Letter from the Producers

Well, the third annual Highway to Hull starts tomorrow, and we are taking a moment to reflect. We feel so much gratitude for the opportunities we've had, to the icons who have sent us their memories, and to everyone involved in the Weekender, no matter how big or small their part is.

We would like to thank each and every person who has made this event and the UK scene what it is today. We know our art faces great uncertainty right now, and the recent closure of the Burlesque Hall of Fame museum really drives this home.

There are people in our scene working hard to preserve our history and those securing our legacy, through archives, research and speaking out against the things that do harm to our industry and community.

Burlesque is ever evolving, but if we don’t know our history how can we ever seek to improve our future. We know we have great talent in the UK and hope this is part of a much bigger movement to thank and celebrate those people's efforts and achievements.

Our Story

Tawny and Roxie first met backstage at a Bella Besame show in April 2015, and a friendship was born! Travelling to Glasgow together the following year for a show further cemented the friendship and in 2017 we produced our first show together - All That Jazz at Doncaster’s Little Theatre.

Although we worked together plenty over the next few years we didn't produce together again until 2023 for the inaugural Highway to Hull. This event consisted of one show and two workshops with Canadian headliners Joy Rider and Kozmic Skater - winners of Best Small Group and Most Innovative at the Burlesque Hall of Fame in 2023.

In 2024 we brought back Highway to Hull, this time with one show and two full days of workshops. Our headliner was Ms Honey Bee (formerly Ms B. LaRose) who won the title of Mx Exotic World the same year, and we were lucky enough to witness them being crowned in Vegas!

Being in Vegas at BHoF changed the direction of Highway to Hull. We had already decided 2025 would be a huge celebration of our 10 years producing, but we realised something was missing from our scene here in the UK. We realised the respect for the trailblazers isn't here, not in the way it is at BHoF. We decided we could rant online or do something to make a positive change for our future.

Thank you for being part of that change.

Roxie Royale and Tawny Kay x