Life’s a drag: Cabaret favourites Yummy will perform as part of Underbelly festival
(Picture: Handout)Pride month is always a poignant time in the capital, but in the midst of lockdowns, in which vital queer space were shut for months on end, the celebrations taking place this June feel especially important.
The annual Pride in London parade will mark its 50th anniversary on July 2, but there’s so much more going on besides just that, both in June and into the following month. Here’s our pick of the lot, from queer South Asian film screenings to sex-positive club nights.
Rooftop Film Club
The Rooftop Film Club, popular for screening movies in high places, is hosting Pride-themed events at both of its London locations. There will be a night dedicated to The Birdcage, starring Robin Williams and Gene Hackman, atop the Bussey Building in Peckham on June 23, while over at Stratford’s Roof East, there’s Hedwig and the Angry Inch on June 23 followed by The Rocky Horror Picture Show on June 30.
From £16.95, 133 Rye Lane, SE15 4ST / 7-8 Stratford Multi Storey Car Park, Great Eastern Road, E15 1XE, rooftopfilmclub.com
Lates at the Science Museum
The Science Museum’s monthly after-hours event is returning to celebrating Pride in June, with a packed programme on the night — everything from discussions about the importance of queer spaces and a professor-led Q&A on HIV vaccines, to a Pride-themed pub quiz and silent disco. It’s free to enter, but a tenner gets you a VIP ticket with early entry, a free drink and 15 per cent off at the museum shop.
Free (or £10 for VIP tickets), 6.30pm-10pm, June 29, Exhibition Road, SW7 2DD, sciencemuseum.org.uk
BFI Southbank
There’s some great queer programming coming up at BFI Southbank over the next few weeks. On June 17, a screening of Isaac Julien’s landmark film Looking for Langston will be followed by a discussion on New Queer Cinema and Black Queer Cinema, while on July 1, the Too Desi Too Queer series will show short films about South Asian LGBTQIA+ communities.
Various dates and prices, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XT, whatson.bfi.org.uk
Crossbreed at Colour Factory
Crossbreed is one of the hottest nights in London right now, and the next edition of the queer sex positive rave is coming to Hackney Wick later this month. Maurice Fulton and Kiwi will be behind the decks, with a fully staffed playroom for attendees to explore — as well as a wellness sanctuary for anyone who needs it. It’s all about creating a safe place for people to express themselves, so make sure you read the party rules at crossbreedworld.com before you get your ticket. Advance tickets are close to selling out, but half of the overall tickets will be saved for on-the-door purchase.
£18 advance, £20 on the door, 3pm-12am, June 26, 8 Queen’s Yard, E9 5EN, colourfactory.com
Thirst Trap at the Glory
It’s never a bad time to have a night out at the Glory, Haggerston’s famously fun queer venue, but during Pride month, it’s basically a month. Havoc, the regular Friday club night, is always a winner, with everything from 80s pop to house bangers, but it’s worth checking the schedule to see what takes your fancy — whether that’s one of the lip sync competitions, cabaret performances, or something else.
Various dates and prices, 281 Kingsland Road, E2 8AS, theglory.co
Free Queer and LGBTQ+ History Tour
Dive into London’s LGBTQ+ history with this free walking tour. Weaving through the West End, it’ll take in some of the area’s most iconic queer landmarks, from Heaven nightclub to the Admiral Duncan pub, but also uncover some of the capital’s lesser known stories — whether thats 18th century drag queens or the lasting influence of queer Romans. The tour is free (although donations are encouraged), and lasts for two hours.
11am-1pm, every Sunday, starting outside The Clermont Hotel, Strand, WC2N 5HX, londonwithalocal.com/lgbtqtour
Yummy at Underbelly
Aussie drag cabaret heroes Yummy are bringing their new show, Iconic, to London as part of this year’s Underbelly festival. Promising a night of high-octane fun, and a production that “celebrates and subverts cultural icons, legends and superstars”, it’s bound to be one of the festival’s highlights. They’re in town for most of July.
From £19.50, July 5-31, Cavendish Square, W1G, 0PU, underbellyfestival.com
Laugh Out Proud
There’s a new LGBTQIA+ comedy night in town. Laugh Out Proud, which has landed in the Backyard Comedy Club in Bethnal Green, is hosted by Mark Cram and the next edition will be headlined by John Robertson, with stand-ups Matt Smith, Charlie George and Nicola Stephen also on the bill.
£7.50 advance, £10 on the door, 7pm, June 28, 231 Cambridge Heath Road, E2 0EL, backyardcomedyclub.co.uk
Series Q: Proud Together
Series Q, the not-for-profit network for LGBTQ people at start-ups in the UK, is welcoming entrepreneurs to connect at this event. There will be business insight from Chris Fitchew, founder of queer wellness festival SoulPride, plenty of opportunities to network with like-minded businesspeople, drinks with light snacks, and even a DJ.
£5, 6.30pm-10pm, June 30, Second Home Spitalfields, 68-80 Hanbury Street, E1 5JL, eventbrite.co.uk
LGBTQ+ Gin Tasting Evening at The Oliver Conquest
Gin fanatics should head along to this LGBTQ+-friendly tasting event in Aldgate. The entry fee includes five different gins from around the world, and once those have been sampled, all the guests will be invited to a sociable mixer, with some entertainment to keep the good times going.
