a safe, upbeat setting.

Groups of this sort belong to a wider Canadian pattern in which burlesque and variety performance serve as tools for community building and charity as well as entertainment.