Brisbane purveyors of punk cabaret and hedonistic rock & roll, Bertie Page Clinic are back to share their love of Japan with the rock-cabaret show, 'Wham! Glam! Thank You Japan!'.
Stylised as a love letter from the band to Japan, the raucous, ravishing spectacle is part of the 2019 BrisAsia Festival next month and will feature a live collaboration with a renowned geisha, an Australian first.
Hear the folk tale of magical cats whose transformation gives them power to take revenge on the humans who have done them wrong. Find out where musicians go for a snack after a gig, in a country where kebab shops are a rarity.
And discover what intriguing message was written on the palm of Bertie Page Clinic's bass player, by a mysterious old man who disappeared into the night. The intrigue is strong.
Ahead of the show, Bertie shares 5 facts about geishas.
1. David Bowie
David Bowie wore the designs of star designer Kansai Yamamoto for his Ziggy Stardust performances in the 1970s. The fabrics and make-up were inspired by the traditional make-up of kabuki theatre, which is closely related to that of the geisha. Bowie spent some time living in Japan and it had a clear influence on the rock music he created.Following in Bowie's footsteps, Bertie Page Clinic will be working with a Japanese artist to bring the Japanese traditional aesthetic to the 'Glam Rock' stage. This time the collaboration will be onstage, with a real geisha.
If you are still not sure what a geisha is there are lots of articles out there but, better still, come meet one in person in the Valley. This is a world-first presentation and not to be missed.
2. Lovers & Assassins
300 years ago, when samurai battled and ninjas crept through the night, the geisha also played a role in intrigues and power struggles. Many of them hid samurai in their houses as it was common for these ladies to fall in love with such brave, swashbuckling fellows.When the chips were down, a geisha could use her accessories as a weapon. It is said that the fashion for long, metal hairpins emerged because they could easily be whipped out and used to stab an attacker. There were also beautifully crafted hairpins that held poisons which could be slipped into an enemy's drink.
3. Hair
In past centuries, geisha would have their real hair swept into complex hairstyles that were held in place with wax, oil and padding.In the 20th Century it became tradition for the very young trainees to have their hair stiffly styled only during the years of their apprenticeship. They must sleep with their neck perched on a wooden block so that their 'do' will hold up until the next appointment.
The transition from trainee to mature geisha is marked with the cutting of the topknot. After this time, geisha wear a wig or style up with a fabulous, retro style of bouffant French roll that is locked down with plenty of Aqua Net.
4. Deadly Make-up
The make-up used in antiquity was loaded with lead that ate into the skin and caused deadly poisoning. Luckily modern cosmetics are much safer.There are a number of theories as to why geisha started to paint their faces stark white. A practical reason is that it makes the geisha's face stand out in dark tea house rooms where they only had candles and oil lamps to light up the night.
The smooth, porcelain complexion certainly transforms the woman into a goddess with tiny crimson lips and feathered eyebrows that are brushed on in a crescent moon shape.
5. Origins of Kabuki
It was a woman who began the theatre tradition of kabuki; the actress Izumo no Okuni. She became famous for her titillating performances, which included her dressing up as male characters that her fans found overwhelmingly arousing.Alongside the dancers and actresses who would follow her, Izumo's art created a stir that the ruling authorities could not tolerate. Rowdy behaviour by men fighting it out for the love of these stars was responded to by a complete ban of women on the public stage. That's right, it was all the ladies' fault.
For more than two centuries following 1629, female performers such as geisha could only perform at private events, which led to the restrained and detailed movement they display today.
