On March 18th 2025, we premiered our new film about safety and inclusivity in the night time industry. ‘Bold Bodies, Safer Spaces: burlesque’s grassroots solutions to safety’ is the story of communities from Doncaster, Leeds and Barnsley and their grassroots approach towards safety. We worked with performers, producers and participants from burlesque, queer, kink, and sex-positive communities and we were delighted to welcome so many old and new friends along on the day.
Dr Jacki Willson hosted the ceremony with additional remarks from Prof. Alison O’Grady before we viewed the film. It was then followed by a panel of industry professionals to talk further about their practice. This included some of our wonderful partners who have supported the project – we are incredibly grateful of them for all their time and support throughout.
Set against the backdrop of new legislation which requires the night-time industry to be more accountable and liable for the safety of its customers, Bold Bodies reminds viewers that inclusivity is safety; that the testimonials of people with lived experiences of marginalisation must be centred in new legislation; and the value of an ethics of care towards event performers, producers and attendees. We look forward to talking about it more with our stakeholders and key contacts over the next few weeks!
You can watch the film below [it may require you to sign in], on Youtube itself, and stay in touch with the project via our Linktree.