Dita Von Teese: Nocturnelle
O2 Apollo, Manchester
January 26th 2026
Manchester sparkled with glamour as the Queen of Burlesque, Dita Von Teese, supported by a hand-picked cast of burlesque artists, kicked off her UK | Europe 2026 tour with the dazzling debut of her new production, Nocturnelle. The evening was hosted by award-winning drag icon and performer BenDeLaCreme, while the cream of the North West burlesque scene gathered to witness the spectacle.
Just before the show, as the audience settles into their seats, a sultry 1940s soundtrack drifts through the theatre, instantly immersing us in the evening’s glamorous world. Then it was time for the show, which opens on a moment of pure theatrical enchantment, with Dita revealed inside a glass box before vanishing as if absorbed into thin air. It’s a poised, glamorous beginning which sets the tone for the night ahead.
Drag icon BenDeLaCreme explodes onto the stage in a leopard-print gown, instantly raising the temperature in the room. Armed with razor-sharp wit and impeccable camp timing, she playfully teases the audience, drawing them fully into her orbit. Ballet-trained Laszlo Major follows, delivering a mesmerising blend of dance, pole, and striptease. His routine is a study in elegance and physical control, executed with such ease it feels almost effortless.
“A deadly specimen,” declares our host as he introduces Zelia Rose and her dancers in a blaze of red, accompanied by sweeping feather fans. The performance evokes the grandeur of the Ziegfeld Follies, opulent, classic, and visually arresting.
Prague-born Tosca Rivola then takes to the stage in shimmering white sparkling diamonds, presenting an elegant aerial hoop routine, combining refined beauty with a flicker of cheeky menace. BenDeLaCreme reappears in yet another outfit change (one of many this evening), for a joyfully chaotic lip-sync, bantering with the crowd before ushering Dita back onstage for her second act. Dita commands one of the night’s defining moments, seated atop a carousel horse in candy-pink couture with shimmering sequins and pink feathers. The effect is pure burlesque escapism: the stage is a whirl of colour and movement as balloons cascade from above. The audience is completely mesmerised, caught up in the spectacle, laughter, and gasps, every shimmer and swirl amplifying the sense of fantasy.
Dita emerges in a shadowy, alluring spectacle, clad in a stunning black gown and headpiece with Swarovski-studded diamonds (vintage costume based on a design by the Art Deco illustrator Erte), and flanked by swords. Joined by Stevie Day and Amber the Magician, the act casts Laszlo as the unwitting pawn of the unfolding illusion. It’s yet another highlight; provocative, theatrical, and wickedly entertaining.
Laszlo and Tosca begin in sharp suits before shedding layers in a razor-sharp striptease of whips, playful power games, and sly humour, each move brimming with tension and seduction, keeping the audience captivated. Rashid Alexander, an Afro-Cuban belly dancer from the Netherlands, is making his debut appearance on Dita’s tour. As chiffon scarves whirl around him like a tornado of silk, his fluid, hypnotic movements radiate effortless charisma, captivating the audience.
The boldly voluptuous Dirty Martini (crowned Miss Exotic World and a USA burlesque champion five times) makes a show-stopping entrance in a fiery robe and glittering red slippers, every inch the star. She launches into a striptease, culminating in twirling her nipple tassels to hearty clapping and whooping from the crowd, her curves and presence dominating the stage and truly bringing the house down. BenDeLaCreme joins her at the end for a riotous routine, leaving the audience laughing, cheering, and fully swept up in the moment.
And finally, the moment we have all been waiting for is Dita’s legendary martini glass routine. Stevie Day and Amber return in pink top hats and tails, assisting with theatrical flair. Encrusted in diamonds, Dita performs a slow, elegant striptease before stepping into the giant glass. Water crashes over the sides in massive splashes as she tantalisingly squeezes a huge strawberry, every gesture dripping with glamour and mischief. An iconic, unforgettable climax.
Dita and her cast return for a final bow to a thunderous standing ovation; the theatre is alive with applause, cheers, and whistles. Every detail of Nocturnelle, from the dazzling costumes and inventive choreography to the perfect mix of humour, glamour, and seduction, is meticulously crafted. The evening leaves the audience enthralled, laughing, gasping, and utterly swept up in the magic of the show.
If you’ve yet to witness Dita Von Teese live, this is your moment; don’t miss it.
Please note: Use of these images in any form without permission is illegal. If you wish to contact the photographer, please email: mudkissphotos@gmail.com
© Melanie Smith / Mudkiss Photos All rights reserved
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Dita is playing the following shows more in the UK/ Europe:
Feb 04 – Birmingham, UK – The Alexandra Theatre
Feb 05 – Birmingham, UK – The Alexandra Theatre
Feb 06 – Birmingham, UK – The Alexandra Theatre
Feb 11 – Stockton on Tees, UK – Stockton Globe Theatre
Feb 13 – Edinburgh, UK – Playhouse Theatre Edinburgh
Feb 14 – Edinburgh, UK – Playhouse Theatre Edinburgh
Mar 27 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Royal Theatre Carré
Mar 28 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Royal Theatre Carré
Mar 30 – Berlin, Germany – Admiralspalast
Mar 31 – Berlin, Germany – Admiralspalast
Apr 01 – Berlin, Germany – Admiralspalast
Apr 04 – Lyon, France – Amphithéâtre 3000
Apr 06 – Prague, Czech Republic – Forum Karlín
Apr 09 – Oberhausen, Germany – Stage Metronom Theatre
Apr 15 – Oslo, Norway – Folketeateret
Apr 18 – Vienna, Austria – Wiener Stadthalle
Apr 20 – Antwerp, Belgium – Stadsschouwburg Antwerp
Apr 27 – Milan, Italy – Teatro degli Arcimboldi
Details here:
Information about Dita Von Teese can be found here at her website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
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All words and photos by Melanie Smith – Louder Than War | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Portfolio
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