THE WORLD OF IMOGEN KELLY
About Imogen
Imogen Kelly is Australia's first lady of striptease not only renowned as Australia’s Queen of Burlesque, but also crowned World Queen of Burlesque in 2012 (Burlesque Hall of Fame, Las Vegas).
Imogen Kelly is an acclaimed writer, director, producer. Imogen Kelly's theatre shows include The Undressing Room (Solo), Herstory (Solo), Mr Monster (Family Variety) and Tarnished (La La Parlour- circus troupe).
Imogen Kelly's background shows the variety of her styles; from Moulin Rouge kick lines to shows for celebrities and sheiks, from high-end Japanese geisha weddings, to burlesque festivals around the world.
​
Imogen Kelly's background is in the performing arts. With a BFA in Performance (COFA) under her belt, a diploma in Circus Arts (ZACCA- UK), a diploma in film making (Sydney University) and a NIDA degree in directing Imogen Kelly embarked on a jet set career as an international show pony.
Imogen Kelly has travelled with Gypsy circus tours in Europe, dazzled at Mardi Gras extravaganzas, is a La Clique/ La Soiree veteran and c0-creator of award winning burlesque theatre shows Tarnished (2005-2010), is the writer/ producer/ performer of her one woman shows Herstory (2013/14) and The Undressing Room (2008/09).
Imogen has performed in The Sydney Opera House several times in the grand operas as well as directing or performing several shows in The Opera House Studio (The Studio launch, Sleepless Beauty, Music for The Eyes, Close you Little Eyes, La Soiree and Club Swizzle).
Imogen Kelly has lived in Japan and the UK but is currently based in her hometown of Sydney, Australia.
Imogen Kelly has headlined at The New York Burlesque Festival three times, The Noumea Burlesque Festival, The Burlesque Hall of Fame 3 times, Helsinki Burlesque Festival, New Orleans, Dallas, Austin, Toronto, Hamburg, Berlin and The Australian Burlesque Festivals.
In 2008 Sydney Festival shut down the city to see Imogen Kelly and her husband wed publicly in a public wedding before thousands of people. The following year she was a featured artist in Festival First Night’s opening night concert in Hyde Park.
Imogen Kelly is a passionate Breast Cancer campaigner and runs her own campaign- DUKES UP in conjunction with The Chris O'brien Lifehouse in Newtown.
Sice lockdown Imogen has moved to FNQ to work in conservation. She has created her new show La Grande Folie at The Adelaide Cabaret Festival, has launched an interview on SBS voices and is working toward giving her first TEDx Talk in October.
In 2023 Imogen is looking forward to rustling up another round of outrageous fun at Midsumma in Melbourne and Sydney World Pride 2023 with Bent Burlesque. La Grande Folie is booked for Adelaide Fringe.
Imogen Kelly has been keeping a tally of the number of people who have seen her undress and vows that when it reaches one million she will retire. Until such a time Imogen Kelly will continue to provide provocative whoopee and set the world ablaze with her outrageous characters.