Hello, Martha here! I do hope you’re having a wonderful summer. You’ve caught me just doing some chores around the house before some guests arrive!
This month, amid refurbishments, acts off to Edinburgh and LOTS of non-London Prides happening, I thought I’d give you three dates over the bank holiday weekend for three of the biggest drag cabaret venues in the city where you can seen multiple top class acts on the one bill and two smaller events that I think are deserving of our support if you’re in the mood for a more intimate evening.
One: Halfway To Heaven – Bank Holiday Weekend
Let’s start with Halfway II Heaven. A staple of the London cabaret scene and equally home to fresh talent and established acts alike, here’s something you could go and have a cheeky gander at to get your bank holiday weekend started:
Halfway II Heaven always has a full and varied programme every night of the week, but for the Bank Holiday weekend, they have two acts to get you in just the right frame of mind for the last bank holiday hurrah of the year!
Yes, the Friday night in the glittery bunker of joy is playing host to Ember and Amaya Napa. This joyful little two some perform separately on the scene but we’ve been seeing them together more and more – and with good reason. When a pairing works, it just works and who knows what will happen when this two get together. What we DO know is that you’ll get some stunning vocals, some high energy larkery and probably more than a little craziness.
All taking place in the cabaret basement where Heathers team will be on hand to help you whet your whistle see your long weekend started as you mean to go on! Check out their socials for more of their programme!
Two: Berlin Nights – last Saturday of the month
Heading towards the northern side of the city, Camden has always been a mecca for all kinds of artists and is home to a few famous venues and for drag cabaret, losing the Black Cap was a blow (more about that later in the year!), but recently Camden has been playing host to more drag cabaret again and one of the newer offerings is called Berlin Nights……
Berlin Nights is a new and exciting cabaret experience which will take you back to the true Weimar experience. Taking place on the last Saturday of each month (so the 31st of August this month) and Echoing the pillars of the golden age of Weimar cabaret in a setting dedicated to the flavour of the era you will see the best of drag, burlesque and comedy in a night you will remember.
The brainchild of producer and host Queera Lynn, a modern queen with a vintage flavour, and based at Cushla in the heart of Camden’s bustling night time scene, you’re sure to have a good time and I shall look forward to popping along myself one evening for a glass of Gurwurtramminer.
Check out @Berlinnights_cabaret on Instagram for details and ticket info.
Cushla, 31 Jamestown Road, London NW1 7DB, United Kingdom.
Three: Admiral Duncan – Bank Holiday Weekend
Now I know that the social calendar of the discerning drag fan can get difficult in the summer months with lots of festivals and prides, and I made a promise to myself not to toot my own trumpet in my picks, but if you’re staying in the big smoke August Bank Holiday weekend this year, it would be silly of me not to tell you about an evening of delightful reverie, with free entry to see not one, not even two BUT FIVE queens…. it just so happens, that I’m one of them!
Yes, that narrow little joyful place of madness that is the Admiral Duncan in the heart of Soho are spoiling you rotten this Bank Holiday weekend with a seven hour stretch of free cabaret. I’ll be there from 5pm to ease you in gently with a varied programme, largely influenced by the audience and my usual gently touch to put you at ease, followed by the giantess that is Wilma Ballsdrop to get you into the party spirit. After which, the dorset tart with a heart Stephanie Von Clitz will be deftly steering you towards sing a longs and plenty my loves. The bubble of beautiful chaos that is Amy La Queefa will be giving you your second wind with her infectious joy and bringing up the rear, with the longest legs, biggest voice, wrapped in style and grace with the mouth of a sailor it’s my chum from down under, Karla Bear!! Now that sounds like a weekend to part be of! Check out their socials for the rest of their weekend!
Four: Beary Poppins at The Bridge – every Friday
Now it might be my age, but I do like to sit down and pop my feet up every now and then with a cup of tea. And if I can do that while pretending to be social, then that’s a win win for me! So imagine my interest when I heard about my drag daughter, Beary Poppins, doing just that for your enterainment…. That’s my girl!
Yes every Friday you can join the bearded and boisterous Beary Poppins at Clapham hot spot – The Bridge for a drag show with two sugars.
Each week this Disney loving songstress is joined by a member of the cabaret family for a tea-spilling session, a cheeky sing song and a ‘Poppoims’ quiz that’s proving very popular with the Claphamites. On 23rd August, Beary will be joined at the high tea table by Luna Cortez, recent winner of the Queen Of Clapham at the Clapham Grand. It all starts at 9pm. When asked to describe the evening, I was told “Imagine bing watching every Broadway and west end rendition of Defying Gravity on You Tube with your nan while doing poppers in her living room and you’ve cracked open the box of milk tray too – then you’ve got the flavour of Two For Tea!” Check out the social for The Bridge and Beary Poppins for details.
Five: Two Brewers – every Sunday
Now I know a lot of you are aware of a little known place in that there Clapham called the Two Brewers. Now they always have a little something up their sleeve for those cheeky bank holidays and their Power Of Four on Sunday 25th, is a actually a special power of 5 with a cheeky little twist!
Sundays at the Two Brewers are an institution and while there is always fun to be had with the line ups….. your August bank holiday Sunday this year is a bit special. Not only will you be treated to regular stars Trevor Ashley and Sandra doing what they do best for your delectation, but theatrical starlet Miss Portia De Fosse will be popping up from Brighton which is always good fun and will be joined by Baga Chipz and her Tasmanian Devil energy (she never normally drinks you know) but the crowds will be in for a treat with the stunning vocals of super talented X Factor winner and star of Beauty & The Beast and Everyone’s Talking About Jamie tours, Sam Bailley. Oh you’re in for a good night here! Check out socials for full listings!
