roylesque

About

Roylesque is a Basel-based queer crip performer creating bold, stylish work at the intersection of drag, cabaret and burlesque, featuring live vocals, reveals and killer heels.

A disabled and chronically ill artist with over ten years of stage experience, Roylesque works across solo performance, hosting, theatre productions and collaborative projects. They also bring a strong commitment to accessibility in the arts.

Roylesque speaks Swiss German, German, French and English, and is available for performances, hosting and creative collaborations.

  • Roylesque in the audience, dressed as a cheeky inspector wearing a hat and a large trench coat, holding a magnifying glass close to his eye.
    Cozy Cabaret, Basel 2025, ©Stagetime.ch
  • Roylesque as the inspector removes the trench coat to reveal another trench coat underneath.
    Cozy Cabaret, Basel 2025, ©Stagetime.ch
  • Roylesque topless wearing black sequined heart-shaped nipple tassels and throwing away a silver necklace.
    Cozy Cabaret, Basel 2025, ©Stagetime.ch
  • Roylesque wearing an 80s-style wedding dress, with a white glittery veil, an embroidered corset, embroidered gloves with bows, holding a large bouquet of white flowers.
    Cozy Cabaret, Basel 2025, ©Stagetime.ch
  • Roylesque wearing an 80s-style wedding dress, passionately singing into a microphone.
    Cozy Cabaret, Basel 2025, ©Stagetime.ch
  • Roylesque standing triumphantly, arms in the air, wearing nothing but a black leather thong and black nipple tassels. Heart-Shaped confetti fall.
    Cozy Cabaret, Basel 2025, ©Stagetime.ch
  • Roylesque is performing in front of an audience. Red, white and blue lights are shining on Roylesque, centre stage.
    Comic Strip, Parterre One Basel 2024, ©Stagetime.ch
  • Roylesque is wearing a top hat, a black harness and a sparkly top. They hold a microphone and sing to the audience.
    Comic Strip, Parterre One Basel 2024, ©Stagetime.ch
  • Roylesque is wearing a top hat, a black harness and a sparkly top. There are scars on his ex-posed stomach. He holds a microphone and looks off to the side with an air of nonchalance.
    Comic Strip, Parterre One Basel 2024, ©Stagetime.ch
  • An abundance of red heart-shaped confetti rains down from Roylesque's top hat, which they raise in a powerful pose.
    Comic Strip, Parterre One Basel 2024, ©Stagetime.ch
  • Roylesque is wearing a black top hat with a large silver spiked fascinator, a black tailcoat with sparkly details, a white shirt and a black and white striped skirt.
    Comic Strip, ComedyHaus Zürich 2024, ©Tim Hughes
  • Roylesque is seen performing to a crowd. A white shirt sleeve flies in the air as they throw it away.
    Comic Strip, ComedyHaus Zürich 2024, ©Tim Hughes
  • Roylesque is wearing a black top hat, white shirt and black tailcoat with sparkly details. Their legs are exposed revealing a black harness and black shiny underwear.
    Comic Strip, ComedyHaus Zürich 2024, ©Tim Hughes
  • Roylesque is walking on stage, looking back and cheekily covering their exposed legs with their tailcoat.
    Comic Strip, ComedyHaus Zürich 2024, ©Tim Hughes
  • Roylesque is wearing a large white gown with oversized sleeves, a large collar and medium-length black hair. Yes, it's a wig.
    criptonite, Gessnerallee Zürich 2021, ©Naomi Tereza Salmon
  • Roylesque is wearing a black bolero jacket with gold detailing on the shoulders and tight black trousers. Colourful confetti is falling down.
    criptonite, Gessnerallee Zürich 2021, ©Naomi Tereza Salmon
  • A close-up of Roylesque's face, wearing bright 80's-style makeup in blue and pink, with a black hair band, pink sequined earrings and a blue sequined dress.
    Intimate Exchanges, Gay Beggars Basel 2020, ©AnahitA
  • Roylesque is walking onto stage, wearing a white dress with blue detailing and carrying what appears to be a baby wrapped in white cloth.
    FCCC, Gessnerallee Zürich 2018, ©Naomi Tereza Salmon
  • Roylesque is triumphantly standing on stage in a tight golden gown, raising his arms and singing into a microphone.
    FCCC, Gessnerallee Zürich 2018, ©Naomi Tereza Salmon
  • Roylesque is climbing out of a coffin, wearing a black top hat, dark make-up and a large black feathered top.
    Heartstrings, Theater Dornach 2018, ©Gelgia Caduff
  • Roylesque is wearing a simple white wedding dress with white embroidery and medium-length brown hair, singing into a microphone.
    Heartstrings, Theater Dornach 2018, ©Gelgia Caduff
  • Roylesque is twirling fast on stage, their white wedding dress forming a dynamic cone, their arms outstretched.
    Heartstrings, Theater Dornach 2018, ©Gelgia Caduff
  • Roylesque is seen from behind as they are looking into the venue, wearing a large silver spiked fascinator on their black top hat, a black top and striped skirt.
    Maskenball, SUD Basel 2013, ©Thierry Bruder
  • Roylesque is wearing a black top hat with a large silver spiked fascinator, a tailcoat with silver details and black trousers, their stomach is exposed.
    Maskenball, SUD Basel 2013, ©Thierry Bruder
  • Roylesque has just removed the silver spiked fascinator, which they now hold in their hand, they are wearing a black top hat, black tailcoat with silver detailing, their stomach is exposed. There is a dramatic flash of pink light shining on their face.
    Maskenball, SUD Basel 2013, ©Thierry Bruder