Gay London Life | April '25 Edition - Magazine - Page 4
Queering the Stage
Also in the spotlight is BI-TOPIA, a coming-of-age
solo piece written and performed by Sam Danson,
directed by queer theatre royalty Rikki Beadle-Blair
MBE. Exploring bisexuality, masculinity, and mental
health, the show previously received support from
Manchester Pride’s Superbia Grant and toured
regionally in 2024. The Stage called it “extremely
moving, nuanced theatre, steeped in humour.”
Nature meets nightlife in Queer Planet, a
cabaret-meets-documentary performance by
award-winning drag king Bi-Curious George. With
intersex snails, dolphin orgies and gay giraffes,
the show dives into queer animal behaviour while
playfully dismantling heteronormative readings of
the natural world. Previously seen at Soho Theatre,
Southbank Centre and Kew Gardens, it’s David
Attenborough meets RuPaul’s Drag Race with a
PhD in fabulous.
Drag fans, fear not – Celine’s got your back. Or
rather, Moira Less does. In My Heart Will Go On,
London’s queen of power ballads belts out a love
Moira Less
BI-TOPIA
letter to the Titanic diva herself, from ‘The Power of
Love’ to, yes, that song. With vocals to rival the original
and a wink that could sink ships, Moira’s tribute is
camp with a capital Celine.
And for something completely ridiculous (in
the best possible way), saddle up for BANGTAIL – a
cowboy-clown fever dream from Gaulier-trained
chaos merchant Lil Wenker (yes, that is her real
name). Expect clown fights, cowboy sass, and
high-camp hijinks in the sauciest saloons this side of
the Fringe. A new cowboy’s riding into town to steal
Bangtail’s title… and he’s not going down without a
rootin’-tootin’ scene-stealer.
Alongside the main programme is a rolling
carousel of work-in-progress shows from some
of the most exciting queer comics on the scene.
Expect anarchic crowd work, surreal horror, and
sharp observations from a line-up that includes
Andrew Doherty, John Robertson, Sharon
Wanjohi, Ania Magliano, Lorna Rose Treen and
more. Highlights include Sophie Duker – the
Queer Planet
Jock Night
Taskmaster champ whose favourite things include
breaking hearts, taking names and telling jokes
Seven Dials Playhouse looks set to unleash queer
chaos with Its first-ever Pride season
with the confidence of a cis straight middle-class
white man; Jessie Nixon, Chortle’s 2025 Hot Shot
whose comedy has the energy of your drunkest
Headlining the programme is Jock Night,
hype girl in a Wetherspoons loo; and Priya Hall,
open the doors, popping on the glitter, and letting
back by (very) popular demand after a sold-out
who’s ready to overshare about sea creatures,
the queerness pour in with its first-ever Pride
run in 2023. Written by Queer as Folk’s Adam
mid-life crises (at 29), and queer parenthood,
Season – a bold, brilliant, and occasionally bonkers
Zane and produced by Hive North, this sweaty,
whether you’re ready or not.
celebration of LGBTQIA+ voices in the heart of
sexy five-hander plunges audiences deep into a
This is theatre like you’ve never seen it – bold,
London’s West End. Running from 3rd to 22nd
year of club nights, bad decisions, and intimate
brilliant and joyfully queer, landing loud and proud in
June, this is a riot of theatre, drag, cabaret, clowning
encounters in Manchester’s Gay Village. It’s equal
the heart of the West End.
and comedy; it’s theatre, it’s glitter, it’s gloriously
parts chaotic and quietly revolutionary, fuelled by
queer chaos — and it’s all happening under one
jockstraps, disco beats and the transformative
Catch Seven Dials’ Pride Season
roof. Taking over both of the venue’s spaces – The
power of U=U. David Paisley reprises his role from
from 3rd to 22nd June at
House and The Pen – the season will showcase a
the original production, bringing fresh fire to this
Seven Dials Playhouse, London.
mix of artists pushing boundaries, buttons, and the
unflinching exploration of queer identity, desire
For the full lineup and tickets:
occasional cowboy hat.
and community.
sevendialsplayhouse.co.uk
This June, Seven Dials Playhouse is throwing
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