Funny Girls is a burlesque cabaret showbar on the North Shore of Blackpool, Lancashire, the cast comprise male dancers, and drag performers, and are part of In The Pink (ITP) Leisure, owned by Basil Newby.
The Funny Girls cast have performed on television and before royalty on the Royal Variety Performance twice[1][2], they have also appeared in various television shows either to be interviewed, or where the Funny Girls showbar itself has been the backdrop, such as in the BBC Drama Blackpool.
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The Funny Girls showbar is in what was once the Blackpool Odeon. When Basil Newby took over the old Odeon, he had it re-decorated in the traditional Art Deco style, and had both seating balcony and stalls changed into standing and seating areas for observing the show, as well as building several bars, and "Garbo's" Restaurant, to transform the old cinema into a high class venue. Funny Girls has three areas for visitors, a downstairs area which is for standing room, these are nearest to the stage, and the cheapest tickets, a raised area behind the seated area with booths for visitors to sit at their own table, with full "waitress" service by the "Bar Trannies" also known as the "Follies", these are the same price range as the balcony, these latter two areas are very popular, and usually need to be reserved months in advance.
| “ | Blackpool can still lead the way. Look at Funny Girls - it's the best show in the country. There's still nothing like it anywhere else! | ” |
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—Jim Davidson, Blackpool Gazette |
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DJ Zoe is the compere at Funny Girls and is now the only member of the cast to have been at Funny Girls since the very start. She DJ's, tells jokes, takes requests, and joins in with the cabaret finale.
Jade and Amber are the lead drag performers, and took over when Betty "Legs" Diamond left the club in 2010. They alternate between who plays the comedic lead throughout the evening.
Talulah and Krystal are new to Funny Girls and are drag performers alongside Jade and Amber.
Mark, Garry, Dan and Reece are the non-drag male performers during the cabaret, and often have their own dance numbers before the main drag performers join a scene. Mark is the show's Dance Captain.
The show usually has 3 or 4 males, and the choreography is altered to accommodate for 3 males if a 4th male has not yet joined the cast.
Many celebrities have visited Funny Girls, including: