Academic strips for art

"Strippers parody heterosexuality," Dr MacGregor

A drama lecturer at Wolverhampton University is to strip off at another campus - in the name of art.

Dr Cathy MacGregor will dance around a pole in a show at Nottingham Trent University which, she says, will "confront the myths surrounding striptease".

Dr MacGregor worked as a lap dancer and stripper in New York to study the sex industry.

"The show is a mixture of experiences, memories and film," she said.

It's about a lot more than taking my clothes off

Dr Cathy MacGregor

"There is some dancing but not naked dancing. It's about a lot more than taking my clothes off."

Dr MacGregor has a doctorate in drama and feminist theory from Huddersfield University.

Her show is called Scarlett's Story: Part One, "a nude exploration of one woman's experience of the sex industry".

The title comes from the stage name she used while working as a lap dancer in New York for two months.

She told BBC News Online she wanted to question the myths surrounding stripping.

"I want to humanise strippers. Show that they are not simply victims or tarts."

She admits the show might attract people who are more interested in flesh than artistic expression.

Pub strip show

"Anyone who comes expecting to see a pub strip show will be disappointed," she said.

The academic had to get permission from Nottingham City Council to stage the show, because it has a ban on nudity.

Local businesspeople have complained because they have been turned down for licences to run strip clubs.

Dr Macgregor supports them: "I have no objection to strip clubs and am sympathetic to the pub and club owners."

And having worked as a stripper, she has a lot of respect for the work they do.

"Tough profession"

"It's a tough profession, one which demands respect. It's not easy to do it," she said.

"The main problem with the industry is there are too many bans and that means that the dancers and strippers can't be unionised or get better conditions."

Dr MacGregor says she is drawing on feminist theories and academic rationale for her performance.

"Strip shows often parody heterosexuality. I want to question the idea that a certain type of heterosexuality is the norm and that nothing else is permitted," she said.

The show is already sold out, with tickets priced at £5 and £3 for concessions.

Cathy MacGregor will soon leave her post at Wolverhampton to work as a performance artist full-time in the United States.