Two icons of the drag scene were smiling in heaven last night as hundreds of ‘queens’ battled the elements on Brighton Seafront to take their seats in the Phil Starr Pavilion, while storm Doris blew outside.
Dockyard Doris and Phil Starr were present in the room smiling while the straight Green Mayor waltzed with an out male tory supporter, Christopher Sandland MBE.
Only in Brighton!
Celebration! the curtain raiser for LGBT History Month at the new Phil Starr Pavilion, in New Steine Gardens, celebrated the last 25 years of the work of the Sussex Beacon.
The lineup of artists donating their services for the evening included Dave Lynn, Miss Jason, Davina Sparkle, Allan Jay, Sally Vate, Kara Van Park, Lorraine Bowen and Maisie Trollette, who arrived hot footed from the stage of the Alternative Panto at the Old Ship Hotel where she had been knocking the audience out with her performance of Who can I turn to?
Sussex Beacon CEO Simon Dowe gave a passionate speech about the Beacon’s achievements over the last 25 yeas and read two testimonials from service users who explained why the Sussex Beacon was important to them. There was a lot of love in the room and his speech perfectly captured the spirit of the evening.
Dancers from The Brighton Academy, choreographed by Emma Green opened the show with Celebration, they danced with Lorraine Bowen during her crowd pleasing Catfood Crumble number and then joined the company for the finale, That’s what friends are for.
Carole Todd staged and directed the evening with consummate style, in a venue that had never been used for a variety show before and apart from sound checks in the afternoon was performed without a rehearsal.
Miss Jason stepped in with just 24 hours notice as host and compere for the indisposed Myra Dubois. She kept everyone in order and the show moving nicely along all night.
Celebration! was organised by the volunteers of the Brighton and Hove LGBT Community Safety Forum to highlight the important contribution the Sussex Beacon has made to the lives of positive people in Brighton and Hove for the last 25 years.
All ticket money for the show and the bucket collection, will be donated to the Sussex Beacon and a final total will be announced before the end of the 17 day B RIGHT ON Festival.
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Photos by Graham Hobson aka Captain Cockroach
