From Joel to Miss Shona: Life On and Off the Music Hall Tavern Stage

For thousands of holidaymakers, Miss Shona is the unforgettable face of Music Hall Tavern – the quick-witted, larger-than-life performer who has audiences laughing across the Canary Islands. But behind the makeup is Joel, an entertainer and the proud owner of one of the islands’ most iconic evening shows. In this exclusive interview with Lanzarote Waits For You, he reflects on an extraordinary journey—from growing up in the UK and taking what was meant to be a short-term contract, to leading the future of Music Hall Tavern across Lanzarote, Tenerife and Gran Canaria. He shares the stories behind the success, the challenges along the way, and why making people smile remains at the heart of everything he does.

1. So Joel, for anyone who hasn't met you yet, tell us a little about yourself. Where did you grow up, and what was life like before the Canary Islands?

Well, first of all, hello! I'm Joel, although most people know me as Miss Shona.

I was actually born in Banbury before life eventually took me to Birmingham, where I grew up. Back then, if you'd told me I'd one day be living and working across the Canary Islands, I would never have believed you!

These days I split my time between Lanzarote, Tenerife and Gran Canaria because that's where Music Hall Tavern - MHT takes me. People often ask me where I actually live, and my answer is always the same... home is wherever I happen to be that day. Each island has its own personality and charm, and I genuinely love all three for different reasons.

Before moving to the Canary Islands my life revolved around entertainment. Performing has always been a huge part of who I am, but there's another side to me that people don't always see. I love creating things, building businesses, coming up with new ideas, marketing, and constantly asking myself how we can make something even better than it was yesterday.

People usually see the stage, the costumes and the makeup, but behind the scenes I'm just as happy sitting in the office with a coffee, planning productions, meeting partners, looking at spreadsheets or working on the next marketing campaign.

It's quite a funny balance really. One minute I'm in six-inch heels in front of hundreds of people, and the next I'm back in the office replying to emails!

2. How did you first discover drag? Was it something you'd always wanted to do, or did you fall into it by chance?

Completely by accident!

I never grew up thinking, "One day I'm going to become a drag queen." In fact, if you'd told the younger me that's where life would take me, I'd probably have laughed.

I started performing because I loved making people laugh. There's something really special about seeing an audience forget about the outside world for a couple of hours. Drag simply became the perfect way of doing that because it gave me the freedom to be larger than life.

Over the years I've realised something really important.

People don't always remember every joke or every costume... but they do remember how you made them feel.

If someone walks out happier than when they walked in, you've done your job.

That's something I've carried with me throughout my career and it's still what drives me today.

3. Who was the first character you created? Do you remember your first performance, and how has your stage persona evolved over the years?

I honestly wish I could say I burst onto the stage as the polished Miss Shona everyone knows today... but the reality was very different!

Like most performers, you spend years finding your feet.

Your confidence grows, your timing improves, you learn what works and, just as importantly, what doesn't.

Looking back at old photographs is both hilarious and slightly terrifying! Let's just say fashion and makeup have definitely improved over the years!

The biggest change isn't really the costumes though, it's the confidence.

Miss Shona has always been cheeky, warm and a little bit naughty, but over the years she's become much more about making everyone in the room feel included.

Whether you're celebrating a birthday, honeymoon, anniversary or you've simply wandered in because someone recommended the show, I want every guest to feel like they're part of the evening.

That's what Music Hall Tavern - MHT has always been about.

4. Before moving to the Canary Islands, you had already built a successful career performing around the UK. What made you take the leap and join Music Hall Tavern?

If I'm honest... curiosity!

I'd heard so many wonderful things about Music Hall Tavern - MHT over the years, and when the opportunity came along to join the company on what was meant to be a short-term contract, I thought... why not?

I genuinely believed I'd come over, do my contract and head back to the UK.

Life had other ideas!

Very quickly I realised there was something really special about Music Hall Tavern - MHT. Guests weren't simply coming to watch a show. Families, couples and friends were making memories together while they were on holiday, and being part of those memories is a real privilege.

One contract became another, then more responsibilities behind the scenes, and before I knew it I wasn't just performing anymore, I was becoming part of the business itself.

Life has a funny way of opening doors when you least expect it.

5. You originally joined MHT on a short-term contract and that led to more long-term work involving several different roles before eventually becoming owner of the business. Looking back, did you ever imagine that journey when you first walked through the doors?

Not for one second!

I genuinely arrived thinking I'd do my contract, have a great few months in the sunshine and head back to the UK.

As time went on, though, I found myself becoming more and more involved behind the scenes. I wasn't just interested in performing anymore, I wanted to understand every part of the business. How things worked, how bookings came in, marketing, customer experience, sales... I found it all fascinating.

I think that's something people don't always realise about me. I absolutely love performing, but I also love building things.

