Our cabaret columnist, Jason Reid, shares the shows you can’t miss this Pride!
Pride is just around the corner, if you squint hard enough you’ll see it, no? WELL IT IS! There’s a plethora (I hate myself for using that word) of Pride themed shows taking place over the big weekend. And not just in central London either, all across the capital, and to suit all tastes. This week I’ve scoured my piles of press releases and event invites and picked out my top shows to see… ENJOY!
Lip-Sync Battle Live with Topsie Redfern and Vanity Von Glow
Thursday 7th July, 7PM
Freedom Bar Soho, £5
I’m sure you’ve all heard of these lip-sync battles by now, right? They’re kind of inescapable at the moment; Channing Tatum’s performance as Beyoncé went viral a few months back and then Channel 5 jumped on the bandwagon with a budget version. Bless. The difference here is, it’s live, in your face and with these two musical theatre lovers hosting, it’s bound to camper than the QX office knitting circle when there’s salacious scene gossip being discussed. Proceeds to Pride in London.
Velma Celli Pride Revue
Thursday 6th July, 7PM
Crazy Coqs, £20
Cabaret star and West End Wendy Velma Celli joins forces with some very special guests for an evening of songs in celebration of Pride. If you’ve never seen Velma perform, all I can say is: THAT VOICE! Expect classic show tunes and jazz standards from Bassey to Beyoncé and impressions of the likes of Britney and Cher. Crazy Coqs is a gorgeously decked out venue with table service and attentive staff. Check out the cocktails, they’re lush!
The Glory Gala
Friday 7th July,
Stoke Newington Town Hall, £20/£15
Not just any old gala, but a Glory gala. Sizzle and friends are known in cabaret circles for throwing brilliant shows on a large scale, and this time round they’re reenacting Liza Minneli’s famous 1972 TV special ‘Liza with a Z’ at the Art Deco ballroom of Stoke Newington Town Hall with twenty five of their Lipsync1000 stars performing as Liza. So. Much. Minnelli. On top of all that there’ll be a selection of drag kings from this year’s season of MAN UP! who will be showcased in the ‘Glory Gentlemen’s Club’. The whole fabulous affair is hosted by the unstoppable John Sizzle.
Duckie Decrim: 1967
Saturday 8 July, 9PM – 3AM
Royal Vauxhall Tavern, £8 on the door
RVT’s legendary club night is stepping back in time for gay pride night this year in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality, because until then us pesky sodomites would feel the full force of the law (ahem) if we were naughty. Duckie celebrates fifty years of DeCrim with lots of very old drag from the very old drag days, including John Smith, Travis Alabanza, FKA, The Phoenix, and Legs 67, with Amy Lamé on compering duties. AND they’ve even snagged a special licence from the powers that be to transform the railway arch next door into a 1960s gay club. It’s bound to be a unique Pride night experience! Dig out that rough and ready retro drag, dears.
ABBAlicious Post-Pride Party
Sunday 9th July
City of Quebec, Marble Arch. Free
Sometimes all you want to do is throw your handbag in the corner and dance your tits off to some well known ABBA songs. Just pretend you’re Mariel Heslop and let the music do the rest. ABBAlicious are the UK’s top ABBA tribute act and they’ll be offering up all the hits at this post-Pride party, hosted by the Jane McDonald of drag, Patti O’Dors. Dancing queens unite!
