After more than 25 years in the burlesque and cabaret world, producer ‘Majestic Mark’ Henderson is finally bringing a long-held ambition to life. A Fringe regular since 2012 and the producer behind the long-running Best of Burlesque, Henderson launches the inaugural International Fringe Burlesque Festival this August, showcasing artists from 17 countries across a programme celebrating everything from classic striptease to circus and cabaret. We caught up with him to find out how the festival came to be and what audiences can expect.
Every show begins with an initial spark. What was the original idea, moment or experience that made you create this piece?
In 2012, after my first year at the Edinburgh Fringe and seeing the potential, I geared up to launch the Edinburgh Burlesque Festival, but was told by our partnering venue that it wasn’t possible to run this type of event within an existing festival. At that stage, I decided to launch ‘Best of Burlesque’ in 2013, which is now the longest-running burlesque event at the Fringe. This event has inspired many other producers to bring similar shows to the Fringe, and through the ever-growing interest in the art form, I’ve added additional productions to my annual schedule. Every year, I try to grow and develop new ideas for a Fringe audience. For the past 3 years, I’ve outgrown the traditional format of promoting individual shows and really thought it was the right time to go back to my original festival concept and launch it in a way that it stood on its own. There are a lot of different burlesque shows on offer, but I feel like my productions offer something unique.
What can audiences expect when they step into this world?
Every production is bringing something different, and audiences will have an indication of what to expect through our show titles. This year, ‘Best of Burlesque’ is bringing ‘New School’—a fresh interpretation of the art form with new concepts from new and established artists.‘Sexy Circus Sideshow 3.0’ is our most ambitious late-night production. With headline aerial acts, slick circus and variety acts, it’s definitely the show for those who want something that’s edgy and steps away from the standard burlesque format.I encourage readers to check out our website for the full programme of events. I’ve put together a full programme that’s guaranteed to offer a little something for everyone.
The Edinburgh Fringe is a place where artists and audiences come together from across the world. Why is this the right place for this show?
This year saw the most artist submissions in my history of producing at the Fringe, and the calibre and standard seem to be very high. I will be showcasing artists from across the UK and Europe, but there’s been an increase in artists from America, Canada, Australia, and many more. I believe we have artists coming from 17 different countries. I’m seeing an increased awareness of Fringe in general from artists from across America and Europe, and I think this is down to social media content being shared each August by participating artists. Fringe is obviously a great platform to showcase, and artists do take advantage of the opportunity for online content. Australia already has a huge Fringe scene through Adelaide and Perth, so coming to Edinburgh for many is a part of the progression.
What is something about the show that the audience might not immediately notice, but you hope they discover?
The Edinburgh Fringe has always been a haven for the bold and the beautiful, but 2026 marks a tantalizing first: the launch of the International Fringe Burlesque Festival. Running from 6th–30th August, this new thread will interweave with the others. There will be five shows running every day, celebrating all facets of burlesque: classic striptease, comedic parody, alternative circus, vaudeville variety, and other branches. In many ways, this new showcase channels the original spirit of the event.
What has surprised you most about creating this piece?
I’m always taken back at how my productions and ideas still have the capacity to grow and gain an ever building awareness internationally within the industry. This year is tipped to be my biggest year yet with 20,000 tickets on offer.
When your audience walks home, what would you love them to still be talking about?
I’d like for us to help change their minds on any preconvieved notions of what burlesque and cabaret are generally sterotyped as. Every year the game changes and we’re proud to bring a diverse schedule in all genres of the artform.
International Fringe Burlesque Festival
6 – 30 Aug