make people aware of the club and to keep things fresh. We are not afraid of geting out there and marketing it,” said Warren.

As the club continues to grow it has become just as much about the audience as the performers. Fans are encouraged to dress up and join in the fantasy. More than 2,000 people from all walks of life regularly flock to O2 Academy to take part in a variety of Club Noir theme nights.

“Club Noir fills a creative gap. It allows people to think: what am I? What do I want to be?” said co-founder Ian Single.

“Costumes allow people to wildly express themselves and become a walking work of art. They can be anything for one night. I can’t think of another club were you could turn up in just your underwear and that would be okay. It is very liberating.

“The people of Glasgow famously love a party, and love dressing up. They have really embraced it,” added Single.

In the words of Gypsy Rose Lee: “If a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing slowly … very slowly.”

Now, more than 11 years after they first opened Club Noir’s reputation continues to grow internationally. In addition to performing for crowds at T In The Park, The Connect Festival and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival Club Noir was the first troupe to send their acts to Siberia. It has even been voted one of the Top Ten Cabaret Clubs by the USA’s TV travel channel. It also holds the Guinness World Recor d f or being the wor ld’s bigges t Burlesque club.

“Club Noir fills a creative gap. It allows people to think, what am I? What do I want to be?”

:Ian Single

“We never re st on our laurels. We work very hard to put on polished and sophisticated shows. The acts are created for the club, and are original and devised for us,” said Warren.

Aſter the initial revival of Burlesque in the naughties, a new wave of fans is now finding its way to Club Noir, seeking fresh excitement. With the dark shadow of austerity bearing down hard on everyone, the need for escapism is more prevalent now than ever.

Photos: Mike Bishop August 2015 57