(c) Craig Ridgwell

 The internationally acclaimed The Empire Strips Back: A Burlesque Parody is making its highly-anticipated premiere in London on May 4 at Riverside Studios – Studio 2. 

Featuring parodies of all of the classic characters, The Empire Strips Back: A Burlesque Parody takes audiences to a galaxy far, far away, creating one of the most unforgettable (and unauthorized) theatrical interpretations of the beloved franchise. 

Transporting audiences to a world of burlesque fantasy, of menacing and sexy dance, of dangerous seduction, of hilarious parody, and even the droids you’re looking for. Your favorite characters are scantily clad, seriously sultry and live on stage!

The Empire Strips Back celebrates a resurgence of burlesque, while delivering a fun and rowdy experience for fans of the art form as well as the classic film series. Ariana Bindman of SF Gate said, “Popularized in the U.S. in the 19th century, burlesque blurs the line between comedy and adult entertainment, incorporating camp and theater in playful strip routines.”

Bindman continued, “Dark and sexy … with each draw of the curtain, we saw a series of acts that were visually decadent and tonally unique … a captive Princess Leia gyrating in a bikini to the Nine Inch Nails’ ‘Closer’ or sexy stormtroopers stomp to the relentless ‘Seven Nation Army’ … or resident space pimp, R2D2 making rain by ejecting wads of cash into the air while a braggadocious Han Solo undulated to ‘Smooth Criminal’ making every goth and nerd in the audience scream like animals.”  

She concludes, “I saw the Star Wars strip show and now I’m forever changed.  An enormous success … one of the most memorable and impressive live performances I’ve ever seen.  I know that The Force is already with them.”

The original version was booked in a cramped, 150-seat bar in Sydney, a one-off for a three-night run. Fast-forward to three simultaneous productions constantly touring North America, an enthusiastic audience of over 300,000+, and a Huffington Post video feature boasting 20+ million viral views.

This little-show-that-could morphed from touring like an indie band, with one-nighters in rock clubs, to touring like a Broadway hit. (And a lot more fun than any of those!) After proving its theatrical bonafides at Hollywood’s Montalbán Theatre in a three-month 2022 run, the show has done three to four month runs in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, San Diego, Seattle, DC, Boston, Atlanta and many others. Outside the USA, the show was a sensation in Paris in 2023 and, also in French, Montreal, as well as Toronto and Mexico City (where it’s also playing during the Los Angeles engagement).

This engagement of The Empire Strips Back is produced by Foster Entertainment and Neil Gooding Productions, presented with Fever. The show was created by Russall S. Beattie.

The Critics’ Rave!

New York Post, New York
“Impressively detailed and visually enamoring.”

AisleSeatReview.com, San Francisco
“The most fun you’ll have in a theatre all summer long. A full house on opening night and a rowdy one too.”

WeLiveEntertainment.com, Los Angeles
“Probably the most fun I’ve had at a show all year! A must-see for Star Wars fans and anyone that likes a bawdy good time.”

Reno Gazette Journal, Las Vegas
“Star Wars fans, this is the show you’re looking for”

AisleSeatReview.com, San Francisco
“The show’s dancers are talented, gorgeous, and aggressive, with moves that encompass every dance genre from the early ‘60s to the hip-hop present. Musically, and choreographically, there’s something for everyone in this show.”

L.A. Weekly, Los Angeles
“The attention to detail in the costuming is astounding, the enthusiasm and energy of the dancers unparalleled in this galaxy or any other.” 

(c) Craig Ridgwell

Venue: Riverside Studios – Studio 2 101 Queen Caroline Street, London, W6 9BN

Dates: From May 4 to June 22, 2025 

Times: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 7:30pm; Fridays at 8:00pm; Saturdays at 4:00pm and 8:00pm; Sundays at 4:00pm and 7:00pmDoors open 30 minutes before show start time.

Duration: 2 hours, including a 15-minute intermission

Tickets: Starting at £29 at theempirestripsback.com