On Saturday 29 May Paris was momentarily brought to a standstill as Agent Lynch (London, 26) performed the world’s first guerilla burlesque routine in the streets of Monmartre as part of the Live Every Litre film project.
As the rain clouds cleared around Sacre Coeur, Agent Lynch strode into the middle of Place de Tertre and immediately became the main attraction. She performed her favourite burlesque routine, inspired by artist Yves Klein and French New Wave cinema to the track ‘Je t’aime’ by Serge Gainsbourg & Jane Birkin.
Lynch tantalised the unsuspecting audience with a striptease from her vintage dress right down to her lacy lingerie. Just when the crowd thought they had seen it all, she poured a tin of blue paint all over her naked body before imprinting herself on a white and red satin flag to complete the French tricolore.
Agent Lynch, aka Kate Rawlinson (originally from Newcastle), was one of the first people to apply to star in the Live Every Litre film back in February 2010. After receiving thousands of ratings from the online community, Agent Lynch was selected to be a part of the project by film director, Claudio von Planta. Von Planta explained: “Agent Lynch is fantastic. She has an incredible spirit and we were immediately impressed with her vivacious attitude. The burlesque world is mysterious, glamorous and unknown which was what intrigued me to include her story in the film.”
A paint-splattered Kate said: “To perform my show in the streets of Paris was a dream come true. I was so nervous before I started dancing but once the music kicked in, I forgot my nerves and really started to enjoy it. The crowd were amazing too. I’m so happy I could bring burlesque to the masses – this is my love letter to the French!“
Having taken the Parisian streets by storm, Agent Lynch was then whisked off to her next adventure as part of the Live Every Litre project – an afternoon with Europe’s undisputed Queen of Burlesque, Immodesty Blaize.
Recently dubbed ‘The Goddess’, Immodesty imparted her wisdom to Agent Lynch as the two dancers discussed the choreography of Lynch’s new routine.
The final part of Agent Lynch’s journey led her to watch a performance at the Crazy Horse, described by Lynch herself as “the holy grail of the showgirl.” Founded in 1951 by Bernardin, Crazy Horse continues to stage inventive and stylish cabaret under the choreography of Philippe Decoufle.
Embracing her Parisian experience and employing all of Immodesty Blaize’s advice, Agent Lynch will perform another routine on Saturday 5 June in Carnaby Street, London as part of the Summer of Love Festival arranged to celebrate the street‘s 50th anniversary.
Agent Lynch’s story is just one of a number of journeys making up the Live Every Litre crowd-sourced documentary film in which members of the public have been nominated by the project’s online community to realise their dream in the new Honda CR-Z hybrid coupe.
The journeys which make up the road movie range from the pure fun of the London Schoolboys, to the poignant journey of “Bowman” who will revisit the site he came ashore during the D-Day landings. These stories are being captured by award winning Swiss Director, Claudio Von Planta, best known for filming the “Long Way Down and “Long Way Round” expeditions with Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman.