When the opportunity eventually came to take over Music Hall Tavern - MHT, it wasn't a decision I took lightly. It was probably one of the biggest decisions of my life.

There was already an incredible brand with an amazing reputation. My job wasn't to replace that or change what people loved about MHT. It was to protect it, respect it and make sure it continued to grow for the next generation of holidaymakers.

Looking back now, it's amazing where one short-term contract eventually led.

6. Music Hall Tavern has such a loyal following and a long history. How do you balance respecting that legacy while bringing your own ideas to the business?

I actually think that's one of the biggest challenges of taking over any established business.

People love MHT because it's familiar. Families have been coming for years, some even generations, and that loyalty is incredibly special.

For me, respecting that history has always been really important.

At the same time, the world changes.

The way people book holidays has changed.

The way people discover entertainment has changed.

Social media has changed.

Customer expectations have changed.

If a business stands still for too long, eventually it gets left behind.

So my philosophy has always been very simple.

Keep everything people love...

...but never stop looking for ways to improve.

Whether that's introducing new performers, refreshing the production, improving the guest experience, investing in marketing or even taking MHT back on its UK & Ireland Roadshow Tour, everything we do is about keeping the show exciting while never losing what made people fall in love with it in the first place.

7. Taking over an established business must have come with plenty of pressure. Was there ever a moment when you wondered if you'd made the right decision, and what kept you going?

I'd be lying if I said there weren't moments where I questioned myself.

Not because I didn't believe in Music Hall Tavern - MHT, but because I cared so much about getting it right.

When you're responsible for a business, it's not just about you anymore.

It's your team.

Your performers.

Your office staff.

Your sales partners.

Your customers.

There are lots of people relying on you to make good decisions.

Of course there have been difficult moments. Every business has them.

But every challenge has also taught me something.

I've learned that sometimes you have to trust your instincts, make a decision and move forward. You won't always get everything right, but standing still is rarely the answer.

Thankfully I've also been surrounded by an incredible team who genuinely care about MHT as much as I do, and that makes a huge difference.

8. Are you still performing regularly yourself? If so, where are people most likely to see you these days—Lanzarote, Tenerife or Gran Canaria?

Absolutely!

People often ask if becoming owner meant I stopped performing, but the answer is definitely not!

Being on stage is still the part of the week I enjoy the most.

These days you'll mostly find me performing as Miss Shona across all three islands depending on where I'm needed. One week I might be in Tenerife, the next in Lanzarote, then over in Gran Canaria.

It certainly keeps life interesting!

I always joke that my suitcase gets more use than most people's wardrobes.

The beauty of owning the business now is that I still get to do what I love most—making people laugh—but I also get the privilege of helping shape the future of the company behind the scenes.

It's the best of both worlds.

9. When you're performing, do you have a favourite sketch, character or number that you always look forward to?

That's a bit like asking a parent to pick their favourite child! Every sketch has its own place in the show and every audience reacts differently, which is what keeps it so much fun.

If I had to choose from our classic comedy routines, I'd probably say Hairspray or Mary Poppins. They're both such iconic sketches and have been audience favourites for years. No matter how many times we perform them, the laughter they generate never gets old.

From our newest production though, I'd have to say Backstage Romance from Moulin Rouge. I absolutely love performing that number because it really showcases everything that Music Hall Tavern - MHT has become. It highlights our live vocals, the harmonies, the choreography, the production values and all the amazing technical elements that bring the performance to life.

For me, that's the perfect balance. We still celebrate the classic comedy that audiences know and love, but we're constantly introducing fresh ideas and new productions to keep the show evolving.

And, of course, my favourite sketch tomorrow will probably be whichever one gets the biggest laugh that night!

10. Is there one performance that always gets the biggest reaction from audiences?

The finale always has a special place in my heart.

By that point everyone has relaxed, they've enjoyed their meal, they've laughed together and the whole room feels like one big party.

You can almost feel the atmosphere change.

It's one of those lovely moments where you look around and realise complete strangers have spent the evening laughing together and are leaving as though they've known each other for years.

That's something we're incredibly proud of at Music Hall Tavern - MHT.

People often arrive expecting a drag show...

They leave talking about the whole evening.

And that's exactly what we hope for.

11. How long does it actually take you to transform from Joel into your stage character? What does your pre-show routine look like?

Longer than I'd like to admit!

People always think the hard part is putting on the makeup.

Honestly... that's probably the easiest bit these days!

There's costumes, wigs, shoes, microphones, checking props, making sure the cast are all ready, saying hello to guests, checking in with the team and somehow remembering to actually eat something before the show starts.

By the time the audience arrives there's already been hours of preparation behind the scenes.

Everyone sees the glamour on stage.

Very few people see the organised chaos beforehand!

I actually quite enjoy that part though.

