MODEST
Music hall, theatre and drag king cabaret erupt as Modest brings you Elizabeth Thompson – megastar of the Victorian art scene.
In 1874, Elizabeth stuns the Royal Academy with her painting ‘Roll Call’. Five years later, she falls two votes short of becoming the first woman elected to the academy.
In between, she must shoulder the hopes and dreams of women across the country while fighting for her place at a table full of top hats, ties and mutton chop beards.
Performed by a cast of actor-musicians, this punk-spirited show will break your heart and start a revolution.
12 – 13 JUN
Stars
Meet Mrs: an old lady who goes into outer space… in search of her own orgasm. Isn’t that where all orgasms go?
Her quest is sparked by three encounters: a young neighbour who discloses a secret, an old friend who reveals she is intersex, and a would-be lesbian lover in a launderette who offers Mrs two drops of her own pressed lavender and a smile that says, ‘I handle delicates with care’.
STARS is a hilarious and moving mix of celebratory Black queer empowerment and arousal.
Performed by one woman and a live DJ, with projected animations, we join in an old woman’s search for her lost orgasm, spanning across outer space, with dustings of African mythology and folklore in an unabashedly queer, feminist rallying call.
19 JUN – 20 JUN
Danny Beard
The winner of Drag Race U.K. is hitting the road with their debut solo tour! Join Danny as they take to stage with a show which promises to be bigger, better, and more CAMP than ever before. Early booking highly advised – limited number of meet & greet tickets available.
17 MAR – 18 MAR
Suzi Ruffell
Suzi Ruffell likes things snappy: her stand up, her decisions and her suits. Suzi’s brand new show is all about settling down (but not settling), becoming a mother (without becoming mumsy) and still worrying about everything. Of course she is – have you seen the news?
Multi-award nominated comedian Suzi Ruffell’s last tour, Dance Like Everyone Is Watching, received critical acclaim and was recorded as an Amazon special. Suzi has also appeared on numerous shows including Live at the Apollo, The Jonathan Ross Show, QI and The Last Leg. She’s best known for her hugely popular podcasts Like Minded Friends and Out.
13 SEP
Grace Petrie
Folk singer, lesbian and checked-shirt-collector Grace Petrie has been incorrectly called Sir every day of her adult life, and, having finally run out of things to write whiny songs about, she’s putting down the guitar to try and work out why.
No stranger to comedy, Grace has appeared on BBC Radio 4’s The Now Show and smash hit podcast The Guilty Feminist, and has long since earned a reputation as the folk scene’s funniest lesbian. Her eagerly-awaited stand-up debut has been a long time coming – and was a runaway success at 2022’s Edinburgh Festival.
18 SEP
Black Sheep
The story of a queer Black woman finding love after retiring from her full-time job as a sword swallower.
Over ten years ago Livia moved from Germany to London to live and work in a more diverse community. They learned that life-long feelings of self-hatred and otherness are part-internalised racism and part-survival techniques.
Fusing physical theatre, spoken word and song, Black Sheep will take you on Livia’s journey overcoming institutional racism, leaning into radical vulnerability and of course, sword swallowing!
20 SEP – 21 SEP
BOURGEOIS & MAURICE: PLEASURE SEEKERS
Cult cabaret superstars Bourgeois & Maurice are back with a spectacular new show that puts the FUN back into our fundamentally pointless existence!
Packed with whip-smart songs, jaw-dropping outfits, and an 8ft piñata, Pleasure Seekers sees the sinister singing siblings at their hilarious best as they attempt to dedicate their lives to optimism, hedonism and non-stop pleasure. How could they possibly fail?
5 OCT
MYCELIAL
The award-winning Open Clasp are back with their first major international production co-created with sex worker activists from Aotearoa/New Zealand, Ireland and the UK.
An underground community of sex workers scattered across the globe and rooted in their fight for justice, unknowingly stand together deciding enough is enough. Spanning space and time from the pandemic, BLM to the Ukrainian War; these 12 powerful activist voices are connected by invisible threads that build the strength and power they need to make change above ground.
20 OCT – 28 OCT
Cracked Nuts: Camper than Christmas
Yorkshire’s very own Glitterbomb Dancers present their debut, full length Christmas Show: a cabaret remake of the family classic, The Nutcracker. Sugar plum fairies, toy soldiers and snowflakes… with a drag comedy twist!
This alternative holiday show combines all the festive fun of the original ballet with the Glitterbomb Dancers’ signature playfulness. Expect a high energy mix of classical music and pop songs, performed with high kicks and splits. A bit of camp, a bit of punk, a little bit of crass and a whole lot of sass, this is The Nutcracker like you’ve never seen it before!
10 Nov – 11 Nov
LGBTQIA+ shows at Northern Stage : 2023
