Masked Ball at the V & A
An evening at the Victoria and Albert Museum, South Kensington, London
Report by urban75 editor, Friday, 28th Jan 2005
The V&A is a much loved London museum and they've been putting on their excellent 'Friday Late' evening events for some time. Best of all they're free!
The theme was 'A Masked Ball' and offered dance classes, a mask making workshop, disco DJs, a burlesque bazaar and striptease - and, of course, the Actionettes and Action Men.
Tragically, Estée Lauder had somehow shoved their face on the bill and had set up a 'beauty parlour', full of 'branding opportunities'.
I guess it's the only way these events can get funded but it sucked to have such obvious corporate sponsorship hanging around the place like a bad smell.
Actionettes dancing at the Masked ball
The Actionettes danced in the large Gallery 62, which also featured Ballroom Dancing and dance lessons from 'Boogaloo Stu' and Miss High Kick.
Actionettes posing in the Grand Entrance
There were several photographers keen to snap the sparkling Actionettes, some of whom had taken to wearing bizarre animal masks!
There was a DJ playing 'ironic' 70s/80s music but the sound in the high-domed hall was truly horrendous - imagine sticking your head in an echo chamber haunted by the ghost of 70s disco wearing lead boots and you might get the idea.
Princess Knickers in the Gamble Room
The Gamble Room boasts an exquisitely decorated Victorian ceramic and wood interior and was transformed into a sleazy burlesque house for the evening.
Princess Knickers in the Gamble Room
Princess Knickers tastefully revealing all, while her backing the band, the Flash Monkey's play a suitably saucy backing track.
Action Men at the Masked ball
The ever-entertaining Action Men strut their stuff in Gallery 62.
Pointing Action Men
Their short set featured lots of pointing and went down a storm with the crowd.
Action Men and Actionettes at the Masked Ball
The Actionettes joined the Action Men for the last dance of the night, 'The Last of the Secret Agents'.
Action Men and Actionettes
The grand dance finale!
We hung around for a while after, but the louder the DJ in the grand entrance became, the more unbearable the cacophony. There were lots of people strutting around in posh masks, but we found it a bit too toff-tastic for us.
We didn't fancy shelling out for any more three quid bottles of beer (£3?!), so after another quick stroll around some of the galleries, we headed back to Brixton.
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