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Janique Charles, the West End performer known professionally as Janiq, is set to make her first foray into film with a role in the short film The Belladonna, a self-described “glitter thriller” that blends the world of burlesque with psychological horror.
Charles, who has appeared in productions of SIX The Musical and The Lion King on the West End stage, plays Cherry, a burlesque performer at the centre of a spiralling rivalry in the film, which is produced by independent outfit Dolphragon.
A “Glitter Thriller” Born From Childhood Obsessions
Written and directed by BAFTA Rocliffe alumnus, Javid Rezai, The Belladonna follows Stella, a burlesque dancer haunted by visions of her late mother. The plot, however, remains under wraps.
Rezai describes the project as one with deep personal roots.
“The Belladonna is a dream project for me and Stella, who have been dreaming of this since we were kids in our bedrooms making endless home movies,” Rezai explains. “We would terrify ourselves watching Scream and The Blair Witch Project, sprinkled with a good mix of Jawbreaker and Clueless.”
The result, according to Rezai, is a film that straddles two distinct tonal worlds.
“The Belladonna blends both these worlds,” he adds, pointing to the combination of glittery camp and darker horror elements that define the short.
Burlesque Performers Round Out The Cast
Opposite Charles, Stella Talpo takes on the role of Stella, the reigning queen of the club. The cast also features a roster of performers drawn from the UK burlesque scene, including Petit Pois, Miss Coco Belle, Donna Poderosa, Spookey Bones and Turkish Delight, who collectively portray The Belladonna girls.
The decision to cast working burlesque artists in the film’s ensemble lends the production a layer of authenticity, grounding its fictional club in the textures and personalities of the real-world circuit.
A Production Championing Underrepresented Voices
The Belladonna is described as a predominantly female and queer led production. Talpo and Rezai serve as Producers on the film, with Mustapha Wehbi, from Academy Award winning Slick Films and Managing Director of Dolphragon, stepping in as Executive Producer.
The creative team behind the camera includes Emmy Ren as Cinematographer and Lucy James as Costume Designer.
The production has also forged a partnership with Trans on Screen, an organisation focused on prioritising and elevating voices from the transgender community on screen. The film is further supported by Cabaret Vs Cancer, a UK charity that supports those affected by cancer.
Festival Premiere Set For Brighton
The film was shot on location at the Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club in London and will premiere at the BIFA-qualifying Brighton Rocks International Film Festival. It is scheduled to screen as part of the festival’s “Down the Rabbit Hole” programming block on 20 June 2026.
Further festival screenings worldwide are planned for later in the year.
Dolphragon, the production company behind the film, is an independent outfit that has backed more than 25 short films to date, a number of which have gone on to receive industry recognition and accolades.
More information on The Belladonna can be found on the film’s Instagram page.
Photography by Zoe Birkbeck
