Flexibility, poise and a cheeky smile lend themselves well to a burlesque routine and The Hurly Burly Show, which opens at the Garrick Theatre this month has all this in plentiful supply.

Among Miss Polly Rae’s talented troupe are talented dancer Jennifer White and musical theatre actress Katie Ella Hardwicke, both from Rickmansworth who met at the auditions for the show last year and found out they shared a hometown on the train back home.

Jennifer, 25, was accepted by the Rambert School in London age 17 and has performed with the National Dance Company of Wales, toured worldwide with the Hofesh Shechter Company and as a dancer in Aida at the Royal Opera House. She has also appeared in music videos for Kylie Minogue, Cheryl Cole and most recently on Adele’s Rolling In The Deep video.

Katie, 24, attended St Clement Danes School in Chorleywood and went to the Carol Kristian Theatre School from the ages of seven to 18. She went on to study a musical theatre degree at the London Studio Centre in Kings Cross. Katie toured as a member of all-girl pop group, UK Blondes and has appeared on television for music acts including Professor Green and Westlife.

Katie says the auditions were “hilarious fun” with lots of singing and dancing involved.

“There was such a variety of people there and everybody had to do solo number. I chose a sultry New Orleans jazz number that I’d only worked a routine to at 10pm the night before.”

Katie says all the girls have their own character personas.

“Mine is the cute one. Once you learn the choreography you slip into your character more and develop certain moves for them. We all do solo performances as well as a few numbers on stage together. There’s a girl for everyone.”

Polly Rae first devised the show at the Soho Revue Bar and it had a short run last year at the Leicester Square Theatre. This show promises new routines and numbers with a contemporary twist by director and stylist William Baker.

The costumes are, naturally, the high point of the show.

“They’re amazing,” says Katie. “They have so many parts to them and we have to do lots of quick changes, so it’s quite nerve-wracking.

“We lose garments along the way but never reveal all. There’s comedy throughout, so even when it’s sexy you’re able to laugh at yourself and people warm to you through that. It’s meant to be sexy in a way that appeals to both men and women. In fact, most of our audience are women and gay men. It’s a funny camp show and a celebration of femininity. It’s sexy beautiful, not seedy. We leave a little something to the imagination.”

The Hurly Burly Show is at the Garrick Theatre, Charing Cross Road, London until May 1. Details: 0844 412 4662, www.thehurlyburlyshow.com