November 2024 – Andro & Eve

We’re offering open mic slots for fresh queer acts at A Reyt Queer Do 8 on Saturday 14 December.

This queer cabaret event is themed around ‘Camp as Christmas’ and is at Sidney and Matilda in Sheffield city centre.

A Reyt Queer Do will be hosted by drag and cabaret artist Rhys Pieces and is about platforming emerging Northern LGBTQ+ performance talent. Whether you’re a new act, or you have new work you want to test out in front of a friendly live audience, we’d love to hear from you.

Drag, comedy, clowning, queerlesque, song, anything goes, as long as it works in front of a live audience. In return for you performing one 3 – 8 minute act we’ll provide;

– Up to £70 to reimburse any expenses
– Food and drink at the venue
– Photos of your act shot by a professional photographer

We just need you to be available from 4.30pm on the day of the event.

To help you get a sense of what to expect, this blog about our most recent edition of A Reyt Queer Do is a useful read.

To apply, please complete the short Google Form and share a link to an extract of your act or performance.

It doesn’t matter if the film of you performing is not in front of an audience, we just need to get a sense of your performance style so we can programme a mix of acts.

Deadline to apply: 9am Monday 25 November. Priority for slots will go to those based in South Yorkshire.

Please note – This event will be BSL interpreted, so if your application is successful we will expect you to provide any lyrics / script in advance of the event for our BSL interpreter to learn. More information on the access provisions in the venue can be found here.

We expect to have more people apply to perform than we have time and budget to give a platform, so we won’t be able to offer everyone a slot, but we are always keen to hear from fresh talent for upcoming events. We are unable to give feedback to unsuccessful submissions, but we may keep your details on file for future bookings.

We look forward to hearing from you! If you have any questions that aren’t answered below please drop us a line to hello@androandeve.com

FAQ’s

I am not based in the North of England, can I apply?

We will not consider applications from acts based in locations other than Yorkshire or the North of England. (We consider Northern talent to be inclusive of the East and West Midlands).

Do you only platform drag king acts?

No! A Reyt Queer Do is for all kinds of live performance acts to share their work. The Kingdom Come is our platform solely for drag kings and we tend to focus on platforming more established acts there.

I can’t perform on the 14 December but want to apply, should I?

Thanks for your interest, please hold off for now! We are a part time team, so we’d appreciate you helping us manage capacity by applying for a future opportunity. Please subscribe to our newsletter to be first to hear about the open mic slots for future events.

I don’t have a video of my performance. Can I apply?

We cannot accept applications without a video. This is to ensure we understand what your performance style is and whether it will work with the venue restrictions, and around our other programmed acts. If you don’t have a video, feel free to record yourself performing to camera. Video quality does not matter, we just want to see your act!

I am a wheelchair user, what is stage access like?

Unfortunately, Sidney and Matilda does not have step free access to their stage so we cannot accommodate a wheelchair onstage. We are very limited with accessible live venue options in Sheffield, and are looking into alternative performance venue options for future events.

We started Autumn in full celebration mode with the return of A Reyt Queer Do, with a sold out ‘Back to the 90’s’ edition at Sheffield gig and nightlife venue, Sidney and Matilda.

This queer cabaret and party is all about platforming fresh queer, Northern artists, sharing whatever performance style they like in front of our supportive and welcoming community.

Bipolar Abdul and BSL interpreter Becky Mayo onstage — _{Bipolar Abdul. A Reyt Queer Do (2024). Credit – Emma Bentley Fox}

On 22nd September we were joined by drag king Lionel Bitchie, comedian Stevie Yardy, singer-songwriter Jay Womack, drag king Mr Brake Down, and burlesque artist Spyhnxie, with the early evening event hosted by drag artist Bipolar Abdul. It was an eclectic and fun line up that didn’t disappoint, with our audience enjoying these talented acts. They took us from plenty of laughs to more poignant moments. Our BSL interpreter, Becky Mayo was a superb asset to the show!

Burlesque artist Sphynxie holds an umbrella high onstage while she performs — _{Sphynxie. A Reyt Queer Do (2024). Credit – Emma Bentley Fox}

Alongside the queer performance we made space for a craft table in the courtyard of Sidney and Matilda and many enjoyed the chance to draw, clay model and share their thoughts.

Our usual vegan cake (from Little Town Pantry) was a tasty Sunday afternoon treat and the raffle helped us raise vital funds for our Pay it Forward Ticket fund. 10 members of Lesbian Asylum Support Sheffield were able to attend this event thanks to past support of this scheme.

Three people craft with modelling clay at a table in a brightly painted courtyard — _{Crafting at A Reyt Queer Do (2024). Credit – Emma Bentley Fox}

Thanks to everyone who joined us for this special event, creating such a supportive atmosphere for our artists to share their work. Also huge thanks to the team at Sidney and Matilda and our team and volunteers for producing an event so many enjoyed. As one audience member said;

‘That was fun, inclusive, welcoming and joyful’
Audience member, A Reyt Queer Do 7

We never rest on our laurels at Andro and Eve, and are aware that stage height and seating options need to be adjusted for future editions of this event. We’re working on this and say thank you to those who highlighted this issue. As a small project-based arts organisation, operating in a city with limited venue options, finding accessible venues has always been a challenge, but we’re always trying to improve the ways our community experience our events and workshops.

Jay Womack sings while playing keyboard onstage — _{Jay Womack. A Reyt Queer Do (2024). Credit – Emma Bentley Fox}

If you want to support our work, a one off or ongoing donation is so helpful – helping us secure grant funding to ensure our events are accessible as possible. You can donate via our website at the top of this page or Kofi.

Our next A Reyt Queer Do is on 14 December. 60% of tickets have already sold, so don’t hang about if you’d like to join us for this Camp as Christmas edition hosted by cabaret star Rhys Pieces!

And if you can’t wait until then for a dose of queer culture, why not come along to our Feeling Fabulous Queer Dance workshops with Ghetto Fabulous? We’ll get you moving and boost your mood this winter!

Reyt Queer Do Open Call for LGBTQ+ performers

We’re offering open mic slots for fresh queer acts at A Reyt Queer Do 8 on Saturday 14 December.

Back to the 90’s with A Reyt Queer Do!

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