Gay London Life | May '26 Edition - Magazine - Page 20
DJ of the Month
This month's DJ, Cactushead, has been part of London’s queer scene for over
Cactushead
twenty years, bringing feel-good, sexy, singalong sets to everything from sweaty
club nights to major festival stages.
With residencies at Soho favourites and a key role behind Honey Honey, a
party made for bears, chubs and anyone who wants to feel right at home, their vibe
is all about joy, connection and a little bit of mischief. We caught up to talk signature
tracks, dancefloor magic and where to find them next.
Tell us a bit about your DJ journey so far
I’ve been playing for over twenty years on the London scene and I’m so damn
proud of it. Pubs, clubs and festivals and not forgetting many dark rooms!
Highlights include ten years at Beefmince, playing Mighty Hoopla, Brighton Pride
and Bearracuda in the States.
What's a song that sums a Honey Honey Event?
It has to be Robyn’s ‘Honey’, it’s seductive and sweet and really demonstrates the
vibe we’re trying to create at Honey Honey - a fun, sexy place for all the bears and
chubs to feel at home. We want the space to feel theirs.
Give us a record you've fallen in love with from the past year
Bimini’s Sexy Boy is a bone fide banger, a generation-bridging cheeky classic.
And what's an oldie that never fails to please?
Manchester icon Rowetta has this incredible version of Free which has the most
dramatic build I know. It smoulders and explodes in the most satisfying way.
Which artist do you turn to when a dance floor needs bringing to life?
Our Queen M, the divine Madonna. No one else is still so recognisable, eraspanning and chocka full of singalong hits.
When can we catch you DJing in the upcoming weeks?
It’s hard to miss me - I have great residencies at The Cock and The Duke of Wellington.
The best place to catch me is of course at Honey Honey on May 22.
Honey Honey - Electrowerkz
Date: Friday 22nd May 2026
Address: 7 Torrens Street, London EC1V 1NQ.
Love, Identity and the Reality of Now:
The P Word Returns
Big queer theatre with something to say is back at Bush Theatre this summer, and leading the
charge is the return of The P Word, Waleed Akhtar’s Olivier Award-winning play that hits hard
and lingers long after the curtain falls.
If you missed it the first time, now’s your moment. This isn’t just a revival, it’s the original
cast back on stage, including Akhtar himself alongside Esh Alladi, bringing a story that feels
just as urgent now as it did on its sold-out run. Produced alongside Tan France, the show
comes with serious cultural weight, and a clear mission to get people talking.
At its heart, The P Word follows two gay Pakistani men navigating life in the UK from very
different starting points. Zafar arrives seeking asylum after fleeing persecution, while Londoner
Bilal, or Billy, is worn down by dating apps, identity, and the daily reality of being a brown gay man in
Britain. Their lives intertwine in ways that are funny, messy, romantic and, at times, devastating.
What makes this play land is its honesty. It doesn’t shy away from the UK’s increasingly
hostile environment around migration, but it also makes space for connection, humour,
and the kind of love that finds its way through anyway. It’s sharp, it’s human, and it refuses to
flatten its characters into easy narratives.
Directed by Anthony Simpson-Pike, the production keeps its edge while leaning into the
emotional core that made it such a standout the first time around. Expect clever writing, standout
performances, and a story that feels uncomfortably close to home in all the right ways.
And if you’re planning a full night of theatre, the Bush is doubling down on queer
storytelling this summer, with Tender, a twisty, genre-bending love story between two
women, also making a bigger return in July.
Dates: 28 May – 27 June 2026 (evenings 7.30pm, selected matinees)
Address: Bush Theatre, 7 Uxbridge Road, London W12 8LJ
Nearest Tube: Shepherd’s Bush
Tickets & Info: www.bushtheatre.co.uk
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