Community News The Sussex Beacon unveils window display to honour 90th birthday of David Raven aka Maisie Trollette There was great excitement in St James’s Street last Thursday afternoon, when local charity the Sussex Beacon’s shop window was transformed into a birthday present, bearing a stunning, large bow. By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Cabaret UK favourite Bimini Bon-Boulash to join UK and Ireland dates of “largest drag show of all time”, RuPaul’s Drag Race Werq the World RuPaul’s Drag Race: Werq The World sashays into arenas for five huge glittering shows across England, Scotland and Ireland featuring fan favourite drag queens from the US. By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Birmingham Birmingham drag community to host fundraiser for performer Crip Ladywood Crip L in Need, “a fundraiser to help a queer in need”, will be held at The Loft in Birmingham on Sunday, August 6 from 6.30pm. The show will feature performances from Alanna Boden, Blanche, Cake Boi, Crip Ladywood, Dahliah Rivers, Fatt Butcher, Ginny Lemon, Jenna Davinci, Misfit, Pork Pie and Peach By Catherine Muxworthy • 2 min read
Exhibitions Jake Elwes’ new exhibition, ‘Data • Glitch • Utopia’ at Gazelli Art House, to explore AI and alternative queer futures From phone screen to cabaret stage and beyond, Data • Glitch • Utopia offers glimpses of messy manifestations of queer technological futures. By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Birmingham Birmingham drag performers end relationship with venue over transphobic event The decision to end this ongoing event is due to the venue deciding to continue with the booking of a transphobic individual. By Catherine Muxworthy • 1 min read
Brighton Fringe Award-winning queens, Crudi Dench and Kate Butch, return to Brighton Fringe with more BITE Stakes are high in Drag Queens vs. Vampires – an outrageously camp comedy horror from the gals behind last year’s hit Brighton Fringe show Drag Queens vs. Zombies. By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Television Froot.tv announces UK premiere of Alaska Thunderfuck and Lola LeCroix’s new docu-series – Behind the Drag Queen of the Year Pageant Competition Award Contest Competition Behind the Drag Queen of the Year Pageant Competition Award Contest Competition follows renowned drag queens Alaska Thunderf*ck and her creative drag partner Lola LeCroix as they put together their annual drag pageant to crown the Drag Queen Of The Year. By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Cabaret Darcelle XV, the world’s oldest working drag queen, dies aged 92 Darcelle was crowned the world’s oldest working drag performer in 2016 by the Guinness Book of World Records. The performer’s death from natural causes was announced on Facebook by the club she ran in Portland, Oregon, that was named after her drag persona. By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Television Froot.TV announces UK premiere date for new drag designer competition show, Sew Fierce, hosted by Barbada de Barbades Sew Fierce will see eight of the world’s top drag designers compete to win the first ever drag designer competition and a cash prize of $10,000. By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Community News ‘David at 90’: David Raven’s 90th Birthday to be celebrated with a Gala Concert at Brighton Dome in July The Brighton Rainbow Fund is inviting everyone to join in the celebrations to mark a milestone birthday of a remarkable man and his remarkable career, and to raise funds to distribute as grants to local LGBTQ+ and HIV projects. By Chris Gull • 1 min read
Arts RuPaul’s Drag Race: Werq The World to sashay into Brighton Centre in October Billed as the “biggest drag show in the world”, RuPaul’s Drag Race: Werq The World, will visit the UK and Ireland with an all-new production in October. By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Arts Man Up, billed as Europe’s biggest and boldest Drag King battle, returns to alternative London pub The Glory from March Man Up, billed as Europe’s biggest and boldest Drag King battle, returns to alternative London pub The Glory from March. By Graham Robson • 1 min read
News Lingo For Your Life: Dabbers Social Bingo calls for drag artists as they launch hunt for Dabbers Next Top Bingo Caller 2023 Dabber’s Social Bingo, London’s alternative Bingo Hall, is on the hunt for its 2023 Next Top Bingo Caller. By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Community News Drag Queen for a Day to take place at Sussex Beacon in March An HIV workshop aimed at breaking self-stigma and boosting self-confidence By Graham Robson • 2 min read
News Danny Beard announced for Chase Pride 2023 Following the finale of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK season four, in which Danny Beard snatched the crown and the title of the UK’s next drag superstar, Chase Pride could no longer keep the secret and revealed that they had booked Danny Beard as a headliner for the second year in a row. By Catherine Muxworthy • 1 min read
Arts Black Peppa celebrates Birmingham’s LGBTQ+ community on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK “In Birmingham the queer family that I have made there, they have brought out who Black Peppa is.” By Catherine Muxworthy • 2 min read
Arts Revry announces ‘Stitch, Please!’ – a new costume design competition series, hosted by Blu Hydrangea Hosted by Northern Irish drag queen and social media star Blu Hydrangea, ‘Stitch, Please!’ will follow two designers each week, as they compete to create a different outfit inspired by iconic designs from the worlds of fashion, film, television, and cosplay. By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Community News ‘A History of Drag’ course at Bishopsgate Institute Investigate the concept of drag through the lens of queer performance, national identity, gender and sexuality, and other relevant topics. By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Fundraising News The Sussex Beacon announces total raised at showing of MAISIE at Duke of York’s Picturehouse “The collection raised almost £170, which is very much appreciated! As mentioned, these funds will help the Sussex Beacon support and care for people living with HIV.” By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Arts Digbeth cinema to screen ‘MAISIE’ documentary Directed by Lee Cooper, MAISIE tells the story of David Raven who, with 50 years in the business, still performs as Maisie Trollette. By Catherine Muxworthy • 1 min read
LGBTQ+ News Is drag family-friendly? Trolls go mad over Drag In the Park A post promoting DRAG IN THE PARK: THE FABULOUS FAMILY-FRIENDLY SHOW has come under fire from trolls on Facebook who have criticised the inclusion of ‘drag queens’ in a family-friendly show. By Graham Robson • 1 min read
LGBTQ+ News Brighton’s Crudi Dench WINS Dabbers’ Next Top Bingo Caller 2022 Crudi won over the crowds by bringing a unique breath of fresh air and pure comedy to the role of bingo caller. Excitement, sass and entertainment is now on the menu! By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Arts MAISIE, documentary on Britain’s oldest drag artist, in cinemas August 5 MAISIE is a hilarious fly-on-the-wall documentary about Britain’s oldest drag artiste David Raven aka Maisie Trollette, who at 88 is still shaking his sequins after over 50 years in the business. By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Arts Drag and cabaret royalty take over Ironworks Studios with Vada Cabaret Features performances from Miss Jason – UK drag queen and everyone’s favourite pantomime dame; Kara Van Park – all round entertainer who’s all about the bass; Ophelia Payne – big hair, big personality; and host, vocal powerhouse Billie Gold. By Graham Robson • 1 min read
