DIY fabulousness

Think you could bring a dazzling, diamond-dappled burlesque performance to the stage for under $100? The Great DIY BurlesKiwi challenges competitors to get creative and serve fabulousness on a budget. Costume, props, music… it’s all got to come together in one winning routine without costing a velvet-gloved arm and a stilettoed leg.

Now in its 12^th year, The Great DIY BurlesKiwi will sparkle and shine at The Fringe Bar on the 6^th of June. Once again, performers from across the motu will compete. This year’s event stars Joe Withanee, Hester Hawthorne, Anubis Alkali, Natasha Halliday, Jonny Raven, and Blue Virtue from Wellington; Tenacious Venom [pictured], Mrs Jones, and Ryder Dailey from Palmerston North; Madam Magenta from Napier; Lance Briefly and Coco La Moane from Auckland; Angel Blush from Nelson; and Frankie Bordeaux from Christchurch.

The Great DIY BurlesKiwi is produced by The Pinot Sisters – Constance Craving and Mz Debbie Twinkle – who boast a combined total of 60 years in the entertainment biz.

“We love the creativity and unexpected materials that these amazing performers pull out of their heads for DIY”, Mz Debbie twinkles. “We have had sequins made from beer cans, fans made of chip packets, and the Earth made from a Swiss ball and paint, just to name a few”.

To name a few more… previous winners have stitched costumes together from papier-mâché, macramé, net curtains, and bed sheets, while 2025 Great DIY BurlesKiwi winner Delilah Deluxe took to the stage in a repurposed pair of stinky old denim jeans. She rescued them from the tip, washed them five times, and hung them on the line for three weeks before turning them into a stunning collection of gloves, underwear, skirt, and top. Delilah returns as a guest performance this year, with Constance as MC and Diamante Doll joining as a guest judge and performer.