Gay London Life | June '26 Edition - Magazine - Page 22
Life of a Luvvie
with
Thomas Magill
season of queer themed shows at Southwark’s Union Theatre including the
return of cabaret singer ‘Curious Lee’ and Richard Baker on piano, with a live
set of super queer hits.
My birthday month was a busy one, with two bank holidays, a few parties
and loads of visits to the theatre. It could be said I could do with a rest but I know that’s never going to happen. A new staple for May that nicely
coincides with Eurovision is Tim McArthurs hilarious farce show at the Royal
Vauxhall Tavern Eurovision: Your Decision. Now in its 6th year the show gets
funnier and more eventful every year. Not only was I roaring from start to
With BBC business presenter Vishala
Sri Pathma at Mammia Mia
With Helen Lederer at Eurovision:
Your Decision
As we slide into June it’s always super exciting to see the Capital turn into a
finish, but Ab Fab favourite Helen Lederer who I was sitting beside had me in
stitches between songs.
Drag Race USA royalty has come to our shores with End of the Rainbow
multicolour sea of rainbows and flags as shops, pubs, businesses and the odd
starring Jinkx Monsoon. I’d the pleasure of popping up to the Soho Theatre
zebra crossing embraces Pride month. It’s all a reminder about how lucky we
Walthamstow for the very first time to see this deeply moving production. At
are to live in a city that is so diverse, accepting and queer, although I’m not naive
time it was a difficult watch, as we see Judy Garland slide into a depressing dark
enough to think that London is not without its darker corners.
k-hole that ultimately led to her death.
But, for now we will focus on the love and joy many of us get from the hyper-
On a much lighter note, did you know Peter Andrew is now in Mammia Mia!
gay visibility that exists in June. Loads of producers and creatives are taking
The Party alongside Sam Bailey. Both are exceptional as they take to the floor
this opportunity to throw open their doors and host special Pride seasons -
in this huge theatre/restaurant immersive dining experience at the 02. I last
some for the very first time which is refreshing to see.
seen this show when it opened, and along with the stage version and the movie
As a south Londoners I’m delighted to see so much queer art on my
I think I’ve seen Mammia Mia dozens of times and yet it has the capacity to bring
doorstep. Woolwich Works has number of Pride events including a special
a smile to my face. And I have a feeling this show is not going anywhere now the
screening of Beautiful Thing. Released in 1996, this groundbreaking and utterly
heavyweight stars are starting to be attracted to the role. It’s a perfect present
inspiring film is an urban fairytale, coming-out and coming-of-age tale set in
for a loved one who loves all thinks Abba.
Thamesmead and Greenwich and has been a film I related to from the moment
It wasn’t my only immersive dining experience this month. I popped along
I watched it all those years ago. Queer Euphoria, Drag Story Time and Proud
to a rather obscure building in West Kensington that is the venue for the latest to
Together presented by Candy Heals on the 27th of June are also part of the
hit London. Chat Noir transports you back to Paris with all the chic glamour and
line-up. The entire schedule of events is on the Woolwich Works website.
elegance of the time firmly rooted in the weirdly wonderful show of mime, magic
Another old favourite of mine is set to return in June. Grindr: The Opera
and provocative dance.
opens at The Union Theatre on the 18th of June. I hope its return will mean a
whole new generation of theatre lovers will get the chance to fall in love with
Whatever you’re up to this month have a good, safe and camp one.
this as much as I did. It’s also worth noting that it’s just one of a very busy
Happy Pride x @thomasmagill1
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