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It starts with a back injury and a collapse in confidence, then turns into a life built around stagecraft, community, and service. We sit down with Rose Thorne, UK cabaret producer, performer, and founder of Cabaret vs Cancer, to talk about what burlesque looks like when you stop treating it like a costume and start treating it like a practice.

We go back to the East London roots of Rose’s journey with Good Time Mama Jojo, the nerves and blur of those early performances, and the moment she realises she has found something more than a hobby. From there, we get practical about producing: the reality of being your own PR, marketing team, bookkeeper, and front of house, plus the one thing that can make or break a show that audiences never see. Rose lays out why backstage etiquette matters, how to treat stage managers and tech with respect, and why dressing rooms have to feel safe if you want a scene that lasts.

Then we follow the thread that turns cabaret into real-world impact. Cabaret vs Cancer begins with a charity calendar and grows into a registered charity that has raised and distributed more than £460,000, supporting people affected by cancer through ring-fenced grants and practical help. Along the way we talk body image, social media comparison, switching off technology, and the quiet power of small kindnesses that build a chosen family.

If you’re a performer, producer, or fan of burlesque and cabaret, you’ll leave with grounded advice you can use straight away and a reminder that community is something we build on purpose. Subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave a review with the moment that stayed with you.

To reach out to Cabaret Vs Cancer - https://www.cabaretvscancer.co.uk/

Proudly Sponsored by Crystal Parade - https://crystalparade.co.uk/

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🎙️ Behind Burlesque. The Burlesque Podcast— Hosted by Isabella Bliss

Pulling back the curtain on life behind the glamour.

✨ Real stories. Raw courage. The sparkle beneath the spotlight.

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