HAPPY PRIDE! For me this year’s Pride is more pertinent than ever considering recent events; of course every year we should be standing tall and proud, celebrating who we are, being visible in the face of bigotry that sadly still lurks like a dark cloud over what we’ve come to assume is civilised and progressive times. Drag queens and gender-benders have always been at the forefront of the Pride movement, so I implore you to spread the love, support our bloody brilliant cabaret venues and ENJOY!
Admiral Duncan
54 Old Compton Street, W1D 4UB
Soho’s bastion of drag cabaret flings open its big old doors at 3pm on Pride day (Saturday 25th) for the Dragful Eight party, hosted by Dunky favourite Kara Van Park. As the title suggests, eight (count ‘em) of the most dastardly and fabulous kings and queens of cabaret will take to the stage, including: Son Of a Tutu, Lola Lasagne, Baga Chipz, Fanny Burns, Miss Penny, LoUis CYfer and Vanity Von Glow, with Nancy Clench on DJ duties. No doubt the Clench will belt out a few numbers too.
Bloc Bar
18 Kentish Town Road, NW1 9NX
It’s a busssssy one up at Bloc Bar! From 5pm there’s a FOUR HOUR lip-sync-a-thon in aid of the Albert Kennedy Trust. Over the four hour period there will always be a performer on stage regardless of what song is being played. Sounds like a hoot! Straight after all that lip-sync action there’s cabaret from Holestar, Fagulous, Georgia Tasta and loads more. The divine Meth will be making it all flow beautifully as host for the night. DJ sets from George and Leaan with Holestar take you through ‘til 5am. May as well just stop out all night, right?
Halfway to Heaven
7 Duncannon Street, WC2N 4JF
They don’t do things by ‘arf down at ‘alfway! Cabaret is in their pipes, and they have over twenty artists lined up this Pride day. Miss Penny, Rose Garden and Martha D’Arthur will be hosting the day’s jollities. Performers include Mary Mac, The Vixens, Myra Dubois, CK, Dave Lynn and loaaaaaads more. Get the skittlebombs in, Rose, I’ll be in for a natter and a sing song.
The Glory
281 Kingsland Road, E2 8AS
Hot off the heels of their hugely successful second season of MAN UP, The Glory presents Gold Pride from 9pm, featuring gender-bending cabaret shows from a princely line up that includes: Adam All, Johnsmith, Calvin Decline, Benjamin Butch, Sammy Silver and more. DJs Mwen and Dibbs and Charlie Villas will be pumping out the post-pride beats.
The Old Ship
17 Barnes Street, E14 7NW
Well, DEAR, if you like your Pride day cabaret dripping in high camp then The Old Ship in Limehouse is the place for you. Why? Because the queen of high camp, Miss Jason, will be doing a turn, that’s why. Except innuendo, sing-alongs aplenty and jaegerbombs between songs (for Miss Jason, of course). The party kicks off at 9.30.
Two Brewers
114 Clapham High Street, SW4 7UJ
International songstress La Voix will be onstage at the strike of midnight with her Va Va Voom Boys. Expect big musical theatre numbers and anecdotes from the flame-haired one, and lots of lovely dancing and stuff from the boys.
Wardour Street Cabaret Stage
Wardour Street, W1F
Organised by Pride in London, the cabaret stage is always good fun while you’re having a mooch about during the day. Soak up the party atmosphere, and immerse yourself in some real variety. It all starts at 1pm and there’s more than 30 performers lined up, including Lorraine Bowen, RVT Drag Choir and Silver Summers.