There's a real buzz backstage before the curtain goes up, and after all these years I still get excited before every single show.

12. What's been the funniest or most unexpected thing that's ever happened during a live performance?

Where do I even begin?!

After all these years there have been wigs falling off, props refusing to work, microphones deciding to stop at exactly the wrong moment and audience members saying things that nobody could ever have predicted!

The funny thing is...

The audience usually thinks it's all part of the act!

One thing performing has taught me is never to panic.

Whatever happens, keep smiling and somehow make it look like you planned it all along.

Some of the biggest laughs we've ever had have actually come from things going completely wrong.

Live theatre has a magic that you simply can't recreate anywhere else.

13. If someone has never been to Music Hall Tavern before, how would you describe the experience?

I'd probably start by saying...

Forget everything you think you know.

People often hear the words "drag show" and immediately picture one thing.

Music Hall Tavern - MHT is so much more than that.

It's a full evening out.

You arrive, meet the cast, enjoy a three-course meal, laugh your way through a professionally produced comedy show, sing along to fantastic live vocals and, by the end of the night, you've shared an experience with a room full of people who all came to have a good time.

It's family-friendly, it's welcoming, it's full of energy and, above all, it's about making memories.

Whether you're celebrating a birthday, an anniversary, on honeymoon or simply enjoying your holiday, we want people to leave saying exactly the same thing...

"That was the funniest night of our holiday."

Because if they say that...

We've done our job.

14. What do you think has been the secret to Music Hall Tavern remaining so popular with holidaymakers for so many years?

I think the secret is actually quite simple...

People book Music Hall Tavern - MHT expecting a show, but they leave remembering an experience.

For nearly three decades we've never forgotten that we're part of somebody's holiday. For many families, their week away has taken months, sometimes years, to save for, so we never take that responsibility for granted.

Every single member of the team understands that.

From the moment guests arrive, we want them to feel looked after, welcomed and part of the MHT family. Of course we want them to laugh, but we also want them to leave with memories they'll still be talking about long after they've flown home.

I also think one of the reasons MHT has stood the test of time is because we've never stood still. We respect everything that has made the show so successful over the years, but we're always looking at how we can improve, introduce fresh ideas and keep surprising our audiences.

For me, that's the balance... honour the past, but always have one eye on the future.

15. Looking ahead, what excites you most about the future of Music Hall Tavern over the next few years?

Without doubt... the opportunities.

When I became owner of Music Hall Tavern - MHT, I didn't see it as simply taking over an established business. I saw it as becoming the next custodian of something very special.

My job is to make sure MHT continues making people laugh for many years to come.

We've already brought the show back to Gran Canaria after six years away, we've continued investing in new productions, new performers and the overall guest experience, and this year I'm incredibly excited to be taking Music Hall Tavern - MHT back to the UK & Ireland as part of the fifth year of my Roadshow Tour concept.

The Roadshow Tour is something I created because I wanted to do things a little differently. Rather than a traditional theatre tour, I wanted to keep the magic close to the audience by performing in smaller venues and community spaces, while staying true to the roots of British drag entertainment in social clubs and local venues. It creates a much more personal atmosphere, and I think that's exactly what makes it so special.

Alongside all those exciting projects though, what really motivates me is the day-to-day side of the business.

Seeing guests leave smiling.

Watching performers grow in confidence.

Working alongside our amazing office team, cast and sales partners.

Building relationships across Lanzarote, Tenerife and Gran Canaria.

Those are the moments that make all the hard work worthwhile.

I genuinely believe the best chapters of Music Hall Tavern - MHT are still to come, and that's a really exciting feeling.

16. Finally, if you could go back and give your younger self one piece of advice before stepping on stage for the very first time, what would it be?

I'd probably tell him to stop worrying so much about what everyone else thinks.

When you're younger, it's easy to believe you have to make everyone happy, and that's simply impossible.

Listen to advice.

Learn from people.

Stay humble.

But at some point you also have to trust your own instincts.

Not everyone will agree with every decision you make, whether that's on stage or in business, and that's okay.

If your heart's in the right place, if you're prepared to work hard and if you genuinely care about people, you'll usually find your way.

I'd also remind my younger self to enjoy the journey a little more.

When you're chasing the next goal, the next performance or the next challenge, you sometimes forget to stop and appreciate how far you've already come.

I've been incredibly fortunate.

I've had the chance to perform in front of thousands of people, work with some amazing friends, build a business I'm incredibly proud of and call the Canary Islands home.

I certainly didn't have all of that planned when I first stepped onto a stage.

Life has a funny way of surprising you.

And honestly...

I wouldn't change a thing.

We´ve loved chatting to Joel, and if you´d like to see him performing as Miss Shona or visit any other of the MHT Venues, click on the Image Below to Book Your Tickets!