‘It’s sort of a daytime TV chatshow, mixed with an avant garde variety show,” explains Simon Casson, co-founder and producer of the legendary queer nightlife collective Duckie. Casson is explaining the colourful concept of Rat Park, the group’s latest project. “There’s going to be a big bonfire in the garden and candles outdoors in jam jars, it’s all very beautiful,” he says. “Inside, there will be discussions and performance pieces, then interviews, then another performance and more conversations – all about the terribly embarrassing subject of queer people and our sex lives.”
Rat Park will run every Saturday afternoon in February, which is LGBTQ+ history month in the UK. The collaborative events, which will be held at a “secret location”, bring together community names such as artist and archivist Ajamu X, HIV activist Marc Thompson and author Matthew Todd, alongside a selection of performers including cabaret act Rhys’ Pieces and artist Zack Mennell. Each week is themed on a different body fluid. “Blood” points the way to discussions of HIV and family, whereas “tears” might prompt conversations about grief, rejection and masculinity. (Use your imagination for the other two weeks: piss and spunk.)
